Museum Guide Rotterdam. Discover all 47 Museums in the City!

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Rotterdam is a city full of culture and history. It is known for its impressive architecture, bustling harbor and vibrant arts scene. Rotterdam has a diverse range of museums that are worth visiting and represent a wide range of art, culture, history and science. In this blog post we have listed all museums in Rotterdam, so that you can easily discover which museum suits you best! Whether you are interested in modern art, maritime history or science, there is something for everyone.

Atlas by Stolk

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The Atlas van Stolk museum is located in Rotterdam and contains an extensive collection of historical prints, drawings and photos from Dutch history. The collection is partly displayed on the 3rd floor of the Central Library in Rotterdam

Museum website

Tax & Customs Museum

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Discover the fascinating world of tax and customs in the Tax & Customs Museum Rotterdam! Here you will learn everything about our history, economy and society. The museum offers an interactive experience for young and old where you can experiment with different methods to smuggle or track money.

Museum website

Boijmans Van Beuningen

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Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest and leading museums for modern and contemporary art in the Netherlands, located in Rotterdam. The museum has a wide collection of works of art from different periods and disciplines, ranging from medieval art to modern and contemporary art. The museum's collection includes more than 152,000 works of art, including paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints, crafts and design. Highlights include works by famous artists such as Hieronymus Bosch, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, Rembrandt van Rijn, Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dali.

Museum website

BRUTUS

Brutus is an art institution in Rotterdam, or better said, a playground for artists where they are given free rein to experiment. BRUTUS makes impossible and unwanted art projects possible and strives to become the new cultural magnet of Rotterdam, where art can be seen that confronts, disrupts and stimulates. BRUTUS can be found on the Keileweg in the emerging creative port area MH4. It is a spacious location of a total of 6000 m2, where, in addition to various large and small industrial exhibition spaces, the workshop of Atelier van Lieshout and a freely accessible sculpture garden can be found.

Museum website

Chabot Museum

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This museum is specially dedicated to the Dutch painter and sculptor Henk Chabot (1894-1949). It is located in Museum Park in Rotterdam and is housed in a monumental villa from 1938. The building has been a national monument since 2000. The museum's collection includes works from the 1920s by Kees Schortemeijer, as well as 26 works from the Second World War from the private collection of Cornelia (Neeltje) Tol-Breugem.

Museum website

Blijdorp Zoo

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Blijdorp is a well-known zoo in Rotterdam with a rich history and many special animals. The zoo has various enclosures, such as the Oceanium, the Amazonica rainforest, the African savannah area and the Asia section. In addition to admiring the animals, Diergaarde Blijdorp also offers educational programs for young and old, such as guided tours, workshops and special events. This way you will not only learn more about the animals themselves, but also about their habitat and the zoo's efforts to protect endangered species.

Museum website

Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot

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Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is a new museum depot that opened in Rotterdam in November 2021. The Depot is a striking seven-storey building with a striking mirrored facade, which reflects the sky and everything that happens around it. It offers space for the entire collection of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, consisting of more than 152,000 works of art, ranging from old masters to contemporary art. In addition, the Depot also offers work space for artists and for conservators and restorers to research and maintain works of art.

Museum website

Dutch Pinball Museum

The Dutch Pinball Museum is a museum in Rotterdam, dedicated to pinball machines. Founded by a few avid pinball enthusiasts, the museum offers visitors the chance to play on a collection of more than 120 pinball machines from different periods, from the 1950s to modern day. At the museum, visitors not only have the chance to play the pinball machines, but also to learn more about the history of this iconic game and its development over the years.

Museum website

Fenix Emigrants Museum

The Fenix Emigrants Museum is a museum that focuses on the history of the emigrants who left Rotterdam for the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum is located in De Fenixloods on Katendrecht, a historic place where many of these emigrants once started their journey. In the museum you will learn more about the adventures, dreams and expectations of the emigrants and about the reasons why they decided to emigrate. The exhibition contains many authentic objects, such as suitcases, letters and photos, as well as interactive elements and multimedia presentations.

