The city hall of Rotterdam is a monument and one of a few buildings that survived the 2nd world war.
The City Hall of Rotterdam is located at a prominent place at Coolsingel and opposite to Stadhuisplein. The City Hall, the Post Office and the Lawrence Church are one of the few buildings that survived the bombing of Rotterdam during the 2nd World War.
The Rotterdam City Hall was built between 1914 and 1920, in an era when Coolsingel was turned into a fashionable promenade. It was designed by the Rotterdam architect Henri Evers in Renaissance style. The building is completely symmetrical and consists of 4 wings, built around a green courtyard. The 70 meters high tower with a clock, a bell and an angel of peace is probably the most striking part of the City Hall. During the holiday season Rotterdam’s biggest Christmas tree is located in front of the City Hall.
At the front of the City Hall there’s a large balcony, that is used for festivities, for example when the Rotterdam soccer team Feyenoord has a celebration. The Dutch Queen has been on this balcony as well when she celebrated Queen’s’ Day in in Rotterdam. Above the balcony you can see the gable referring to the Dutch Golden Age, containing all the coats of arms of the municipalities in Rotterdam. The Virgin of Rotterdam is carved out between. Furtermore you can see a niche at the front of the City Hall, accommodating a statue of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, the former attorney of Rotterdam and the personifications of Entrepreneurship, Management, Reliability and Perseverance above the balcony.
The City Hall is still in use today and from the Central Hall, the Council Chamber and Citizens’ Hall can be accessed . Both these halls have got murals related to the history of Rotterdam. The Citizens’ Hall is a beautiful hall that is used by the Mayor for official events and contains an organ from 1920. A special wedding room is located in the City Hall and you will regularly see honeymooners posing for the camera in front of the City Hall.
The Rotterdam City Hall has been an official monument since 1997 and all lounges and halls can be visited during the Open Monumentdagen (open day for monuments).
In front of the City Hall, just across Coolsingel, have a drink or go out at Stadhuisplein. The City Hall is just a stone’s throw away from the Meent shopping area. Refer to the overview of other unique sights in Rotterdam.
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