Fenix Museum

Fenix, Rotterdam’s museum of migration

Fenix is Rotterdam’s new museum dedicated to migration and the stories of people who have left their place of origin to start a new life. Opened to the public in May 2025, it is located in Katendrecht, one of Rotterdam’s neighbourhoods with the strongest historical connections to migration and the port.

The museum occupies a historic harbour warehouse dating from 1923, originally built for the Holland-America Line, the shipping company that for decades transported large numbers of European emigrants from Rotterdam to America.

Fenix combines personal stories, photography and contemporary art with one of its most spectacular features: a striking double-helix staircase known as the Tornado, which rises through the heart of the building to a panoramic viewing platform above the roof.

From harbour warehouse to museum

Fenix occupies the historic San Francisco Warehouse, built in 1923 on the former quays of Katendrecht. The enormous warehouse was closely connected to the activities of the Holland-America Line and the movement of goods and passengers through Rotterdam’s port.

During the Second World War, parts of the warehouse were badly damaged. A fire in 1948 destroyed another section of the building. It was subsequently rebuilt as two separate structures, later known as Fenix I and Fenix II.

The transformation of Fenix II into a museum was designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong and his studio MAD Architects. The project preserves important industrial elements of the original building, including its concrete structure and historic façades, while adding a striking contemporary architectural element.

The Tornado at Fenix

The most spectacular architectural feature of the museum is the Tornado, a double-helix staircase that rises through the former warehouse and continues up through the roof.

The structure reaches a panoramic viewing platform around 30 metres above the ground, offering impressive views across the Rijnhaven, Katendrecht, Wilhelminapier and Rotterdam’s skyline.

Its winding design reflects the journeys, changes of direction and uncertainties associated with migration. The combination of the historic harbour warehouse and this futuristic structure makes the building itself one of the main reasons to visit Fenix.

What to see at Fenix

Fenix’s exhibitions explore migration, identity and the movement of people from different perspectives. Rotterdam plays a central role in these stories because of its importance as an international port and a place where people from all over the world have arrived and departed.

One of the main exhibitions is All Directions: Art That Moves You, which brings together historical and contemporary works by artists from around the world, exploring different aspects of migration and movement.

Another of the museum’s most striking installations is the Suitcase Labyrinth, made up of around 2,000 suitcases donated by individuals. Each suitcase represents a personal journey and reminds visitors that behind large-scale migration are millions of individual stories.

The Family of Migrants is a documentary photography exhibition featuring around 200 photographs by 136 photographers from 55 countries, showing the human side of migration through different places and periods in history.

Fenix and the history of Katendrecht

The museum’s location has a special significance. Katendrecht has been closely connected with the port, sailors and the arrival of people from other countries for more than a century.

At the beginning of the 20th century, an important Chinese community developed here, initially linked to maritime and port work. For decades, Katendrecht was also known for its bars, nightlife and former red-light district.

The area has undergone a huge transformation and is now one of Rotterdam’s most interesting neighbourhoods for culture, food and entertainment. Close to the museum you will find Deliplein and the Rijnhavenbrug, which connects Katendrecht with Wilhelminapier.

Fenix Museum: Practical Information

Before your visit, you can check current exhibitions, opening hours, tickets and activities on the official Fenix website.

Other museums in Rotterdam

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