Oudehaven

Oudehaven, Rotterdam’s historic old harbour

Oudehaven is one of the most picturesque and lively historic harbours in Rotterdam. Located in the heart of the city, next to the famous Cube Houses and the Witte Huis, it combines historic ships, modern architecture, restaurants and terraces overlooking the water.

Although its name literally means Old Harbour, Oudehaven is not actually the oldest harbour in Rotterdam. That title belongs to the Steigersgracht, tucked away between Hoogstraat and Blaak.

Oudehaven is, however, one of the best places to discover Rotterdam’s maritime past and see how the city has incorporated its old harbours into the modern urban landscape.

History of Oudehaven

Construction of Oudehaven began in 1328, at a time when Rotterdam was starting to develop its commercial and maritime activities.

The harbour came into use around 1350 and for centuries played an important role in the growth of the city and its relationship with shipping and trade.

Oudehaven is connected to Wijnhaven and Haringvliet, forming part of Rotterdam’s historic network of urban harbours.

Oudehaven historic harbour in Rotterdam — Historic harbour in Rotterdam, Oudehaven

Oudehaven During World War II

The bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940 destroyed much of the city centre and also severely affected the Oudehaven area.

However, several buildings survived. Among them is the Witte Huis, one of Rotterdam’s most recognisable historic buildings and one of the landmarks of this part of the city.

Decades later, the area underwent another major transformation. In 1977, architect Piet Blom was commissioned to take part in its redevelopment. His architecture would radically change this part of Rotterdam, most notably with the construction of the famous Kubuswoningen, or Cube Houses.

Historic ships at Oudehaven

Today, Oudehaven functions as a kind of open-air maritime museum. Numerous historic vessels can be seen in the harbour, some of which are still used as homes.

Oudehaven is also home to the Koningspoort, a small shipyard where owners of historic Dutch vessels can take their boats out of the water for maintenance and restoration work.

Together, the old vessels and maritime facilities offer a glimpse of the important role that Rotterdam’s smaller urban harbours played in everyday life for centuries.

What to see at Oudehaven

Oudehaven’s central location makes it easy to combine the harbour with some of Rotterdam’s best-known attractions.

Next to the harbour are the famous Kubuswoningen (Cube Houses), designed by Piet Blom, and the historic Witte Huis. Nearby, you can also visit the Mariniersmuseum and continue walking towards Wijnhaven and the other old harbours in the city centre.

This combination of historic ships, surviving old buildings and striking modern architecture makes Oudehaven one of the most characteristic areas of Rotterdam and a particularly interesting place for photography.

Restaurants and terraces at Oudehaven

Oudehaven is also one of the liveliest areas in central Rotterdam. Around the harbour you will find numerous restaurants, bars and terraces overlooking the water and historic ships.

The area is particularly popular during spring and summer, when the terraces fill up and Oudehaven becomes a busy meeting place for both locals and visitors.

At night, some venues stay open until late, giving the old harbour a lively atmosphere after dark.

Visiting Oudehaven in Rotterdam

Oudehaven is located in the heart of Rotterdam and is very easy to include in a walking route through the city centre. You can combine your visit with the Cube Houses, Blaak, Markthal, Witte Huis and the historic harbour areas around Wijnhaven.

You do not need much time to walk around the harbour, although it is worth stopping to admire the historic vessels and enjoy the views from one of the waterfront terraces.

If you are looking for maritime history, architecture and atmosphere in one place, Oudehaven is one of the most interesting areas to visit in central Rotterdam.

Watch Oudehaven on Video

Take a closer look at Oudehaven in our video featuring photos of this historic Rotterdam harbour. The video is in English with Spanish subtitles.

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