Rotterdam Central Station Entrance Building, Groot Handelsgebouw, Images, Holland Architecture
180 Steps in Rotterdam
Central Station Public Realm: 180 Steps in The Netherlands ? design by MVRDV Architects
post updated 10 July 2019
180 Steps Opening
Design: MVRDV, Architects
The Stairs celebrate 75 year post-war reconstruction 180 Steps

180 steps leading up from the Stationsplein, outside Rotterdam Central Station, taking visitors up to the rooftop of the Groot Handelsgebouw, an iconic building in the history of the post-war reconstruction of the city. The Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, opened The Stairs on 16th May 2016 to commemorate 75 years of the reconstruction of Rotterdam. In its first day, The Stairs had 7850 visitors. A month of activities followed, including film screenings, debates and art events. The Stairs remained open until the 12th June and was open with free admission to visitors from 10:00 to 22:00.
The scaffolding structure, assembled by Dutch Steigers, took visitors 29 metres up to the roof top of the Groot Handelsgebouw. A viewing platform offered stunning views of the city?s skyline whilst the iconic Kriterion Cinema, once popular in the 1960s, reopened for the month to host a variety of films, debates and performances.
 
17 May 2016
?The stairs are a symbolic first step towards a better use of our city?s second layer, and ideally would be replaced with a set of escalators in the next step,? tells MVRDV co-founder Winy Maas. ?It is, in this w...