Rotterdam is a city that was redesigned after 1940. Its squares tell that story. Modern, spacious, and designed to be used. These are the squares every resident should know.
The squares of Rotterdam are different from those in other Dutch cities. No medieval market squares with crooked gables, but post-war spaces deliberately designed as part of a new city. The bombing of May 14, 1940, destroyed the entire city center. What came back were squares with architecture found nowhere else in the Netherlands.
For renters, squares are the places where neighborhood life unfolds. Markets, terraces, festivals, public transport hubs. This page covers nine squares and places that define Rotterdam's character.
The Binnenrotte is where Rotterdam began. Here, the river Rotte flowed into the Nieuwe Maas, and here the dam was built that gave the city its name. In 1871, the Rotte was filled in for a railway viaduct. Now it is the largest square in the Netherlands.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, one of the country's largest markets is held here: 465 stalls and an average of 70,000 visitors per market day. Vegetables, fish, cheese, flowers, clothing, fabrics. In summer, there is also a market on Sundays. On the south side stands the Markthal, the arch-shaped building by MVRDV from 2014: 228 apartments in the arch, over 100 shops and food stalls on the ground floor, and a 11,000 square meter fresco by Arno Coenen on the ceiling.
The Laurenskerk, Rotterdam's only remaining medieval church, stands on the north side. Piet Blom's Cube Houses from 1984 are on the east side. Blaak Station, with train, metro, and tram, is directly on the square.
Those who live on the Binnenrotte live in the heart of Rotterdam. The apartments in the Markthal itself are sought after and expensive. The surrounding Laurenskwartier neighborhood offers more options. It's city living with everything within walking distance.
The Coolsingel is Rotterdam's central boulevard, approximately 900 meters long. After a major renovation in 2021, the street has become more car-free: more space for cyclists and pedestrians, trees, and terraces. It's the street where the Rotterdam Marathon starts and finishes, where the Summer Carnival parades through, and where Feyenoord celebrates its championships.
Stadhuisplein is located directly in front of the city hall. That city hall, built in 1920, is one of the few buildings that survived the 1940 bombing. The square in front of it is car-free and surrounded by catering establishments. On the square stands the Monument to all who fell 1940-1945.
Stadhuisplein is Rotterdam's party square. During championships, it's packed with Feyenoord supporters. On ordinary evenings, the terraces are full. Metro station Stadhuis is directly beneath the square. The Lijnbaan, Europe's first shopping promenade (1953), starts on the west side.
The Schouwburgplein is 12,250 square meters of empty square, and that's by design. It was created by landscape architect Adriaan Geuze of West 8 bureau, opened in 1996. The square is car and bicycle-free. Four large hydraulic light masts, resembling harbor cranes, can be partially operated by visitors.
On its edges are De Doelen (concert hall, home of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra), the Rotterdamse Schouwburg (theater), and a large cinema. The square is used year-round for festivals, film screenings, yoga classes, and temporary installations.
Before the bombing, this was one of the most densely built-up parts of the city. Now it has been deliberately left empty, as an urban stage with views of the skyline. The Cool district and the Witte de Withstraat are within walking distance. These are neighborhoods where culture, hospitality, and nightlife converge. Rental homes in the area are centrally located and popular with young professionals.
Kop van Zuid is not a classic square but an entire city district that has emerged over thirty years on former port areas on the south bank of the Maas. The Erasmus Bridge, opened in 1996 and 802 meters long, connects the area with the city center. The bridge is called "De Zwaan" (The Swan) due to its shape.
On the Wilhelminapier are buildings by Renzo Piano (KPN Tower), Rem Koolhaas (De Rotterdam), and Alvaro Siza (residential tower). Hotel New York, the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, is in a building from 1901 where millions of emigrants departed for America. The New Luxor Theater and film house LantarenVenster are in the area.
Wilhelminaplein is the central point. Metro station Wilhelminaplein connects Kop van Zuid to the city center in a few minutes. Katendrecht, Rotterdam's former Chinatown, is within walking distance via the Rijnhavenbrug and has been transformed into a district with restaurants, theaters, and apartments.
Living in Kop van Zuid means living with views of the skyline and the Maas. The apartments are modern, and rents are high by Rotterdam standards. But the location is unparalleled: architecture, water, and the city center five minutes by metro.
