Rotterdam Museum 40 45 NOW

The living memory of the war

Museum Rotterdam ’40-’45 NOW is dedicated to the history of Rotterdam during the Second World War and, in particular, to the devastating bombing of 14 May 1940.

The museum originated from the private collection of Arie Mast, who was born in Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district in 1929. As a child, Mast experienced the bombing of Rotterdam, the German occupation and the difficult years of the Second World War.

In the 1970s, he began collecting objects related to the war. His collection eventually became so large that Rotterdam City Council provided him with a small building in Katendrecht where the objects could be displayed.

In 1988, a foundation was created to manage the collection and preserve the memory of Rotterdam during the war.

From private collection to museum

The collection continued to grow and was moved to another building in 1995. Two years later, the museum became known as the War and Resistance Museum Rotterdam.

In 2006, the building housing the museum was scheduled for demolition, making it necessary to find a new location. With support from the Municipality of Rotterdam, the museum was able to relocate and completely renew its exhibition.

Since 2015, it has been part of Museum Rotterdam and has been known as Museum Rotterdam ’40-’45 NOW.

The bombing of Rotterdam

The museum shows what life was like in Rotterdam during the Second World War and the consequences of the bombing of May 1940 for the city and its inhabitants.

Photographs, films, documents, uniforms and everyday objects help reconstruct the stories of people who experienced the occupation, persecution and resistance.

A 28-metre-long display gallery contains a large part of the collection, from uniforms and military equipment to seemingly ordinary objects that reveal personal stories connected with the war.

A multimedia experience

One of the highlights of the museum is a powerful multimedia experience that takes visitors back to Rotterdam on 14 May 1940.

Around an eight-metre-long touchscreen table, images, personal stories and sound recreate the moment when bombs fell on the city and show the devastating consequences of the destruction.

The exhibition does not focus only on military events. It pays particular attention to the personal experiences of Rotterdam’s inhabitants and to how the city began rebuilding after the war.

Museum Rotterdam ’40-’45 NOW: practical information

Before visiting, you can check current exhibitions, ticket prices and opening times on the official Museum Rotterdam website.

Other museums in Rotterdam

Chabot Museum | Douane Museum | Fenix Museum | Het Nieuwe Instituut | Kunsthal | Kunstinstituut Melly | Mariniers Museum | Maritiem Museum | Museum Boijmans | Natuurhistorisch Museum | Nederlands Fotomuseum | Wereldmuseum