Stadhuis

The City Hall That Survived the Bombing

The Stadhuis of Rotterdam was built after the Coolsingel canal was filled in and the old Zandstraat district—an area known for crime and prostitution—was demolished. Mayor Zimmerman decided to clean up the area and build a grand city hall on the cleared land. On January 1, 1912, the police evicted the residents, and the following day, demolition of the neighborhood began.

In 1913, an architectural competition was held and won by Henri Evers, whose Neo-Renaissance design with Neo-Romanesque and Neo-Byzantine influences was chosen for the new building.

Construction took place between 1914 and 1920, using sandstone as the main material. The Stadhuis has a traditional palace layout, with a central porch, two side wings, and a rear annex, all enclosing an inner courtyard.

Decoration and Artistic Elements

Special attention was given to the decoration of the building. On the façade, 11 medallions by L.F. Edema van der Tuuk were installed. On the first floor, the hall with murals by Johan Thorn Prikker is used for official receptions and weddings.

In front of the Stadhuis stand statues of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (by A.W.M. Odé) and Hugo de Groot (by Auke Hettema), highlighting the artistic richness of the building. The 70-meter-high tower is crowned by the Vredesengel (Angel of Peace) statue by Johan Keller, which stands 3.5 meters tall.

History, Restoration, and Current Use

The Stadhuis managed to survive the bombing of May 1940. The heat from the fire affected the concrete in some areas, so additional maintenance is still required. Over time, the sandstone darkened, and in 2000 it was cleaned using special techniques.

Since 2006, the building has been restored and partially repurposed: the basements and attics, once used for storage, now house meeting rooms and a restaurant, allowing the city hall to continue operating. The interior also includes offices for civil servants, and the building has a footprint of 86 by 106 meters.

The Stadhuis remains an iconic monument of Rotterdam, combining history, art, architecture, and civic functions, and stands as a lasting symbol of the city.

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