Museum website

Feyenoord Museum

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The Feyenoord Museum is a museum dedicated to the history and achievements of the Rotterdam football club Feyenoord. The museum is located in De Kuip, Feyenoord's stadium. In the museum you will find numerous historical objects, such as shirts, cups, medals and other memorabilia, that reflect the rich history of Feyenoord. In addition, the museum contains many stories and videos about the highlights and heroes of Feyenoord, such as Coen Moulijn, Willem van Hanegem and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Museum website

FutureLand

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FutureLand is an information center located on the Maasvlakte in Rotterdam. The information center is dedicated to the port of Rotterdam and developments in shipping and logistics. FutureLand offers visitors a unique view of the latest technologies and innovations in the port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.

Museum website

Garage Rotterdam

Museum Garage Rotterdam is a museum for contemporary art that is located in a former Volkswagen garage in the center of Rotterdam. The museum has a medium-sized exhibition space in which contemporary art is exhibited. The exhibitions mainly focus on recent developments in contemporary visual art and are thematic in nature.

Museum website

Sonneveld House

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Huis Sonneveld is a modernist house located at Jongkindstraat 12 in Rotterdam. The house was built in 1933 and named after the Sonneveld family - one of the directors of the Van Nelle factory - who lived there from 1933 to 1955. In 1978, the house was purchased by the municipality of Rotterdam and restored into a museum home, in which the interior and furnishings from the 1930s can be seen. It is one of the best preserved houses from the Nieuwe Bouwen period in the Netherlands.

Museum website

Houweling Telecom Museum

The Houweling Telecom Museum is a museum in Rotterdam that focuses on the history of telecommunications and the development of technologies that we use today. The museum has an extensive collection of telecommunications equipment, including old telephones, telegraphy equipment, radio and television sets and computers. The museum shows the development of these devices over the years, from early inventions to the modern technologies we use today.

Museum website

Museum house De Kiefhoek

Museum house De Kiefhoek is a museum house, located in the Feijenoord district. It is one of the few remaining homes in the Kiefhoek, a residential area that was built in the 1920s as part of an experimental reconstruction program after the First World War. Museum house De Kiefhoek has been restored and furnished as a typical house from that time. The interior is sober and functional, with furniture and accessories that match the style of the 1920s.

Museum website

Kijk Kubus Museum House

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The Kijk-Kubus Museum House is a museum house located on the Blaak in Rotterdam. It is one of the most striking buildings in the city due to its striking cube-shaped architecture and futuristic appearance. The Kijk-Kubus Museum House is furnished as a typical house from the 1970s, with vintage furniture and decoration. The Cube Houses were designed with the aim of providing a solution to the urban development problems of the 1970s, such as the hustle and bustle of the city and the lack of space.

Museum website

Kunsthal

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The Kunsthal Rotterdam is an internationally leading museum for modern art, located in the Museum Park of Rotterdam. It was founded in 1992 and has since built a reputation as an important center for contemporary art. The Kunsthal does not have a permanent collection, but organizes regularly changing exhibitions covering a wide range of works of art and styles.

Museum website

Laurenskerk

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Museum Laurenskerk is located in the Sint-Laurenskerk, one of the oldest and best-known churches in Rotterdam. The museum focuses on the history of the church and the city of Rotterdam. The museumm has an extensive collection of religious art, including paintings, statues and liturgical objects. In addition, there are also archaeological finds that were made during excavations around the church. The museum also offers guided tours of the church and regularly organizes events and exhibitions. The St. Laurens Church itself is also a popular tourist attraction because of its special architecture and the role the church has played in the history of Rotterdam.

Museum website

Marines museum

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The Marines Museum is located in Rotterdam and is a museum that shows the history and work of the Dutch marines. The museum was founded in 1947 and is located in a former barracks of the Royal Navy. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the history of the Dutch marines and their role in various wars and conflicts.

