Groothandelsgebouw

The Groothandelsgebouw in Rotterdam, opened in 1953, is one of the most iconic buildings of the reconstruction period. Designed by architects Hugh Maaskant and Willem van Tijen, the building symbolizes Rotterdam's resilience and spirit of renewal after the devastation of World War II.

At the time, the Groothandelsgebouw was the largest business building in Europe and housed various wholesalers, importers and exporters. It still is and we would like to invite you to enter the building to see the inside and courtyards.

With its robust and functional design, built of reinforced concrete, steel and glass, the Groothandelsgebouw was a perfect fit for the modern architectural principles of the postwar period. The building offers a mix of offices, warehouses, and stores and features large windows that provide plenty of light. The elevated walkways and internal pathways were designed to allow logistical traffic to flow efficiently.

The Groothandelsgebouw plays a crucial role in Rotterdam's urban development, as it stimulated entrepreneurship and helped restore the city's economy. The building symbolizes reconstruction and the modern vision of work and urban planning. Due to its monumental status, the Groothandelsgebouw is today one of the most important heritage sites of the reconstruction period in Rotterdam.

Fun fact: there is a cinema on top of the building, which is still used today for presentations and conferences. It gives a great view of the station square.

And one more additional fact: when it was completed, the building had far more parking spaces than necessary, as there were only 150 cars driving around Rotterdam at the time. But the designers had foreseen that the trend of car use would increase and there would be a need for parking spaces.