New Years Reception 2026
The KVVAK cordially invites its members to a special New Year’s gathering on Sunday, 1 February, in Rotterdam to experience the newly opened FENIX Migration Museum and Verhalenhuis Belvédère.
We will be welcomed at Verhalenhuis Belvédère by director Linda Malherbe and FENIX registrar Yahui Wang, who will introduce their respective institutions. Following the introductions, guests will have the opportunity to visit FENIX, located opposite Verhalenhuis Belvédère, explore its exhibitions, and experience the iconic tornado designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong.
After the visit to the FENIX Museum, members will return to Verhalenhuis Belvédère, where Edwin Liem, Chairman of the KVVAK Board, will deliver a New Year’s address. For those who wish, curator Fenmei Hu will lead a guided tour of Image Migration, together with David Zee, who will be present in person. The exhibition, created in collaboration with artist Vera Zhou, explores Zee’s remarkable family history and the story of Europe’s first Chinatown.
The afternoon will conclude with a toast as we ring in the new year together.
Programme
2:30 Welcome coffee and tea at Verhalenhuis Belvédère
3:00 Opening words by director of Verhalenhuis Belvédère Linda Malherbe
Introduction to FENIX by registrar Yahui Wang
3:30-5:00 Visit Fenix. Buy your own ticket in advance https://tickets.fenix.nl/en/tickets
5:00-6:00 Return to Belvedere for NY Speech & Toast by Edwin Liem chairman of KVVAK, tour of the exhibition Image Migration with Verhalenhuis Belvédère curator Fenmei Hu and David Zee
ABOUT
FENIX Museum of Migration
Recently opened, FENIX is one of Europe’s most ambitious new museums dedicated to the global history of migration. Located in a historic port warehouse at the edge of the Maas River, FENIX blends striking contemporary architecture (including the award-winning Tornado rooftop staircase) with powerful narratives of movement, diaspora, loss, resilience, and hope. Its exhibitions combine art, personal stories, archival material, and immersive installations, tracing how migration has shaped cities and cultures worldwide – including Rotterdam itself.
Verhalenhuis Belvédère
A cultural house dedicated to the stories of migrants, communities, and makers, Verhalenhuis Belvédère sits at the heart of Katendrecht, a neighbourhood long shaped by arrival, departure, and cultural exchange. Its exhibitions and programmes explore migration through art, photography, oral histories, and social architecture, highlighting both local and global narratives. It is a living archive of people and their pathways — a museum of stories in the broadest and richest sense.