Museum website

Maritime Museum

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The Maritime Museum Rotterdam is a museum dedicated to the history of the maritime world and shipping. The museum is located in the historic city center of Rotterdam and aims to introduce visitors to the rich maritime history of Rotterdam and the Netherlands. The museum has a large collection of shipping-related objects, such as ship models, navigation instruments, paintings, photographs and even complete ships.

Museum website

Art Institute Melly

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The Melly art institute, formerly known as the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, is a leading contemporary art center in Rotterdam. The institute is located in a monumental building on Witte de Withstraat in the center of Rotterdam and has several floors with exhibition spaces, a library, an auditorium and a café.

Museum website

Miniworld Rotterdam

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Miniworld Rotterdam is an indoor miniature world located in the center of Rotterdam, next to Central Station. It includes a detailed miniature landscape of the city of Rotterdam and the surrounding area, complete with buildings, streets, bridges, cars, trains and moving parts. It is built to 1:87 scale, which means everything is about 87 times smaller than in reality. Visitors can explore the miniature world and activate interactive features such as lights, sounds and moving parts.

Museum website

Museum Harbour

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The Museumhaven Rotterdam is an open-air museum located in the heart of the Rotterdam harbour. It is a collection of historic ships brought together to show the maritime history of the city. The Museumhaven Rotterdam includes more than 25 ships, ranging from tugboats to cargo ships and historic sailing ships. The majority of the ships are more than 50 years old and have played an important role in the history of the port of Rotterdam.

Museum website

Museum Hillesluis

Museum Hillesluis is a former small-scale museum for contemporary art in South Rotterdam on Riederlaan in Hillesluis. The museum organized eight to ten changing exhibitions and projects every year. Artists from the region often took center stage. The Museum Hillesluis closed its doors in January 2007.

Museum website

Museum of Ceramics Pablo Rueda Lara

The Museum of Ceramics Pablo Rueda Lara is located in historic Delfshave and focuses on promoting and exhibiting the ceramics of the Mexican artist Pablo Rueda Lara. The museum was founded by his widow and contains an extensive collection of his work, including vases, plates, bowls and sculptures.

Museum website

Museum Oud Overschie

Museum Oud Overschie is a museum dedicated to the history of the village of Overschie, which is now a sub-municipality of Rotterdam. The museum is located in a historic building from the 18th century, which originally served as the town hall of the village. The museum offers a rich collection of objects, photos and documents that illustrate the history of Overschie. The exhibitions show, among other things, how the village has developed over time, the influence of shipping on the economy and culture of the region, and the daily lives of the residents. One of the highlights of the museum is the authentic council chamber, which is still furnished as it was when the building served as a town hall.

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Museum Rotterdam

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Museum Rotterdam is a former city museum located on Rodezandstraat in the center of Rotterdam. The museum was dedicated to the history and culture of the city of Rotterdam and its inhabitants. The museum was housed in a historic building dating from the 18th century and originally served as a warehouse for the Dutch East India Company. The museum focused mainly on the history of the city of Rotterdam from the Middle Ages to the present and provided insight into the development of the city, the port and the economy, but also into the daily lives of Rotterdam residents over the centuries. Unfortunately, the museum was closed at the end of 2020 and merged with Museum Rotterdam on Coolhaven.

Museum website

Museum Rotterdam '40 -'45 NOW

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Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU is a museum dedicated to the history of Rotterdam during the Second World War. The museum is located in a former school building that served as an office for the German occupier during the war. The museum offers a unique insight into daily life in Rotterdam during the war. The exhibitions show, among other things, the destruction of the city during the bombing of May 14, 1940 and the impact of the occupation on the daily lives of the residents. Attention is also paid to the resistance and the liberation of the city in 1945.

Museum website

Museum Steam Depot

Museum steam depot is a museum in Rotterdam dedicated to the history of steam trains and railway transport in the Netherlands. The museum is located in a classic locomotive shed on Kralingsezoom. The museum has an impressive collection of steam locomotives, wagons and other equipment from the period 1880-1950. In addition to the mobile collection, the museum also offers a large collection of objects, photos and documents that illustrate the history of the Dutch railways.

