Schielandshuis

Schielandshuis: a 17th-century palace in Rotterdam

The Schielandshuis is one of the most important historic buildings in central Rotterdam and an exceptional survivor of the city that existed before the Second World War.

It was built between 1662 and 1665 for the Schieland Water Board, at a time when Coolsingel was still a canal. The building was designed as a prestigious headquarters for the administrators responsible for managing the dikes and water systems around Rotterdam.

With its elegant façade and palace-like appearance, the Schielandshuis was one of the most impressive buildings in 17th-century Rotterdam. Throughout its long history, it received important visitors, including Napoleon Bonaparte.

From administrative headquarters to museum

Over the centuries, the Schielandshuis was used for several different purposes. In 1773, a theatre was established in the basement, and parts of the building were later used by Rotterdam’s municipal authorities. The city eventually purchased the property in 1840.

After the death of art collector Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans in 1847, his collection was bequeathed to the city, and the first Museum Boijmans opened here in 1849.

A serious fire in 1864 destroyed much of the interior of the Schielandshuis and approximately two-thirds of the museum’s collection. After reconstruction, Museum Boijmans reopened in 1867 and remained in the Schielandshuis until 1935, when it moved to the new museum building in what is now Museumpark.

A survivor of the bombing of Rotterdam

The Schielandshuis has special historical value because it survived the bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940, which destroyed much of the city’s historic centre.

It is one of the few surviving 17th-century buildings in central Rotterdam and offers a glimpse of a very different city from the modern metropolis that surrounds it today.

After an extensive restoration, the building reopened in 1986 and for many years housed the Historical Museum of Rotterdam and the Atlas van Stolk collection. The Atlas van Stolk later left the Schielandshuis and has been associated with the Bibliotheek Rotterdam since 2021.

Atlas van Stolk and the history of the Netherlands

The Atlas van Stolk is an important historical collection founded by Rotterdam timber merchant Abraham van Stolk (1814–1896). Today it contains almost 300,000 images relating to the history of the Netherlands, including prints, drawings, photographs and posters.

In this case, the word “atlas” does not refer simply to a collection of maps, but was a term used in the 19th century for this type of historical image collection. Since 2021, the Atlas van Stolk has been associated with the Bibliotheek Rotterdam and the collection continues to grow.

In 2022, the Atlas van Stolk was included in the Dutch UNESCO Memory of the World Register, recognising its importance as a visual record of Dutch history.

The statue of William IV

In front of the building stands a statue of William IV, Count of Hainaut, a figure closely connected with the history of Rotterdam.

On 7 June 1340, William IV granted Rotterdam important city rights. The statue was placed beside the Schielandshuis in 1990, when Rotterdam commemorated the 650th anniversary of this historic event.

Schielandshuis: practical information

Other monuments in Rotterdam

Bibliotheek | Groot Handelsgebouw | Hoofdpostkantoor | Hotel New York | Kubuswoningen | Sint-Laurenskerk | ss Rotterdam | Stadhuis | Van Nelle | Watertoren | Witte Huis