Culture, Art, and Architecture in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is different. While many cities have a historic center that serves as an open-air museum, Rotterdam chose something entirely different after its destruction in 1940: a city that constantly reinvents itself. And you can see that in everything: impressive architecture, creative street art, the museums, and vibrant festivals. In this blog, I’ll take you on a tour of the most beautiful cultural highlights of the City on the Maas.

Architecture as an Open-Air Museum of Concrete and Glass

Rotterdam is unique in the Netherlands: because the city center was almost completely destroyed by bombing in 1940, the city was subsequently rebuilt with some of the most daring and innovative architecture in the world. Every building tells a story.

The Cube Houses

The yellow-gray Cube Houses by architect Piet Blom (1984) are perhaps the most photographed structures in Rotterdam. The houses are tilted at a 45-degree angle on stilts—a completely revolutionary concept for its time. You can also take a look inside one of the houses at the Kijk-Kubus museum. Did you know you can even spend the night in one of the Cube Houses?

Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot

This reflective, egg-shaped building in the Museumpark is both an architectural gem and a world first: the world’s first publicly accessible art depot. Designed by Rotterdam architect Winy Maas (MVRDV), the building houses no fewer than 151,000 works of art from the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum. You can stroll among the art, see how conservation and restoration work is carried out, and enjoy a spectacular view from the rooftop terrace. It’s an experience both inside and out.

Rotterdam Central Station & the Erasmus Bridge

Even the train station in Rotterdam is an architectural masterpiece. Rotterdam Central Station, reopened in 2014, features a dramatic pointed roof that points toward the city like a giant arrow. And as soon as you step into the city, you’ll see the Erasmus Bridge, the bridge with its distinctive asymmetrical pylon called “The Swan” and considered by many to be the most beautiful in Europe. Thanks to its slender shape and cable-stayed design, the bridge has become an icon. Illuminated at night, it’s absolutely magical.

Sonneveld House & Het Nieuwe Instituut

For anyone who loves architectural history, Huis Sonneveld (1933) is a must-see. This residence is a masterpiece of functionalism: the architecture, interior, and furnishings are perfectly harmonized. It’s located in the Museumpark, right next to Het Nieuwe Instituut—the national museum of architecture, design, and digital culture. With rotating exhibitions and a beautiful terrace overlooking the wild garden, this is a wonderful place to discover Rotterdam’s architectural history.

The Markthal

The Markthal isn’t just any covered market—it’s also an architectural icon. This building, too, was designed by MVRDV and opened in 2014 as the Netherlands’ first market hall. Its massive horseshoe shape encloses an inner courtyard filled with stalls, restaurants, and shops. The ceiling—an 11,000-square-meter work of art featuring fruits, vegetables, and flowers—is sometimes referred to as Rotterdam’s Sistine Chapel. Inside or outside, day or night: the Markthal is always a spectacle.

Rotterdam as an Open-Air Gallery with Its Street Art

Rotterdam is one of Europe’s best cities for street art. Throughout the city, you’ll find murals that transform building facades into works of art. Six official street art walking routes have been developed by Rewriters010, with a free app that guides you past the most beautiful works.

Witte de Withstraat & Surroundings

The highest concentration of street art can be found in and around Witte de Withstraat. In the Kromme Elleboog (a side street), you’ll find colorful Brazilian murals created during an art exhibition in 2009. Just around the corner on Zwarte Paardenstraat hangs the famous work “El Trotamundos” by Chilean artist Jorge Kata Nuñez—a giant colorful horse with a world map painted on it, which even has its own Wikipedia page. You’ll also find a mural by Lastplak here featuring all of Rotterdam’s iconic landmarks: from the Euromast to the Cube Houses.

Rotterdam by Tymon de Laat – Street Art & Street Food

BiteMe Food Tours offers a wonderful street art & street food route. Together with street artist Tymon de Laat, they’ve put together a route that—via the BiteMe Food Tours app—takes you past his own works, hidden art by fellow artists, and five culinary stops personally selected by him. Along the way, the app guides you past Tymon de Laat’s most beautiful works: large-scale, photorealistic portraits that have garnered worldwide admiration. Through the app, Tymon also points out street art he finds particularly special and other lovely spots in the city. Works by fellow artists, hidden installations, and stories known only to insiders.

