A daily dose of Rotterdam since august 2019
The Groothandels building located at Stationsplein, a major reconstruction project just after the second world war. But what really matters in this photo is brasserie Engels, at the bottom right of the photo. Opened in 1884 and at its current location since 1952. The name is still brightly shining but it silently closed during the first Corona lockdown so as not to open anymore …
Its was after the war, Rotterdam was bombed, many buildings gone and Rotterdam had to build themselves up from the ashes. This building, the Groothandelsgebouw (building for wholesale) was realised between 1947 – 1953. The building was officially opened on 3 June 1953 by Queen Juliana. At the opening, this was the largest building in Europe and the largest multi-company building in the Netherlands. In 2020, the Groot Handelsgebouw is home to more than 400 companies and 2 innovative office concepts (Retail and Cambridge Innovation Center).