Maritiem District 

In the Maritime District, you’ll experience the origin of Rotterdam. The Maritime District is originally an old port area. The Leuvehaven, Glashaven, Wijnhaven, Scheepmakershaven and the Oude Haven are former port areas which now belong to the Maritime District. On historical ships and cranes you can experience how Rotterdam came to be the world’s port.

The Maritiem Museum is located in the Maritime District. Behind the Maritiem Museum is De Verwoeste Stad (The Ruined City). This bronze statue created by Ossip Zadkine shows a human fi gure without a heart, a symbol of Rotterdam which was hit in the heart by the German bombing.

Around the corner from the Maritime District is the Rotterdam Tourist Offi ce (VVV). It is always helpful to walk in if you’d like additional information. The Rotterdam Tourist Offi ce is located next the famous Schielandshuis, the only preserved 17th-century building in the city center of Rotterdam that survived the bombing in May 1940. It was built between 1662 and 1665. Since 2017 it has also housed a restaurant.

Witte de Withstraat

Witte de Withstraat, or rather: the Witte de With Quarter, as it is now being called by entrepreneurs, has become one of the most vibrant entertainment areas in the city. To be precise, Witte de With runs west to east between Schiedam Vest and Eendrachtsweg.

In addition, Witte de With Quarter is the beating heart of Rotterdam’s art scene. Because Witte de Withstraat connects Museumpark and the Maritiem Museum, and offers itself a variety of cultural institutions, it is called the Art Axis of Rotterdam.

Every year Kunst in de Witte de With Kwartier is held here in September. This is a three-day art festival with (inter)national artists, Rotterdam heroes and new talent. It gives a cross-section of everything that Rotterdam has to offer with regard to art and culture.

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