Essalam Mosque
Feijenoord
The largest mosque in the Netherlands, with a 25m dome and 50m minarets welcoming visitors.
Halal Industry Event
Halal Expo Netherlands
- Dates
- May 9, 2026 – May 10, 2026
- Venue
- Rotterdam Ahoy
- Location
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Sectors
- Food Beverages, Logistics Supply Chain
- Scale
- 150+ exhibitors
The 2026 edition has wrapped up.
Next edition dates not yet published.
The Netherlands' halal trade exhibition at Rotterdam Ahoy convention centre. Gateway for halal products entering the Benelux and wider European market through the Port of Rotterdam logistics corridor.
Industry Sectors
Who Should Attend
Halal certification bodiesFood & beverage manufacturersFoodservice & HORECA buyersLogistics & cold-chain providersImporters, distributors & wholesalersRetail & procurement buyersHalal trade buyers across Europe
Event Scale
150+Exhibitors
Where it's held
Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Get directions →Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Halal Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the Netherlands' second city and the largest port in Europe — a modern, multicultural city of bold architecture rebuilt after WWII, and the host of Western Europe's growing halal trade shows at Rotterdam Ahoy, the big convention and arena complex in the south of the city. It is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country: large Turkish, Moroccan and Surinamese communities mean halal food, butchers and mosques are easy to find, and the Netherlands' biggest mosque (the Essalam Mosque) sits in Rotterdam-Zuid. Like the rest of the Netherlands, it is a secular, non-Muslim-majority country — so you choose halal-certified or Muslim-owned places rather than assuming, and alcohol is served everywhere — but doing so is straightforward here. Getting around is quick and cheap: a fast intercity train links Amsterdam Schiphol airport to Rotterdam Centraal in well under an hour, and the city's RET metro runs straight to the Ahoy halls.
Airport AMSCurrency EURCentral European Time (CET), UTC+1 — clocks move to CEST (UTC+2) for summer daylight saving, roughly late March to late October.
Mosques and sights
Halal places to visit in Rotterdam
Mosques and Islamic-heritage landmarks worth your time around the expo.
Mevlana Mosque
Overschie
Striking Turkish-Dutch mosque with 42m minarets, voted Rotterdam's most attractive building in 2006.
Markthal Rotterdam
Blaak
Covered market with several halal food stalls and a halal butcher in the city centre.
Kruiskade Street
City Centre
Lively street lined with Turkish and Surinamese halal eateries and shops.
Ayasofya Mosque
Rotterdam
Community mosque serving Rotterdam's Turkish-Dutch Muslims with daily prayers.
Halal food
Where to eat halal in Rotterdam
Well-loved halal restaurants across Rotterdam, from cheap local favourites to special-occasion dining.
Meram
Turkish$$
City Centre
Certified halal Turkish chain known for adana kebabs, lamb chops and lahmacun.
Zainab Roshni Mahal
Indian / Pakistani$$
Rotterdam West
Large halal restaurant serving authentic Indian and Pakistani curries and grills.
Gate of India
Indian$$
City Centre
Popular halal Indian spot with tandoori and curry dishes.
Markthal Food Stalls
Mixed Middle Eastern$
Blaak / City Centre
Covered market with several halal Moroccan, Turkish and Middle Eastern stalls.
Restaurant Tagine
Moroccan$$$
Rotterdam West
Sit-down Moroccan dining with tagines and couscous in a relaxed setting.
Hotels
Where to stay in Rotterdam
Picks for every budget.
Luxury
nhow Rotterdam
Kop van Zuid
Design hotel in the Rem Koolhaas De Rotterdam tower with skyline river views.
Hotel New York
Kop van Zuid
Landmark hotel in the former Holland America Line headquarters by the water.
Mid-range
Marriott Hotel Rotterdam
City Centre
Central high-rise hotel next to Rotterdam Central Station.
citizenM Rotterdam
City Centre
Modern compact-room hotel near the central station and shopping.
Budget
Holiday Inn Express Rotterdam Central Station
City Centre
Clean, affordable rooms a short walk from the central station.
The Usual Rotterdam
City Centre
Budget-friendly hostel-hotel hybrid in the city centre.
Know before you go
The essentials
Everything a Muslim traveller needs to land in Rotterdam with confidence.
