Rotterdam and Breda selected as host cities for World Leisure Congress 2024

10/17/19

The World Leisure Congress will be organized in the Dutch cities of Rotterdam and Breda in September 2024. This was formally announced today by the Board of Directors of the World Leisure Organisation during the WL Expo in Hanzhou, China. The theme for the Dutch 2024 edition will be ‘Leisure for a better society’.

The WLC 2024 event will bring approximately 1,000 international experts in the field of leisure to the Netherlands for a four day programme, with one afternoon scheduled for technical tours and satellite events. The main hosting city is Rotterdam, where the delegates will stay during the whole congress. The first congress day will take place in Breda (venues Grote Kerk & Breda University of Applied Sciences, BUAS), the other congress days take place in Rotterdam (venues Rotterdam Ahoy and the former submarine wharf at RDM Rotterdam.

Breda and Rotterdam are both cities that have an extremely rich and diversified offer in terms of leisure, which makes them excellent cities to host this congress about leisure.

The Dutch bid was a co-production of BUAS and Rotterdam Partners, with support of Rotterdam Topsport and Rotterdam Festivals. According to the Board of Directors of the World Leisure Organization, particular strengths of the Dutch bid were “the excellent combination of the BUAS, a strong scientific partner for the Congress and Rotterdam, a modern, artistic and vibrant city for delegates. Furthermore the Netherlands is extremely accessible from many places around the world for reasonable prices”.

Leisure for a better society

During the week/long programme the theme ´Leisure for a better society´ will be given focus and meaning using three perspectives: social, economic and sustainability. Besides the scientific legacy of the WLO Congress 2024 for the Netherlands and Europe, several initiatives during the congress will ensure a substantial legacy of the WLO Congress 2024 in the form of a World Leisure Week: a week full with attention for leisure in the cities of Breda and Rotterdam through community engagement projects, a field school and an industry day.

About the congress and the WLO

The World Leisure Congress is an initiative of the World Leisure Organization. WLO is a global organisation in the field of leisure and is recognised by the United Nations. It works together with scientists, governments and entrepreneurs on knowledge development and education that contribute to the recognition of the right to free time and quality of life for each individual in the world. This leading congress takes place biennially, each time in another country. In 2020, its host will be China and in 2022 it will be New Zealand.