Station Rotterdam Central

With a rapid increase of visitor the Central Station also becomes more important. The attractions Rotterdam has to offer has been visited about 1.5 million times in the first six months of 2014. To compare this with 2013 this is an increase of 3.1%. On the 14^th of March this year, the new station was finally opened by King Willem-Alexander. The aluminum point of the station is already called Station Kapsalon, referring to the Rotterdam Shoarma meal “de Kapsalon” (an aluminum dish with fries, shoarma, cheese, garlic sauce and lettuce).

 

Before the Second World War there wasn’t a Central Station. Rather, there were four different stations in and surrounding the center of the city. Finally, in 1954 there were plans made to build a central station. The architect Sybold van Ravesteyn (yes, this is the same Sybold van Ravesteyn who designed the Rotterdam Zoo) was appointed to design the station. On the 21^st of May 1957 Central Station Rotterdam was officially opened.

Unfortunately, the station didn’t last. Due to the junkies, and the increasing number of visitor, the old station had to go. There was a high demand for more space, since the calculated amount of daily visitors would be on 320.000 in 2025. Therefore they made plans for renewal in 2004, the rebuilt was planned to take 10 years.

During the rebuild, the old building had to be demolished. To artfully say goodbye to the old building the station letters “CENTRAAL STATION” were used to spell out “TRAAN LATEN” which translates into “To shed a tear”. The final closing of the station was on the 2^nd of September 2007. In between the time of the closing of the old station, and the opening of the new, there were bright blue temporary buildings that held a few stores for the travelers.

The new building, luckily, holds more luxury. The new hall is six times larger than the old one, and there are multiple stores that will provide a fine lunch or any groceries needed on the way. The only remains of the old station are the old letters and clock that are again displayed on the front of the station. From the new Central Station you can access the Trams, subway and the trains.

You’ll be surprised by the new ‘entrance’ of the city, it offers you all the luxury needed for your travels and at the same time gives you a wonderful impression of architecture that the city has to offer.

Would you like to live near the station? Check our website Domica Rotterdam for more information!