Come and be amazed at Wereldmuseum Rotterdam this May holiday. Stop by the interactive exhibition Superstraat and have a blast! Visit all the neighbors and make a koi carp windbag in the party kitchen to celebrate Kodomi no Hi, Japanese Children’s Day. Or discover the world of beads: from decoration to communication and even as a form of currency.
Set off with Neighbors’ Day Master of Ceremonies Freddy. Browse through Aga’s shop and help her scan the shopping lists. Learn a dance from Rodney for the summer carnival and discover more about colorful costumes. Or take a peek into Winston’s Party Kitchen and help him prepare for various global celebrations.
• Location: Superstraat
• When: Saturday, April 18 through Sunday, May 10 (except April 27)
• Time: 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM
• Price: Free with a museum ticket
• Reservations: not required
On May 5, Kodomo no Hi, Japanese Children’s Day, is celebrated. On this special day for children, some celebrate their birthdays, play games, and have their parents read them exciting stories. Parents decorate their homes with koi carp windbags for Children's Day. These strong fish symbolize strength; they are so strong that they can even swim against the current! By hanging these fluttering fish flags as visibly as possible, people try to attract the attention of the gods. They are believed to ensure that children grow up to be as strong and brave as a koi carp. Get creative and make your own colorful koinobori to hang up at home!
• Location: Feestkeuken in Superstraat
• When: Saturday, April 25 through Sunday, May 10 (except April 27)
• Time: 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM, drop-in until 4:00 PM.
• Price: Free with a museum ticket
• Reservations: Not required; just walk in if there is space available.
• This activity is part of Feest op zondag. View the full annual schedule here.
All over the world, people incorporate beads into decorations, use them for protection in amulets, or use them to communicate. Beads were even used as currency. People traded beads for other goods. Design your own beads and exchange them for a dried specimen that you can make entirely your own by decorating it.
You can write a love letter, but it’s even more fun to make one with beads, just like the Nguni and Zulu people in South Africa do. There, girls make a beaded note for the boy they’re in love with. In such a note, a message is conveyed using different colors and shapes. In this activity, you’ll make your own beaded note. Not in love? No problem. There’s surely someone you care deeply about for whom you can make a love letter. Or make it for someone who could use a bit of love.