Museum website

Museum house in Tuindorp

Museum house Tuindorp Vreewijk is a historic house in the Vreewijk district in Rotterdam, which has been converted into a museum. The museum offers visitors a unique glimpse into working-class life in the 1920s and 1930s. The house was built in 1929 and is decorated in the sstyle of that time. The museum shows how the working class lived during that period, with authentic furniture, decorations and other objects from that time. The museum also provides insight into the history of Vreewijk itself, which was built as a garden village for workers. Garden villages were a popular way to provide workers with better housing in the early 20th century. The idea was to create a green, healthy environment in which workers could live and work.

Museum website

Natural History Museum

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The Natural History Museum Rotterdam is a cute Rotterdam museum dedicated to the natural history of Rotterdam and the surrounding area. The museum is located in Rotterdam's Museum Park and has a large collection of objects and specimens that illustrate the diversity and history of life on Earth. The museum's collection includes fossils, minerals, plants and animals. The museum also has a special collection of Dutch birds, mammals, fish, insects, shells and plants, and is the only location in Rotterdam where visitors can view these animals up close.

Museum website

The New Institute

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Het Nieuwe Instituut is a museum and knowledge institute in Rotterdam that focuses on architecture, design and digital culture. The institute is located in the Museum Park and aims to stimulate innovation and promote the quality of the built environment. The museum has a large collection of objects, documents and archives that have played an important role in the development of Dutch architecture and design. Here visitors can view drawings, sketches, models and photographs by well-known Dutch architects and designers, such as Gerrit Rietveld, Rem Koolhaas, and Hella Jongerius.

Museum website

Dutch Photo Museum

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The Dutch Photo Museum is located on the Kop van Zuid in Rotterdam and is the national museum for photography in the Netherlands. The museum manages a large collection of approximately 5.5 million photographs, from the 19th century to the present. The museum focuses on presenting and researching Dutch photography, and pays attention to both historical and contemporary photography. The Dutch Photo Museum is an important institution for Dutch photography and offers visitors a unique look at the development and impact of photography on Dutch culture and society.

Museum website

Plaswijckpark Dierenwijck

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Plaswijckpark Dierenwijck is a zoo located in the Plaswijckpark in Rotterdam. The park consists of several parts, including Dierenwijck. Dierenwijck is a place where children can become acquainted with different types of animals and their habitat. There are goats, pigs, rabbits, chickens, parrots, owls and birds of prey to see. In addition, children can learn about different animal sounds and tracks. The museum focuses mainly on education and offers various activities and workshops for children to learn more about animals and nature.

Museum website

Scouting Museum de Ducdalf

Scouting Museum de Ducdalf is a museum in Rotterdam that is dedicated to the history of scouting in the Netherlands. In the museum houses a large collection of uniforms, badges, books, photos and other materials related to the history of scouting in the Netherlands. Attention is paid to, among other things, the founding of the Boy Scouts by Lord Baden-Powell, the development of the uniform, the various games and activities that are organised. In addition to the permanent exhibition, changing exhibitions are also organized regularly and there is an educational program for schools and scouting groups.

Museum website

Sparta Museum

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The Sparta Museum in Rotterdam is a museum dedicated to the Sparta Rotterdam football club. The museum is located in the Sparta Stadium, called the Castle, and shows the history of the club, its players and supporters. The museum contains various objects, such as old uniforms, cups, medals and photos.

Museum website

Street Art Museum

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The Rotterdam Street Art Museum is a unique museum that focuses on street art and graffiti. The museum was founded in 2018 and is located in the center of Rotterdam. The Rotterdam Street Art Museum is not a traditional museum, but rather a platform where national and international artists show their street art and graffiti work. The museum aims to promote and support street art and graffiti as an important part of contemporary art.

