Maastorenflat

The Maastorenflat was the tallest residential building in the Netherlands, when it was completed in 1956, with 14 stories. The building combined apartments with office spaces, and a retail showroom. And that was quite unique at the time!

If you stand at the back side of the building, you will find a glass elevator shaft. This provides residents with an amazing panorama during the trip to and from their homes, something you hardly see anymore in modern buildings.

In addition to the Maastorenflat, the architect Herman Bakker also designed shopping center Zuidplein and office building De Leuve, which you will encounter further along the route. The architect was incredibly productive and designed more than 26 buildings, most of them in Rotterdam.

Fun facts

• The stairs on the side of the Maastorenflat, are purely for show
• You will find two works of art around the building, which is a characteristic element in reconstruction architecture that you will encounter more often during this tour.
• The Maastorenflat was almost demolished to make room for the iconic Erasmus Bridge. Because the building became a municipal monument, fortunately that didn't happen. Now the front door of the flat is located on the bridge.