Maastunnel

Maastunnel, A Pioneering Project Beneath The River Maas

The Maastunnel in Rotterdam was an ambitious and innovative undertaking for its time. Construction began on June 15, 1937, initiated by the municipality of Rotterdam. It was the first underwater tunnel in the Netherlands and, at the time, also the longest in Europe.

The project emerged from the urgent need for a better connection between the two banks of the River Maas, due to population growth and the rise of port activities in the 1930s.

In 1935, the Department of Public Works proposed building a suspension bridge, but since it would have required a minimum height of 60 meters, the cost was deemed too high. Eventually, a tunnel was chosen as a more financially viable solution.

The idea was proposed by L.W.H. van Dijk, director of Gemeentewerken, and the design was created by architects J.P. van Bruggen and Ad van der Steur, who were inspired by the Holland Tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey.

Construction was carried out using the immersed tube method, in which tunnel sections are built off-site and then sunk into the riverbed. The Maastunnel consists of nine segments, each measuring 60 meters long, 25 meters wide, and 9 meters high.

Each section includes separate tubes for:

Automobiles (two lanes)
Cyclists (two bike lanes)
Pedestrians (a sidewalk)

In addition, an advanced ventilation system was installed, along with an air quality control laboratory. The total cost of the project exceeded 9 million euros.

The Maastunnel was officially inaugurated on February 14, 1942, during the German occupation of Rotterdam, so the opening took place without public celebrations.

The legacy of the Maastunnel in Rotterdam

Since its opening, the Maastunnel has become a key piece of infrastructure for urban transportation in Rotterdam. On a typical weekday, more than 75,000 cars and 4,000 cyclists pass through it.

Despite its age, the Maastunnel remains one of the longest underwater tunnels in Europe, and a remarkable example of durable engineering. In 2012, it was declared a national monument, and its 75th anniversary was celebrated in 2017.

Between 2017 and 2020, the tunnel underwent a comprehensive renovation that lasted about three years. It was finally reopened in October 2020, upgraded and ready to continue fulfilling its essential role in the city.

Watch a video with photos from this bridge, (English with Spanish subtitles).

Discover other bridges in Rotterdam