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Metro and busstation
The Zuidplein bus station is the second largest and busiest bus station in the Netherlands. The station opened on February 9, 1968 and was at that time the terminus of the first metro line in the Netherlands. The end station changed to Slinge in 1970.
Shopping Center Zuidplein
The Zuidplein Shopping Center was designed by Hermanus Dirk Bakker, an architect from Rotterdam. Construction lasted ten years, from 1962 to 1972, and was built on the site where the Nieuwe Kerk used to be. The shopping center now has an area of ​​55,000 square meters. The number of shops was only 165 in 2017, but has since increased to more than 200 shops. The shopping center attracts approximately 10 million visitors per year. It is one of the largest indoor shopping centers in the Netherlands.
Theater Zuidplein
Theater Zuidplein was first called 'Groote Schouwburg' and was built between 1946 and 1954. It was designed by architect Sybold van Ravesteyn, the same architect who designed Diergaarde Blijdorp. A major renovation took place in 1978 and after this it was called Theater Zuidplein. The building was demolished in 2020 and made way for a new building.
The Schouwplaats
The Schouwplaats is a garden with sculptures, designed between 2012 and 2014 by artist Kamiel Verschuren. Many of the artworks were designed by Jo Uiterwaal and Gerard Héman, who used to be members of De Groote Schouwburg (Theater Zuidplein). The Schouwplaats is also named after this, but the name also comes from the various benches where you can 'view' the works (the Viewplace). After the demolition of De Groote Schouwburg, a number of art pieces were lost for a while. Some of them were found in Dordrecht in 2007 and have been brought back to Rotterdam. To date, 5 pieces are still missing.
Rotterdam Ahoy
The construction of Rotterdam Ahoy started in 1950 on the spot where the Erasmus MC now stands. The construction of the current building in South Rotterdam started in 1968. A Sportpaleis was built containing a cycling track and three exhibition halls. The official opening took place during the Zesdaagse of Rotterdam and the opening was done by Prince Claus in 1971. The first band to perform was Pink Floyd. The ABN AMRO Open tennis tournament has been held here since 1974.
Ahoy was expanded in 1980 with 2 halls. The velodrome was demolished to make more room for concerts. Ahoy currently has a capacity of more than 16,000 people and attracts approximately 2.3 million visitors annually. Previously, there was a bridge over the road to Ahoy from the metro and the shopping centre. This bridge was completely demolished in 2017 after a truck drove into it
In 1997, Ahoy hosted the MTV Europe Music Awards for the first time. This was the last time in 2016. Since 1999, Ahoy has been the place where De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE! is being organised. It is one of the largest indoor events in the Netherlands. There are more than 100,000 visitors per year. Ahoy's biggest competitor is the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam. The Ziggo Dome has a capacity of 17,000 people and an area of ​​51,000 m2.
Ahoy has had solar panels since 2021, with which it can supply sustainable energy 195 days a year. In 2022, construction of a hotel near Ahoy will begin.
A cinema still needs to be built in the future.
The Eurovision Song Contest was held here in 2021 and is Ahoy's biggest event ever. Major artists such as Justin Bieber, Queen and André Hazes have also performed here.
Falling Horseman
The Falling Horseman is a symbol of the resistance of a group of men during the Second World War. These men were killed in front of a firing squad. The monument was unveiled in 1958 and has been in its current location since 1988.
