The easiest way to celebrate a birthday with friends in Rotterdam is to give the evening a fixed programme: dinner first, then a show you all go to together, then a drink if you still have energy. At BonTon Rotterdam on Oostplein that show is a live performance by male dancers lasting an hour and a half, on Friday and Saturday. You can make the birthday girl the centre of attention with a lap dance, which you book as an extra with your tickets.
Why a show works as the centrepiece
With a big group of friends everyone usually wants something different. A scheduled show solves that: one time, one place, one programme, and nobody has to decide on the spot what comes next. BonTon Rotterdam is at Oostplein 226 and runs two shows every Friday and Saturday, with music, lighting effects and signature cocktails.
Choose the night and the show
The club is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 19:00 to 01:00. Each night has an early and a late show, and doors open 30 minutes before each:
- Friday: early show 20:00–21:30, late show 22:30–00:00
- Saturday: early show 19:30–21:00, late show 22:00–23:30
An early show leaves the rest of the night free for a drink somewhere else. A late show gives you plenty of time for dinner first. Show times can change, so check the ticket page before you book.
Making the birthday girl the star
A lap dance is not included in the ticket. You book it as an extra, during or after buying your tickets, and it is performed on the stage. The number of spots per show is limited and they go to whoever books first, so do not leave it until the day itself.
A photo moment is not included either and is booked separately during your visit. Filming or taking photos yourself inside the club is not the idea, so the photo moment is how you take a memory home.
Surprise or not?
A surprise only works if you are sure the birthday girl will enjoy it. Ask someone who knows her well before you buy tickets. If you do want to surprise her, tell her only that it is an evening to dress up for and that she needs to be ready at a set time. Let her decide for herself about a lap dance: nobody has to take one, and according to NL Times the dancers do not push if you decline.
Booking for a big group
You can book up to 30 tickets online in one go; for a larger group, contact the club. Tickets cannot be moved to another date or time after purchase, although you can resell them through the ticket platform. Let one friend make the booking and agree that everyone pays straight away, so nobody has to chase money later.
Dress code and practicalities
The dress code is "dress to impress": stylish, sexy and ready for a night out. Sportswear and beachwear are not welcome, and the doorman decides if there is any doubt. The minimum age is 18, so bring valid photo ID. The show uses strobe and flashing lights, which matters if you have photosensitive epilepsy.
Before and after the show
For dinner or drinks, head to the city centre. According to Rotterdam Tourist Information, Witte de Withstraat is one of the city's most popular nightlife areas on Friday and Saturday nights. If you want to carry on afterwards, the same site mentions Toffler, a house and techno club in a former metro tunnel. Check opening times and entry conditions there yourself before you plan it in.
Getting home
Oostplein has its own metro station. According to Wikipedia, lines A, B and C stop there, although line A does not run in the evenings. Plan your journey home in the 9292 planner beforehand, check the last regular connection and agree who is travelling with whom. On Friday and Saturday nights RET also runs night buses from Rotterdam Centraal, with the first departures between about 00:30 and 01:00, according to Rotterdam Style.
Book your tickets
Date settled? Check the show times and tickets to see which shows still have space, and add a lap dance for the birthday girl while you book. More practical details are on the plan a visit page.