Schieblok & Luchtsingel

Close to Rotterdam Central Station lies the Schieblok, a creative building featuring striking street art and the yellow Luchtsingel—a 380-meter-long pedestrian bridge that has breathed new life into a formerly abandoned corner of the city. The bridge’s yellow color and the street art in the alley surrounding it create a spot that’s guaranteed to be Instagram-worthy. In the summer, you can also stop by for a drink at the open-air beer garden.

Rotterdam Museums

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen houses one of Europe’s most beautiful and diverse art collections, featuring works by Rembrandt, Dalí, Van Eyck, and Magritte. The museum is currently undergoing a thorough renovation but is hosting special pop-up exhibitions in the meantime. Meanwhile, the adjacent Depot is making all 151,000 works of art accessible to the public—a unique way to experience the collection.

Fenix – Museum of Migration

Fenix opened its doors in 2025 on the Wilhelminapier—and immediately became one of the most extraordinary museums in the Netherlands. Fenix tells the story of migration: about love and farewells, about coming home and feeling at home, about identity and happiness. Located at the historic site of migrants’ departure and arrival, in a renovated warehouse featuring a spectacular extension that includes a tornado sculpture. Through art, culture, and flavors, Fenix takes you on a journey through the stories that shape the world.

Kunsthal Rotterdam

The Kunsthal organizes more than twenty exhibitions a year, making it one of the most dynamic cultural institutions in the Netherlands. From photography and fashion to contemporary art and design—the program is always surprising and accessible. The building itself, designed by Rem Koolhaas, is a sight to behold. The Kunsthal is the starting point for the Urban Art Safari’s street art route.

Rotterdam Maritime Museum

If you understand why Rotterdam is the way it is, you’ll also understand this museum. The Maritime Museum showcases the maritime history of the city and the port in a surprising and interactive way. The outdoor area, featuring historic ships and old harbor cranes, is free to visit and perfect for a stop during a city walk. The hands-on children’s exhibition “Professor Plons” also makes this a great outing for families.

Festivals & Cultural Events

Rotterdam is also a true festival city. There’s plenty to experience all year round, from film festivals to music and architecture.

International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) (Jan–Feb) – One of Europe’s largest film festivals, featuring hundreds of films, art installations, and events spread throughout the city. For over 10 days, Rotterdam transforms into a film city.

Rotterdam Art Week (March) –At more than fifty locations throughout the city, you can visit exhibitions, open studios, art walks, and talks. Art Rotterdam at Ahoy is the beating heart of the week.

Rotterdam Architecture Month (June) – The largest architecture festival in the Netherlands, featuring over 125 events at 40 locations. This includes Architecture Day & Night, with tours, workshops, and performances.

North Sea Jazz Festival (July) – The world’s largest jazz, funk, and soul festival, featuring global stars and up-and-coming talent at Ahoy Rotterdam. A cultural highlight that draws visitors from all over the world.

Summer Carnival (July) –Every July, Rotterdam bursts with vibrant colors during the Summer Carnival—the Netherlands’ largest street festival and one of Europe’s biggest Caribbean carnival celebrations. With samba, steel drums, and beautifully decorated floats, the parade winds its way through the city center, followed by a multi-day festival filled with music, dance, and Caribbean street food. The atmosphere is infectious and the energy unforgettable.

World Port Days (September) – One weekend a year, Europe’s largest port opens its doors to the general public. During World Port Days, you can climb aboard ships, admire port cranes up close, and truly experience the enormous scale of the Port of Rotterdam. There are boat tours, demonstrations, music, and activities for children—a unique look behind the scenes of the engine of the Dutch economy.

Culture in Rotterdam is embedded in the very stones of its buildings, in the murals on the facades, on the streets, and in the museums. It’s a city that invites you to look beyond the obvious and rewards you with surprises around every corner.

Photo credits: OpstapmetLisa and Bite Me Food Tours