Stadhuis

The Stadhuis (Town Hall), was built after filling in the Coolsingel canal and tearing down the old Zandstraat neighborhood, a place frequented by criminals and prostitutes. The mayor of Rotterdam at that time, Zimmerman, wanted to clean up the area and construct a new and impressive town hall on the empty land. On January 1, 1912, a large police force entered the neighborhood to remove all the remaining people, and the next day, they began demolishing the neighborhood.

In 1913, a competition was held among seven architects to design the new town hall, and Henri Evers, the organizer of the competition, won with his neorenaissance style that drew influences from neo-Romanesque and neo-Byzantine architecture.

Rotterdam didn’t need such a large town hall, but perhaps Zimmerman foresaw the city’s growth.

The Stadhuis was built between 1914 and 1920 using primarily sandstone. It follows the traditional palace structure, with a central entrance, two side wings, and a rear extension that enclose an inner courtyard.

Great care was taken to decorate the building. The facade features 11 medallions by L.F. Edema van der Tuuk. On the first floor, there is a hall adorned with murals by Johan Thorn Prikker, which is used for official receptions and wedding banquets held in the adjacent hall. In front of the Town Hall, you’ll find a statue of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, a retired official, created by A.W.M. Odé, and a statue of Hugo de Groot, a Dutch scholar and playwright, crafted by Auke Hettema.

During the bombing in May 1940, the City Hall, along with the Central Post Office, remained unharmed. However, due to the intense heat from the fire caused by the bombing, some parts of the concrete dried out. Consequently, the building still requires periodically attention in those areas.

Over time, the sandstone has become darker, so in 2000, specialists cleaned the exterior of the building using special techniques.

Since 2006, the Stadhuis has undergone significant restoration work and is now partially repurposed. The basements and attics, previously used for storage, now serve as meeting rooms and a staff restaurant. This internal reorganization ensured that the building could continue functioning as a town hall.

Inside, you’ll find offices for civil servants. The building measures 86 by 106 meters, and its tower, standing at a height of 70 meters, is situated above the central hall. It has been recognized as a monument since 1977.

At the top of the town hall tower, there is a 3.5-meter-tall statue called Vredesengel (Angel of Peace) created by the artist Johan Keller.

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