Getting in
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
• NS Intercity train, 26-45 min to Rotterdam Centraal
• Taxi / Uber / Bolt, 50-70 min depending on traffic
Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
• RET bus 33, about 25 min to Rotterdam Centraal
• Taxi / Uber / Bolt, about 15 min
Getting around
Rotterdam is compact, flat and very walkable in the centre, and the public transport (run by RET) is excellent: a metro network (lines A-E), trams, buses and a water taxi across the river Maas. Metro lines D and E run to Zuidplein, a five-minute walk from the Rotterdam Ahoy halls, so getting from the centre or Rotterdam Centraal to the expo is a single easy ride. The intercity rail network also makes day trips to Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft quick.
Licensed taxis wait at ranks at Rotterdam Centraal and the airports, or use Uber/Bolt for an upfront price. For short hops in the flat centre, the city is built for bikes — but be careful as a pedestrian: the red-asphalt lanes are for cyclists only, traffic moves fast, and stepping into one can earn a fine.
Visa & entry
The Netherlands is in the Schengen Area. Many nationalities can visit for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa; others must apply for a Schengen short-stay visa in advance via the Dutch authorities (the official Netherlands Worldwide / consulate channels). The EU's new ETIAS travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors is still being phased in and is not yet required — but check the official EU ETIAS page before you travel in case it has come into force for your nationality and dates. Carry proof of your event registration and accommodation.
Money
Euro · EUR
The Netherlands is heavily cashless — contactless card and phone payment is accepted almost everywhere, including transit. Note that some Dutch shops and markets take only Maestro/Mastercard debit and may decline Visa or Amex, so carry a contactless Mastercard to be safe.
Service is included, so tipping is optional — rounding up the bill or leaving around 5-10% for good service in a restaurant is appreciated but never required.
Connectivity
KPN, Vodafone, Odido and Lebara prepaid SIMs from airport and city shops; EU 'roam-like-at-home' means a SIM from any EU country also works at no surcharge
Plug: Type C / F (two round pins, European) · 230V / 50Hz
Emergency
General: 112 (Europe-wide emergency, English-speaking)
Fire: 112
Safety
Rotterdam is a safe major city. The main everyday risk is pickpocketing in crowds — on the metro, at markets and around the station — so keep your phone and wallet secure. Take real care with the cycle lanes: the red-asphalt paths are for bikes only, cyclists move fast, and walking or standing in them is both dangerous and finable. Lock bikes well if you hire one, as bike theft is common.
Where to pray
Essalam Mosque (Essalam Moskee): The largest mosque in the Netherlands, with tall minarets and a capacity of around 1,500 — a major Friday congregation in the south of the city, with separate halls for men and women and parking. Check the exact jummah time locally as it shifts with the season.
Neighbourhood mosques & prayer rooms: Rotterdam's Turkish and Moroccan communities run numerous mosques and prayer rooms across the southern and western districts, so a place to pray is rarely far in the diverse parts of the city.
Airport multi-faith rooms: Schiphol — the main arrival airport — has quiet multi-faith meditation and prayer rooms in the terminals for travellers between flights.
Getting here
Travelling from a major halal market?
Most halal-expo buyers and exhibitors fly in from the world's main halal hubs. Here's how to reach Rotterdam from each. Entry rules vary by nationality, so check the Visa & entry note.
See the full Rotterdam travel guide →
Sources: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias · https://www.ret.nl/en/home/travel-products/ovpay.html · https://www.ns.nl/en · https://www.politie.nl/en/contact
Prayer times during the expo
Calculated for Rotterdam Ahoy (Muslim World League method, Shafi'i Asr). These are approximate, confirm with a local mosque or a prayer-times app on the day.
| Day | Fajr | Sunrise | Dhuhr | Asr | Maghrib | Isha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sat 9 May | 02:10 | 04:58 | 12:39 | 16:48 | 20:20 | 22:55 |
| Sun 10 May | 02:05 | 04:57 | 12:38 | 16:48 | 20:21 | 22:59 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Halal Expo Netherlands?
- The Netherlands' halal trade exhibition at Rotterdam Ahoy convention centre. Gateway for halal products entering the Benelux and wider European market through the Port of Rotterdam logistics corridor.
- When is Halal Expo Netherlands 2026?
- Halal Expo Netherlands takes place from May 9 to May 10, 2026.
- Where is Halal Expo Netherlands held?
- Halal Expo Netherlands is held at Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
- What industries does Halal Expo Netherlands cover?
- Halal Expo Netherlands covers food beverages, logistics supply chain.
- Who should attend Halal Expo Netherlands?
- Halal Expo Netherlands is most relevant to Halal certification bodies, Food & beverage manufacturers, Foodservice & HORECA buyers, Logistics & cold-chain providers, Importers, distributors & wholesalers, Retail & procurement buyers and Halal trade buyers across Europe.
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