Groot Handelsgebouw

The Groot Handelsgebouw, measuring 200 meters long and 85 meters wide, with a total area of 128,000 square meters, stands as a symbol of Rotterdam’s rebuilding after the war.

The complex is 35 meters tall and has five entrances. It was the biggest building in the Netherlands at the time. Construction began in 1948, finished in 1951, and was inaugurated by Queen Juliana in 1953.

The bombing in 1940 destroyed 380,000 square meters of commercial space in Rotterdam, making it financially impossible for many business owners to build new establishments.

In 1944, entrepreneur Frits Pot proposed the idea of a multi-story building for wholesalers. Franz Lichtenauer from the Chamber of Commerce and Kees van der Leeuw, a key figure in post-war reconstruction, embraced the concept.

The architectural firm of Van Tijen and Huig Maaskant was tasked with the project. They drew inspiration from Chicago’s Merchandise Mart for the new building.

During its early days, many wholesalers had their showrooms, warehouses, and offices in the building.

The building also has a network of interior streets for truck circulation. On the rooftop, there were two shared dining areas and a cinema called Kriterion. The ground floor housed the still-active Grand-Café Engels, initially managing the emergency dining facility.

In the 1970s, a significant fire affected the Grand Handelsgebouw, ranking as one of Rotterdam’s largest fires. Over time, wholesalers gradually moved to the outskirts of the city. The Grand Handelsgebouw went through a transition from wholesale business to small offices.

In 1996, the building changed its name from Groothandelsgebouw (wholesale building) to Groot Handelsgebouw (large commercial building) as there were no longer wholesale businesses present, only offices.

Following an extensive renovation and restoration completed in 2005, the Grand Handelsgebouw regained its majestic appearance and was officially declared a National Monument.

Currently, it houses offices for more than 450 companies and remains open 24 hours a day. Event and party spaces are also available for rent.

From the rooftop relaxation area, there are magnificent views of Rotterdam.

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