Kunsthal Rotterdam in the Museumpark

Step into the Kunsthal Rotterdam and you notice straight away that this building keeps you moving. A long ramp leads you upwards past glass, concrete and new views at every turn. Behind each corner waits another gallery with another exhibition. One moment you stand among paintings, the next among photography or design. There is no permanent collection, so no two visits are the same. That is a good reason to come back. Below you read what to expect, how the building works and how to plan your visit.

What you see at the Kunsthal Rotterdam

The Kunsthal has no collection of its own. It shows only temporary exhibitions, spread over seven galleries, so the programme is broad. Old masters and modern painters appear here just as easily as photography, design or drawings. Several exhibitions run at the same time, which makes it easy to pair something familiar with something you did not know yet. Check the museum's website before your trip to see what is on during your stay, because the programme changes throughout the year.

The Kunsthal Rotterdam building by Rem Koolhaas

Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA designed the building, with Fuminori Hoshino as project architect. It opened on 1 November 1992. A continuous ramp winds through the whole building and links the galleries. The same ramp bridges a six metre difference in height between the Museumpark and the Westzeedijk. A tower on the roof handles cooling and ventilation. Every gallery has its own character, from tall and bright to low and enclosed. In fact, the building is the one permanent work you always get to see here.

A building that keeps changing

In 2013 the Kunsthal closed for eight months for a major renovation, again led by OMA. The main entrance moved to the Museumpark side and the old shop became the KunsthalLAB. The building reopened on 1 February 2014. In 2026 the entrance got a new design by Van Oosterom Studio, and the neon ceiling by artist Günther Förg was restored, so look up as you walk in. The Kunsthal sits in the Museumpark, and on the other side of the park stands the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, so two visits fit easily into one day.

Plan your visit to the Kunsthal Rotterdam

Book an online ticket with a time slot before you go. That applies even with a Museumkaart, the Dutch annual museum pass: choose the Museumkaart option when you reserve and bring both the card and the ticket, as both are scanned at the entrance. Bags larger than A4 and backpacks go into a locker, and lockers are limited. There is no room for large luggage, so leave your suitcase at your hotel. All exhibition spaces are wheelchair accessible and there are lifts. Cash is not accepted. More ideas are in our list of museums in Rotterdam.

Frequently asked questions about the Kunsthal

Read more