Category: Architecture

  • Fancy McDonald’s

    Fancy McDonald’s

    The World is the word Once the ugliest structure in Rotterdam and nowadays one of the World’s Fanciest McDonald’s (2016). Also it won the German Design Award (2016) granted by the German Design Council. Originally built somewhere in the year 1968 as a cigar shop. The McDonald’s is at the popular Coolsingel street since the…

  • Cube Houses

    Cube Houses

    Roll the Dice The famous Cube Houses (1982-1984) connect the Oude Haven (Old Harbor) and the Blaak areas in Rotterdam. The 51 iconic Cubic Houses (kubushuizen) in Rotterdam are by architect Piet Blom. With 38 actual Cubic Houses between 13 Company Cubes. Each Cube House is approximately 100 m2 with three floors inside. Behind the…

  • Montevideo

    Montevideo

    The big M The Montevideo tower in Rotterdam carries the same name as the capital city of Uruguay in South America. It is in the Kop van Zuid neighborhood and built from 2003-2005. The name refers to a warehouse once in the area. The big letter M on top stands for Montevideo but also the…

  • Groot Handelsgebouw

    Groot Handelsgebouw

    None of your business The Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam from 1947-1953 is by architects H.A. Maaskant and Ir. W. van Tijen. As the name says it is a large business building and a national monument. It is one of the first larger buildings after World War 2 in Rotterdam. Due to the bombings on the 14th…

  • Delftse Poort

    Delftse Poort

    Fata Morgana The Delftse Poort building (1988-1991) in Rotterdam is by architect Abe Bonnema. It is in the Neo-rationalism architectural style. Altogether the entire building has a surface of 106.000 m2. The highest tower (41 floors) is 151 meters high while the lower tower (25 floors) reaches 93 meters into the sky. Together they provide 65.000 m2 office…

  • Maastunnel

    Maastunnel

    Tunnel vision The Maastunnel is one of the most outstanding structures in Rotterdam. It is also the oldest immersed tunnel in the Netherlands. With the start of the construction in 1937 (three years before the 2nd World War)  and the opening during the war In 1942. The Maastunnel in Rotterdam is well hidden in the…

  • Central Station

    Central Station

    The City Portal Until 1957 Rotterdam had four smaller train stations instead of a actual Central Station. All near and around the city center area. Already in 2004 there were plans for a new Central Station in Rotterdam. This because by 2025 the city expects a growth from 110.000 to a 320.000 daily travelers. The…

  • New Orleans

    New Orleans

    Newer Orléans While New Orleans is named after the French place Orléans, there is a tower with a similar name in Rotterdam. Alongside the Nieuwe Maas river stands the New Orleans in Rotterdam. The tower (2007-2010) is by the architect Álvaro Siza. The New Orleans in Rotterdam is 158 meters and 45 floors high. Underneath…

  • De Hef

    De Hef

    A bridge for the King Until 1993 trains in Rotterdam went over the Koningshavenbrug. Since then trains go through tunnels in the Nieuwe Maas river. In Rotterdam the Koningshaven bridge is mostly popular as the De Hef. Because it is a lift bridge from 1927. The De Hef part stands for lift. Actually from 1877…

  • World Port Center

    World Port Center

    imPORTant The World Port Center (1998-2001) in Rotterdam is by the architect Sir Norman Foster. With its 124 meters height the second high-rise building ever in the Kop van Zuid area. The building has two towers and a middle interconnecting part. While the squared tower is 80 meters high the semi-round tower is 100 meters…