Wereldmuseum Rotterdam on the Willemskade

The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam stands at the tip of the Willemskade, looking out over the Maas. A golden mermaid gleams on top of the building's little tower. Inside you come across objects from Asia, Africa, Oceania, the Americas and the Islamic world. You will see a nineteenth-century headdress of the Kari'na, but also a dress from 2016. The museum shows that people everywhere are alike, however differently they live. Rotterdam as a port city plays a part in this throughout. Below you can read what you will see, where the building comes from and how to plan your visit.

What can you see inside the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam?

The collection holds tens of thousands of objects from cultures around the world, gathered from the nineteenth century onwards. Highlights include a Kari'na headdress, an Asmat shield from Papua, an Ottoman gravestone and a wooden figure from Congo. New work has its place too, such as the Marbled Dress by Ebru Durmaz from 2016. The presentation Kruispunt Rotterdam (Crossroads Rotterdam) shows how people, goods and ideas reached the city through its port, with migration as a recurring theme. The theme of making runs through the whole museum. Changing exhibitions run alongside, so check the museum's website before your visit to see what is on.

Superstreet for children

Families head for Superstreet (Superstraat), a permanent hands-on exhibition that the museum calls a do expo for curious children. Kids learn mostly by doing rather than reading. The texts are in Dutch, but the activities work without much language. Superstreet is not open every day, so check on the website which days it runs before you travel with children. For young visitors there is also Wereldmuseum Junior, with programmes aimed at kids, and family activities appear regularly on the calendar. Adults who want more background on the collection can join one of the guided tours.

From yacht club to museum

The building on the Willemskade was put up between 1849 and 1851 as a clubhouse for the Royal Yacht Club, to a design by A.N. Godefroy. It stands on a triangular plot, with a rounded corner and a little tower. Look out for the cast iron balconies, decorated with maritime motifs. From 1873 the building housed a maritime museum. In 1883 the city council decided to set up an ethnological museum, which opened on 1 May 1885 as the Museum voor Land- en Volkenkunde. Scientist and club member Elie van Rijckevorsel left the museum more than nine hundred objects. Around 2000 the building was extended with two neighbouring properties, and the ballroom was restored to its former glory.

The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam today

From 2016 the museum was thoroughly renovated, and in 2020 it reopened in full. A new climate system was installed, windows on the Maas side were opened up again and the route through the building was completely redesigned. From 2017 the museum worked together with the National Museum of World Cultures. Since 2023 it has formed the Wereldmuseum together with the locations in Amsterdam, Leiden and Berg en Dal. The Wereldmuseum Rotterdam keeps its own character, with the port, migration and the city itself as its starting point. If you want to see more about ships and the port afterwards, the Maritime Museum Rotterdam is within walking distance.

Tips for visiting the Wereldmuseum

Your Museumkaart is valid at the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam. The building is step free, a lift takes you to every floor and wheelchairs are available to borrow. Here and there are stairs with handrails. A companion of a visitor with a disability may come along for free; mention this when you book online. There are regular guided tours and programmes in sign language, and activities for families are on the calendar. Afterwards you can head to the museum café with its terrace and to the museum shop. Combine your visit with a walk along the Willemskade and the quays by the Maas, where you can watch the ships go by.

Frequently asked questions about the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam

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