The Oude Haven (Old Harbor) was constructed in 1328 and is the oldest harbor in the city. The area largely survived the bombing intact. Now it's a vibrant restaurant and bar area with over twenty establishments along the water, terraces with views of historical ships moored in the harbor.
The Witte Huis (White House) from 1898 stands by the harbor: 43 meters high, once Europe's first skyscraper. Piet Blom's Cube Houses, diagonally placed cube-shaped houses on concrete pillars, are right next to it. It is one of the most photographed spots in Rotterdam.
Blaak Station is a five-minute walk away. The Binnenrotte and the Markthal are just around the corner. Those who live near the Oude Haven are simultaneously in the midst of historical and modern Rotterdam.
The Grotekerkplein is located in front of the entrance to the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, Rotterdam's only remaining medieval church. The square was redeveloped in 2017 into a city park: planting, grass, trees, and a 45-meter-long boardwalk along the Delftsevaart with steps for seating and mooring places for small boats.
On the square stands the bronze statue of Erasmus from 1622, Rotterdam's oldest statue. There is a city stage for performances. The atmosphere is quieter than on the Binnenrotte or Stadhuisplein. It's a square where you sit on a bench, not where you go out.
The surrounding Laurenskwartier is a residential neighborhood with a mix of new construction and renovated properties. The Meent and Hoogstraat, two shopping streets, run along the square. It's city living with a village-like touch.
| Size | Average | Median | Price Range | Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
€2,289 | €2,257 | €853 - €4,750 | 48 | |
€3,909 | €2,790 | €1,540 - €9,500 | 4 | |
€1,448 | €1,309 | €205 - €3,300 | 79 | |
€1,880 | €1,830 | €506 - €3,500 | 58 | |
€1,632 | €1,573 | €364 - €4,500 | 98 |
The Eendrachtsplein is located on the border of the city center, Cool, Dijkzigt, and the Oude Westen. It is a square with its own character: artistic, alternative, and less touristy than the Binnenrotte or the Oude Haven.
On the east side stand fourteen monumental buildings from 1867-1873. Every Tuesday there is an organic market. The historic tram house on the square will reopen in 2026 after restoration. The Eendrachtsplein Festival, an annual music festival, celebrates the diversity of the neighborhood.
Metro station Eendrachtsplein is located under the square. The Museumpark and the Kunsthal are within walking distance. The Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam's cultural artery, begins one street over. It is a neighborhood for renters who want central living with culture and hospitality around the corner, but not in the midst of nightlife.
The Hofplein is one of Rotterdam's oldest squares, originating from a pit that was filled in during the nineteenth century. It was a cattle market, tram hub, and traffic roundabout. The fountain on the square is where Feyenoord successes are celebrated.
The Hofplein is currently being redeveloped into a green city square. Works are expected to continue until the end of 2027. The Hofbogen, the former railway viaduct that runs over the square, has been repurposed into a strip with shops, restaurants, and offices. It is one of Rotterdam's most visible transformations: from a grey traffic square to a green public space.
Rotterdam Central Station is a five-minute walk away. The Noord and Provenierswijk districts are directly behind the Hofplein. These are neighborhoods with affordable rental properties and a growing range of catering establishments and shops.
Rotterdam's squares were not organically developed but designed. After the bombing of May 14, 1940, the entire city center was rebuilt. This resulted in a city with more space, more light, and more architectural daring than any other Dutch city.
The Markthal on the Binnenrotte combines 228 apartments with over 100 shops and food stalls under an arch-shaped roof. It's typical Rotterdam: living, eating, and architecture in one building.
In thirty years, Kop van Zuid has transformed from a derelict port area into an architectural district with residences, hotels, theaters, and restaurants. The Erasmus Bridge connects it to the city center. It's proof that Rotterdam never stands still.
Rotterdam's squares tell the story of a city that has reinvented itself. From the Binnenrotte, where the city began, via the Schouwburgplein, which was deliberately left empty, to the Kop van Zuid, which transformed from port to district in one generation. For renters, these squares are more than just architecture: they are the places where daily life unfolds. On HousingMatchers, you'll find all available rental properties in Rotterdam, filtered by neighborhood and price.