Westersingel

Westersingel Sculpture Route in Rotterdam

The Beeldenroute (Sculpture Route) along Westersingel is a pleasant walk beside the canal featuring several works from Rotterdam’s International Sculpture Collection. Westersingel is located just a short walk from Rotterdam Central Station.

Along this route, which is approximately one kilometre long, you can see sculptures by internationally renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Joel Shapiro, Umberto Mastroianni, Paul McCarthy and Auguste Rodin.

The Sculpture Route forms part of Rotterdam’s so-called Cultural Axis and is one of the easiest ways to discover some of the city’s public art while exploring the centre on foot.

From Westersingel you can easily walk to Museumpark and the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. In the opposite direction, you can reach Witte de Withstraat, an area known for its galleries, museums, restaurants and boutiques.

Art and museums around Westersingel

Some of Rotterdam’s best museums are located around Museumpark, including the Kunsthal and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

In this map of Westersingel, you can see the locations of the sculptures displayed along this popular canal. We recommend opening the map on a computer, as the document is quite large.

The history of Westersingel

Until the beginning of the 19th century, Rotterdam was largely confined within its city boundaries. Industries that could not be accommodated in the crowded centre developed in the area now occupied by Westersingel.

The area also contained vegetable gardens and modest houses for poorer residents. Later, wealthy Rotterdam families began building large houses and gardens here.

In the middle of the 19th century, city architect Willem Nicolaas Rose developed an ambitious plan for a system of canals designed to improve the city’s water management. Westersingel became part of this plan and formed the western edge of the expanding city.

During the second half of the 19th century, impressive mansions once again appeared along the avenue. Several of these historic buildings can still be seen today, adding to the character of a walk along Westersingel.

Picasso, Rodin and other sculptures

One of the highlights of the route is Sylvette, the monumental concrete sculpture designed by Pablo Picasso and created in collaboration with Carl Nesjar.

Another of Westersingel’s best-known works is Santa Claus by Paul McCarthy, the controversial sculpture on Eendrachtsplein popularly known in Rotterdam as “Kabouter Buttplug”.

Together with works by artists such as Auguste Rodin, Joel Shapiro and Umberto Mastroianni, these sculptures turn Westersingel into a small open-air museum that can be visited free of charge at any time.

Other sculptures in Rotterdam