Centraal station

Rotterdam Centraal: history, architecture and international connections

Rotterdam Centraal is Rotterdam’s main railway station and one of the city’s major gateways. In addition to its importance as a national and international transport hub, its spectacular building has become one of the symbols of modern architecture in Rotterdam.

Before the Second World War, Rotterdam had several railway stations but no single central station. The bombing of May 1940 destroyed much of the city centre and also affected the railway infrastructure.

During the post-war reconstruction, a new central station was built on the present site, replacing the former Delftse Poort station. Designed by architect Sybold van Ravesteyn, it opened in 1957 and became one of the representative buildings of post-war Rotterdam.

Architecture of Rotterdam Centraal

The spectacular present-day building was designed by Team CS, a collaboration between Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA Meyer en Van Schooten Architecten and West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture.

One of its most distinctive features is the enormous angular stainless-steel roof above the main entrance, which appears to point directly towards Rotterdam’s city centre. The glass façade allows natural light to enter the spacious station hall.

Despite being a completely modern building, several elements from Van Ravesteyn’s former station were preserved. The large clock and the original Centraal Station lettering were incorporated into the new façade, creating a link between the historic station and the present one.

Construction of the new station

The transformation of Rotterdam Centraal was one of the city’s major urban projects during the early decades of the 21st century.

The transformation began in the mid-2000s and entered a new phase in 2007, when demolition of the former station began. During the following years, a much larger complex was constructed to accommodate the growing number of passengers.

The project included the renovation of the platforms and their roofs, a new main station hall, the metro station, parking facilities for bicycles and cars, and a complete transformation of Stationsplein and its surroundings.

The new Rotterdam Centraal was officially opened by King Willem-Alexander on 13 March 2014.

An international railway station

Rotterdam Centraal is one of the main transport hubs in the Netherlands. Trains depart from here for numerous Dutch cities, as well as international high-speed services to destinations such as Antwerp, Brussels, Paris and London.

The station also connects national and international trains with Rotterdam’s metro, trams and buses, making it easy to continue your journey to almost any part of the city.

Its central location also makes it an excellent starting point for exploring Rotterdam on foot. From the station, you can quickly reach places such as Coolsingel, Lijnbaan, Calypso and Westersingel.

An icon of Rotterdam architecture

Rotterdam Centraal is particularly notable for the combination of stainless steel, glass and wood used in its design. The enormous roof covering the railway tracks also incorporates solar panels, integrating sustainable solutions into the architecture of the station.

Since its opening, the building has received various architectural awards and has become one of the first images many visitors see when arriving in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam Centraal: practical information

Other buildings in Rotterdam

Belvedere | Calypso | Cooltoren | De Rotterdam | De Zalmhaven | Delftse Poort | Depot | Euromast | Maastoren | Markthal | Millennium Tower | WTC