Witte Huis

The Witte Huis (White House) in Rotterdam is an office building constructed between 1897 and 1898 by the architect W. Molenbroek, commissioned by the brothers Gerrit and Herman van der Schuijt. These individuals were two Rotterdam entrepreneurs.

With its impressive height of 45 meters, The White House was the tallest office building in Europe during its time, and for decades, the tallest building in the Netherlands.

History of Het Witte Huis

After a trip to New York in 1894, Gerrit was inspired by the multi-story buildings and skyscrapers he encountered there. The brothers owned several buildings in the area, which were demolished to make way for The White House.

The design of The White House follows an Art Nouveau style with an “American” influence, but it was constructed as a brick tower instead of using steel, as was customary in America.

Prior to commencing construction in 1897, skeptics warned about the “soft” ground of Rotterdam. To address this, a thousand pilings were driven into the ground for the foundations. During construction, a neighboring building collapsed, leading to its demolition and creating more space for Rotterdam’s first “skyscraper.”

Three million bricks and 300 m² of hard stone were used in the construction. It’s exterior walls were built with 100,000 glazed white bricks. The building was completed in one year, and its official inauguration took place on September 8, 1898. The interior featured an elevator, central heating, gas, electric lighting, and a telephone exchange for the tenants. Having an elevator in the building was extremely modern for that era.

This historic building survived World War II and, along with the Sint-Laurenskerk, was one of the few structures that remained standing in the area.

The exterior of The White House bore numerous bullet impacts, which were later removed during restoration. However, one bullet impact on the left side, facing the Wijnhaven quay, was preserved. There were also plans for its demolition, but they were never carried out.

In 1977, the White House was purchased by the Westermeijer Group, initiating a profound renovation. In 2015, special LED lighting was installed, illuminating the building at night. Furthermore, the original bells, which had been removed out of fear they might fall, were reinstated.

Witte Huis and Cubic Houses from the south of the river

Exterior of Het Witte Huis

The five sculptures adorning The White House were created by the sculptor Simon Miedema. These statues depict Navigation and Progress on the south side, Agriculture and Industry on the east side, and Trade on the north side.

The exterior of the building is clad in natural and glazed (white) brick, featuring Art Nouveau floral motifs. Inside, the iron staircase, the ornate railings, and the stained-glass windows with floral designs have been preserved.

The rounded corner windows have stone reliefs with winged dragons at the base, as well as wrought-iron lamp hooks adorned with floral motifs. The rooftop boasts wrought-iron railings.

While The White House remains closed to the public, visitors can access its rooftop during the Wereldhavendagen festival in September.

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