Maastunnel

Maastunnel, a pioneering project beneath the River Maas

The Maastunnel is one of Rotterdam’s great engineering achievements and the oldest immersed tunnel in the Netherlands. Built between 1937 and 1942, it runs beneath the Nieuwe Maas and connects the northern and southern parts of the city.

The project was developed to improve connections between both banks of the river as Rotterdam’s population and port activities continued to grow. In 1935, a large suspension bridge was considered, but technical difficulties and the high construction cost eventually led to the decision to build a tunnel instead.

History of the Maastunnel

The technical design was led by engineer J.P. van Bruggen, while the architectural design was created by Ad van der Steur. Construction began in June 1937 using what was, at the time, an innovative immersed-tube construction method.

The tunnel was built using nine large prefabricated concrete sections, each approximately 61 metres long, 25 metres wide and 9 metres high. The elements were constructed separately, transported into position and carefully lowered into a trench excavated in the riverbed.

The Maastunnel is approximately one kilometre long and reaches its deepest point at around 20 metres below NAP. Its interior is lined with around 800,000 white ceramic tiles.

A tunnel for cars, bicycles and pedestrians

One of the most interesting features of the Maastunnel is that it was designed from the beginning for several types of traffic. The complex contains four separate tunnel tubes: two for motor vehicles, one for bicycles and one for pedestrians.

Cyclists and pedestrians reach their respective tunnels using the characteristic wooden escalators inside the entrance buildings on both sides of the river. These access buildings, together with the ventilation structures, are among the most recognisable features of the Maastunnel complex.

Opening during the Second World War

The Maastunnel officially opened on 14 February 1942, during the German occupation of the Netherlands. Because of the circumstances of the war, the opening took place without the large public celebrations that had originally been planned.

Construction had started before the war and, despite the occupation and the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940, work continued until the tunnel was completed.

Maastunnel in numbers

The legacy of the Maastunnel in Rotterdam

More than eight decades after its opening, the Maastunnel remains an essential connection between the north and south of Rotterdam. Its historical, architectural and technical importance led to the complex being designated a Rijksmonument in 2014.

Between 2017 and 2020, the road, bicycle and pedestrian tunnels underwent a major renovation and restoration. In addition to upgrading safety systems, many original architectural elements from 1942 were carefully restored.

Restoration of the Maastunnel buildings

The conservation of the complex is continuing. Since late 2025, the historic ventilation buildings and escalator entrance buildings on both sides of the Nieuwe Maas have been undergoing restoration.

The work includes restoration of façades, windows, roofs, floors and original architectural details. The project is being carried out in phases and is expected to continue until 2028. The bicycle and pedestrian tunnel remains accessible during the work, although temporary restrictions may occasionally apply.

Watch our video below for more images of the Maastunnel and its distinctive interior.

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