Custom bag with rot•zooi

SUSAN BIJL got to work with rot•zooi, a project by Theater Rotterdam, together with Stichting Schouders Eronder and Reset Yourself.

rot•zooi gives young people affected by the childcare benefits scandal the space to visualise, share and reshape their experiences. Over the past months, seven young creatives from Rotterdam worked alongside artists including Brian Elstak, Xaviera Altena, Stacii Samidin, Sioe Jeng Tsao, Jane Stjeward-Schubert, and Max Rijkers to transform their personal stories into powerful works of art. From February 20th to March 15th, their work was on display at the Kunsthal Rotterdam.

SUSAN BIJL hosted a workshop as part of the project, in which the creatives developed their own one-of-a-kind shopping bag, focusing on connection, making, and celebrating perspectives that have remained unseen for too long.

On Thursday 16 April 2026, the Kunsthal Rotterdam will host a festive rot•zooi auction: the culmination of it all. The creatives take centre stage, both literally and figuratively; a moment when their work is seen, appreciated and supported. In addition to the artworks, unique Rotterdam-themed items and experiences will be auctioned, including the exclusive SUSAN BIJL bag. All proceeds go directly to the young creatives to invest in their own development and future. The auction will be conducted by Wouter van Aken (Adams Auctions Amsterdam).

rot•zooi is made possible in part by Fonds Cultuurparticipatie and the Municipality of Rotterdam.

It was an absolute pleasure hosting the workshop, and we are very proud of what these creatives have made.

The project was captured in a documentary captured by Luuk Sieben

Photography by Jan Bijl