The road to Fenix

A new documentary about one of Rotterdam’s most talked-about cultural projects is set to debut on the big screen. The Road to Fenix will have its world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, telling the story behind the transformation of a historic harbor warehouse into the migration museum Fenix, now one of the city’s newest landmarks.

Over the course of five years, filmmakers followed the development of the museum on Katendrecht, documenting the process from the earliest design ideas to the official opening. What emerges is a layered portrait of an ambitious cultural project: the restoration of a former harbor building, the creation of a museum with an international perspective, and the evolution of a neighborhood that has long been tied to stories of departure and arrival.

At the center of the documentary is the architectural vision for Fenix, including the striking stainless-steel structure that now rises above the building. Designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong, the Tornado has become a defining element of the project (part staircase, part viewing platform and part artwork) symbolizing movement and change, themes that closely relate to the museum’s focus on migration.

The film also highlights the people involved in bringing Fenix to life. Museum director Anne Kremers, cultural leader Wim Pijbes and the wider team travelled internationally in search of artworks and objects connected to migration. Their efforts resulted in a diverse collection, ranging from personal belongings donated by families of migrants to historical works and contemporary art that reflect global journeys and identities.

In addition to the museum’s development, the documentary captures the perspective of local residents and workers in Katendrecht, showing how the area around the historic Fenix warehouse has gradually changed over the years.

Following its premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on February 4, The Road to Fenix will be released in cinemas across the Netherlands starting March 26. The documentary offers a rare look behind the scenes of a project that has already attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors and added a new cultural landmark to Rotterdam’s skyline.