Many world-class cities have an indoor market, but the combination with luxury housing makes Rotterdam’s Markthal the first of its kind. The apartments are draped over the food market in a horseshoe configuration. The Markthal houses about 100 fresh food stalls, 15 food shops and a variety of restaurants, with a supermarket and four-level underground car park below. As you wander amongst the market stalls, look up to enjoy the artwork spanning the ceiling: the ‘Horn of Plenty’ by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. Because of this enormous artwork, the Markthal has been referred to as the Dutch version of the Sistine Chapel.
The Markthal is also home to the Tijdtrap: an exhibition of archaeological finds from medieval Rotterdam excavated during the building’s construction, now on public display for free.
Visitors can sign up for an Open Tour with De Rotterdam Tours on the weekend: a 1-hour tour of the Markthal. An experienced guide will tell you all about the design, construction and history of the building and give you a peek behind the scenes.
MVRDV & INBO (2009-2014)
