Rotterdam Central Station

The new Rotterdam central station is particularly well laid-out. We achieved this by adhering to a single guiding principle – trains and all station facilities and amenities had to be under one roof. The result is a pleasant, open and transparent public transportation hub that has become a meeting place for passengers and Rotterdam’s residents alike. Because the station is now inextricably intertwined with the city’s urban transportation network, it connects and unites many of other facets of the city to create a cultural hub, as well. This modern and efficient building provides every facility, amenity and comfort imaginable for passengers travelling to and from Rotterdam, now and in the future.

The huge difference in character between the areas to the south and north of the station adds to the location’s charm. To the north is a residential neighbourhood. To the south is the city centre. We reflected these differences in the station’s and its surroundings’ look and feel. To the north of the station, we opted for a modest, transparent hallway that blended with the character of the late nineteenth-century Proveniers district. Here, we avoided any major expansion and focused on improving the existing landscaping in the immediate vicinity of the station.

To the south, we purposely wanted to create something more outspoken with a certain majesty and allure, in keeping with the scale of its surroundings including the Groot Handelsgebouw building and the high-rise buildings along Weena. The main station hall’s stunning design reflects Rotterdam’s cityscape with its metropolitan architecture.

In the spacious, high-ceilinged station hall, we paid particular attention to how passengers could find the information they were looking for. Here, passengers can find an information counter, an NS passenger shop and ticket machines. All commercial facilities and amenities have also been prioritized in a clearly laid-out fashion. The Grand Café and the NS Lounge on the upper floor provide spectacular views over the main entrance hall and the tracks.

Roofing over the tracks has been fitted with over 130,000 solar panels covering some 10,000 m² of the total 28,000 m² of roof area. This makes it not only the most extensive use of solar panels on a station roof in the Netherlands, but also in Europe. The solar panels have been positioned on the sections of the roof that receive the most sunlight. We even took into account high-rise construction that will be taking place around Rotterdam central station in years to come. Using solar panels resulted in an eight per cent reduction of CO2 emission levels for energy usage at the station.