Museum website

Rotterdam Radio Museum

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The Rotterdam Radio Museum is a museum entirely dedicated to the history of radio. The museum is located in Rotterdam and was founded in 1989. The museum has an extensive collection of radios and other equipment from different eras, from the early days of radio to today's digital technology. The collection includes old tube radios, transistor radios, portable radios, gramophones, record players and various accessories.

Museum website

Chess Piece Museum

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The Chessmen Museum is a museum entirely dedicated to chessmen. The museum is located in Rotterdam and was founded in 2000. The Chessmen Museum has an extensive collection of chess pieces, chess boards and chess games from different periods and from different countries. The collection includes antique chess pieces, modern chess pieces made of different materials, and unique and rare pieces such as chess pieces from the Middle Ages and chess pieces made from whale bones.

Museum website

City wall Blaak Station

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City wall Blaak Station is a special piece of history that can be found in Rotterdam. It is a remnant of Rotterdam's medieval city wall, which once protected the city against external attacks. The part of the city wall that can now be seen dates from the 14th century and is located in Blaak Station and is one of the few remaining parts of the original city wall. It is an imposing structure that gives the visitor an impression of the former city walls of Rotterdam.

Museum website

Telephony Museum Rotterdam

The Telephony Museum Rotterdam is a museum completely dedicated to the history of telecommunications and telephony. In the museum you will find an extensive collection of telecommunications equipment, from the very first telephones from the 19th century to modern smartphones. You can admire old telephones, switchboards, transmitters and other equipment there. Attention is also paid to the development of telecommunications in the Netherlands and the role of the PTT in it.

Museum website

TENT

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TENT Rotterdam is a platform for contemporary art and cultural production located in the Witte de Withkwartier in the center of Rotterdam. The platform focuses on experimental and multidisciplinary art forms and presents exhibitions, performances, lectures and other events. TENT Rotterdam was founded in 1980 as an initiative of artists and has since grown into an important platform for contemporary art in the Netherlands.

Museum website

The Time Staircase

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The Time Staircase is a permanent exhibition of archaeological finds in the stairwell and parking garages of the Markthal. The stairs run along different levels, each representing a different period in Rotterdam's history, from the Middle Ages to the present. De Tijdtrap is an initiative of the municipality of Rotterdam and opened in 2019. The museum is free to the public and offers a unique and interactive way to learn more about the history and culture of Rotterdam.

Museum website

Rotterdam Tram Museum

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The Tram Museum Rotterdam is a museum dedicated to the history of public transport by tram in Rotterdam. The museum is located in a former depot on the Kootsekade in the Oude Noorden of Rotterdam. The museum has a large collection of historic trams, most of which date from the period between 1900 and 1960. The museum also has an extensive collection of historical documents, photos and other objects related to the history of Rotterdam tram transport.

Museum website

Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum

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Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is a botanical garden located in Rotterdam-Kralingen. It was founded in 1958 and covers an area of about 8 hectares. The garden contains more than 4,000 different types of plants, including trees, shrubs, perennials and aquatic plants. There are also various themed gardens, such as a rock garden, a butterfly garden and a heath garden. In addition to plants and flowers, Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum also pays attention to art and culture. There are regular exhibitions and concerts to admire. The garden is open all year round and is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature.

Museum website

Villa Zebra

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Villa Zebra is an art and culture center for children located in Rotterdam. The children's museum focuses onchildren from 3 to 12 years old and offers them the opportunity to play, discover, create and learn in an inspiring environment. Villa Zebra has several interactive exhibitions where children can experiment with art and technology. Villa Zebra was founded in 2005 and its mission is to let children experience that art and culture are accessible to everyone, regardless of background or age.

Museum website

World Museum

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The Wereldmuseum is a museum in Rotterdam that focuses on the cultural diversity of the world. The museum has an impressive collection of more than 80,000 objects from all parts of the world, with an emphasis on Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Americas. The collection includes masks, statues, textiles, weapons and jewelry, which often have a special cultural or historical significance. The museum shows these objects in changing exhibitions that provide insight into the cultural traditions and customs of various countries and peoples.

Museum website