On Scene: Ben Diggins On Rotterdam’s Club Culture And The Story Behind ‘Going South’
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- 5 min read
Rotterdam announces itself differently from the rest of the Netherlands.
Where Amsterdam leans into canals and history, Rotterdam feels sharper, more forward-looking. Steel bridges cut across the river, modern towers dominate the skyline and neighbourhoods pulse with international energy. The city rebuilt itself after the Second World War and that sense of reinvention still defines its personality today.
For DJ and producer Ben Diggins, Rotterdam has always been more than a backdrop. It is the place where friendships formed, musical instincts developed and the foundations of his sound quietly took shape.
“The city I call home is called Rotterdam. Even though I grew up in a village next to it (Berkel en Rodenrijs), it is the place where I spent most of my days. To me, it means community, friends, home, and fun memories.
I remember going here for the first time as a kid and always being amazed by its pretty skyline. The one city in the Netherlands with a great skyline. I just have loads of nice memories here growing up and can’t wait to make more.”
That relationship with the city sits in the background of Diggins’ latest release, the ‘Going South’ EP on Haven Trax, which blends deep house groove with jazz influences and melodic warmth. Following a breakout year that included releases on Michel de Hey’s Future Feel and Infinite Pleasure alongside regular appearances at Thuishaven, the four-track EP shows a producer finding confidence in both musicality and dancefloor rhythm.
But the story begins long before the studio.
For many DJs, there is one night that changes everything. For Diggins, that moment arrived inside one of Rotterdam’s most distinctive club spaces.
“That has to be Toffler. I had my first experience with house music there together with someone that now become one of my closest friends.
I remember going down the stairs at this venue and walking into the tunnel, completely filled with people, lights, and music. It was a magical night in which I truly experienced the magic of house music and connecting with others at parties.”
While clubs like Toffler introduced him to the energy of the dancefloor, Rotterdam’s grassroots events helped shape the community around it.
“At The River is a party that people should know about. It is a party organized by some friends of mine, I have also helped with a few editions, but it’s just a party that really focuses on showcasing how good local talent can be.
It is also the party that holds a memory dear to me: the first B2B set with my best friend and DJ LIMA, it was our best B2B together as we prepared for nice chill vibes and had to play a peak time party. We quickly adapted and followed our intuition and had a legendary set together.”
Outside the booth, the rhythm of the city shifts. Rotterdam’s pace encourages moments of reset between late nights and studio sessions.
“I personally go to the gym or into the forest, Bergse Bos, which is close to Rotterdam. I like to do sports or be active in nature. I can just go there, listen to some music, and zoom out for a bit. I really like that and feel that it is necessary to do once in a while, since life is already so busy.”
Back in the city centre, food plays its role in the routine.
“A restaurant in Rotterdam I go to often is Tai Wu. People who know me know that I am a sucker for Asian food, and this Chinese restaurant just hits the spot for me. They have amazing Peking duck, great dim sum, and the restaurant is always packed with Chinese people. That is usually a good sign for a Chinese restaurant.”
Rotterdam itself resists easy definition. It is a city shaped less by one neighbourhood and more by diversity.
“That’s the thing about Rotterdam. It is very diverse. If you ask me, there isn’t really a neighborhood really capturing the essence of the city. I personally like the center the most. It is vibrant, has all the nice restaurants and concert halls and a lot of nice activities all around.”
That international character feeds directly into the music being made there.
“I think for me it would be the international environment here. I have been growing up with all sorts of different music, and I think my love for Latin and world music wouldn’t have been possible if Rotterdam didn’t have a conservatory for Latin music at which my mom taught.”
For outsiders, Rotterdam is sometimes misunderstood.
“They think it lost its culture, since it was bombed during World War 2. They think it lacks history because of it. I personally think that the rebuilding of the city also shaped the mentality of the city. People enjoy life, and they work hard. They are real and genuine, and I like that.”
Within the local electronic community, one collective continues to push the scene forward.
“A local crew from Rotterdam that you should take a look at is Repress. It is a crew from Rotterdam with some great friends of mine. I played for them quite a bit and also organized some parties with them. They have a great sound and really good DJs who really know how to set a vibe at a party. I always enjoy being with them.”
By the early hours, the city carries a different atmosphere entirely.
“3 AM Rotterdam is exciting, but also busy. Lots of cars are going around, but also a lot of energy is around. I think I would choose DJ Dakar – It’s Going Down.”
Eventually, the perfect night ends the same way many nights across the Netherlands do.
“There is something that everyone in the Netherlands knows, and that is called ‘Kapsalon’. A great night out ends with a Kapsalon. It is a dish with French fries at the bottom, doner kebab on top, and to finish it off, melted cheese. Beautiful, if you ask me.”
For visitors arriving with only a day to explore, Diggins keeps things simple.
“If someone were to land tomorrow with 24 hours with no plan, they should go to the center and walk around to see the Markthal, Witte de With, and the Kubus houses. They are all next to each other. A nice view of the city with some food, some drinks, some bars, and some weird architecture, very nice!”
With ‘Going South’ now out on Haven Trax, Ben Diggins continues to translate Rotterdam’s international character and club culture into a sound where deep house groove meets jazz influence and emotional depth.
Ben Diggins
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