Chabot Museum

Chabot Museum, expressionist art in Museumpark

The Chabot Museum in Rotterdam is dedicated primarily to the work of Dutch painter and sculptor Henk Chabot, one of the most important representatives of Expressionism in the Netherlands.

Since 1993, the museum has been housed in an elegant white villa in Museumpark, in the heart of Rotterdam’s cultural district. In addition to its art collection, the building itself is one of the most interesting aspects of a visit.

A villa of the Nieuwe Bouwen Movement

The museum is housed in a villa built in 1938, considered one of the outstanding examples of Nieuwe Bouwen (New Building), the Dutch architectural movement associated with modernism.

This style, which developed during the first decades of the 20th century, emphasised functionality, open spaces, light and the absence of unnecessary decoration. The building’s white and geometric architecture makes the museum itself part of the experience.

Henk Chabot and his work

Henk Chabot was born in 1894 and was closely connected to Rotterdam for much of his life. His work includes paintings, drawings and sculptures, covering subjects such as landscapes, farmers, gardeners, portraits, figures and animals.

The Second World War also left a deep mark on his work. Part of his work was lost during the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940, while other paintings reflect the war and the difficult circumstances of those years.

The first museum dedicated to Chabot opened in 1962 in Hillegersberg, the Rotterdam district where the artist lived and worked for many years. In 1993, the collection moved to its current location in Museumpark.

What to see at the Chabot Museum

The collection allows visitors to discover different stages of Henk Chabot’s career through his paintings, drawings and sculptures. The museum also presents exhibitions related to Expressionism and other artists connected to his period and artistic environment.

Because of its relatively small size, the museum is easy to combine with other attractions in Museumpark, such as the Kunsthal, Het Nieuwe Instituut or the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Chabot Museum: Practical information

From Rotterdam Centraal, the museum is approximately a 10-minute walk away. There is also paid parking at Parkeergarage Museumpark, located at Museumpark 32.

Other museums in Rotterdam

40-45 NOW | Douane Museum | Fenix Museum | Het Nieuwe Instituut | Kunsthal | Kunstinstituut Melly | Mariniers Museum | Maritiem Museum | Museum Boijmans | Natuurhistorisch Museum | Nederlands Fotomuseum| Wereldmuseum