Rotterdam may be known for its bold skyline and forward-looking spirit, but behind the steel and glass lies a city built on stories, communities, and places where people have gathered for generations. This year, Museum Rotterdam highlights that rich urban soul in two very different, yet beautifully connected ways: by celebrating the brown bars that anchor neighbourhood life, and by showcasing the artworks that reveal how travellers fell in love with Rotterdam more than a century ago.
“Real Rotterdam heritage” They’re often understated, sometimes hidden in plain sight, but for countless Rotterdammers, brown bars are the beating heart of the neighbourhood. After a months-long citywide search, Stichting Wijkcollectie and Museum Rotterdam have officially selected ten of these beloved cafés as Real Rotterdam Heritage. Among the chosen are De Oude Sluis, Melief Bender, Café Charlois, Cosy Corner, Café de Pui, and Voorheen Companje — bars where regulars have occupied the same seats for decades, where stories are shared, and where the atmosphere still echoes the Rotterdam of earlier generations. The process began with hundreds of nominations from residents. A dedicated Heritage Council then visited each bar, assessing their social value, their connection to the city, and the communities they hold together. “A brown bar is never just a place to drink,” says Nicole van Dijk, director of Stichting Wijkcollectie. “These cafés are living archives of Rotterdam — full of humour, resilience, and neighbourhood culture.” Filmmaker Hugo van der Meer captured the entire journey in a warm, cinematic portrait of all ten bars. His film, featuring visits by Nicole van Dijk and Museum Rotterdam director Léontine Meijer-van Mensch, offers a glimpse into the love and loyalty that surround these iconic places. The full film is available via Museum Rotterdam and Stichting Wijkcollectie. Destination Rotterdam At the same time, Museum Rotterdam is stepping into a different part of the city’s history with Destination Rotterdam, a new exhibition at Kunsthal Rotterdam (on view December 13th 2025 – March 8th 2026). Rotterdam was recently named one of the world’s must-visit cities by The New York Times, but the fascination with the city is far from new. More than 125 years ago, curious travellers were already arriving with Baedeker’s iconic red guidebooks in hand, eager to explore a city undergoing rapid transformation. The exhibition traces that moment in time — when Rotterdam evolved from a historic merchant hub into a modern metropolis. Twenty paintings from Museum Rotterdam’s collection bring Baedeker’s recommended sights to life: from the bustling Leuvehaven and the elegant Oosterkade to the then-groundbreaking Witte Huis, a symbol of modern ambition. Artists such as Jongkind, Richters and Van Voorden captured the spirit of change in vivid detail. Their works show a city becoming livelier, larger, and increasingly cosmopolitan — a destination ready to welcome the world. Van Voorden’s depiction of three stylish women studying their red guidebook on the quay, surrounded by theatre posters and harbour activity, perfectly encapsulates that early tourist experience. Created in collaboration with Kunsthal Rotterdam, the exhibition blends art, travel history and urban identity into a portrait of a city in motion. One city, many stories Whether you step inside a dimly lit neighbourhood bar or walk through an exhibition hall filled with Baedeker-era landscapes, Museum Rotterdam reveals a city shaped by people, places, and the power of shared stories. With the recognition of the ten brown bars and the upcoming exhibition in the Kunsthal, Rotterdam’s past feels vibrantly present, a reminder that the city’s identity is built as much on everyday encounters as on grand architectural change.
