Museumpark

The cultural heart of Rotterdam

Museumpark is a green area in the centre of Rotterdam and one of the city’s main cultural districts. As its name suggests, some of Rotterdam’s most important museums and cultural buildings are located around the park.

The park occupies part of the former estate of the Van Hoboken family, an important Rotterdam shipping family. Around 1850, they built Villa Dijkzigt here, which still stands today and is now home to the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam.

Museums around Museumpark

Museumpark and its surroundings contain an extraordinary concentration of museums and cultural institutions. Here you will find Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Kunsthal Rotterdam, the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, Het Nieuwe Instituut and the Chabot Museum.

You can also visit Huis Sonneveld, one of the best-preserved examples of Dutch functionalist architecture from the 1930s.

Art, gardens and public spaces

Museumpark is not only a place for visiting museums. Its different areas include gardens, sculptures and public spaces where you can relax or take a walk between cultural visits.

Among its features are gardens, ponds and the monument dedicated to G.J. de Jongh, the engineer and former director of Rotterdam’s Public Works Department who played an important role in the development of the port and the modernisation of the city. The sculptural decoration of the monument includes work by Rotterdam sculptor Leendert Bolle.

The park also connects easily with other interesting parts of the city centre, making it possible to combine several museums in a single walking route.

Events and public space in Museumpark

Beneath part of Museumpark lies a large underground car park with a water storage facility capable of temporarily holding up to 10 million litres of excess rainwater during heavy rainfall.

Above the car park is a large public space used for activities and events throughout the year. Its central location and concentration of cultural attractions make Museumpark one of Rotterdam’s most versatile cultural and recreational areas.

Museumpark Rotterdam: practical information

Other parks in Rotterdam

Arboretum Trompenburg | Blijdorp Zoo | Dakpark | Eiland van Brienenoord | Het Park | Kralingse Bos | Luchtpark Hofbogen | Plaswijckpark | Schoonoord | Vroesenpark