In 1917 the village Heijplaat became a reality, with 311 houses designed by architect Baanders. Specially built for the employees of the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (Rotterdam Dry Docks) so they could live near their work and to spare them the (then) long trip from Rotterdam.
Heijplaat, including the industrial heritage of the RDM terrain, carries the status of a conservation area. The village was built with such architectural insight, expertise and love that it has withstood the test of time on many fronts. In the quiet streets of Heijplaat and on the RDM site you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Visit and enjoy the decorative protruding bricks on the facades, the wood trim panels, the beautiful bay windows, stone garden walls and much more.
The best way to explore Heijplaat and RDM is on foot or by bike with the tour Rondje Heijplaat. The 3-kilometre route takes you through the village. The 4,6 or 6,2-kilometre routes combine a tour through the village with a visit to the Quarantine terrain and/or the view from the Heijplaatweg.
RDM and Heijplaat can be found just past the Waalhaven, in the middle of the Rotterdam port area. The fastest way from Rotterdam is by Waterbus, a boat that departs from the Erasmus Bridge.
