Centrale Bibliotheek Rotterdam

A new home for knowledge and encounters

The renovated Rotterdam Central Library will be more than just a building full of books: it will be a lively meeting place, a city within a city. Here, stories, ideas and people come together in an interior that is open, warm and inviting. A place where Rotterdam residents recognise themselves and where visitors immediately feel welcome.

The heart of the city
At the centre of the design is the large atrium – the Stadshaven – where light, air and greenery come together. Transparent plinths and green terraces make the interior visible and inviting, making the transition between inside and outside feel natural. The interior exudes the dynamism of Rotterdam while also providing space for tranquillity and reflection. The water roof and tide clock subtly refer to the ebb and flow of the tide, poetically evoking Rotterdam's relationship as a port city.

The New Waterfall: poetry in motion
The iconic New Waterfall forms the vertical connection through the building. This wooden, upward-moving structure invites visitors to ascend, passing alcoves and plazas with views of the city and the collection. Each layer has its own character: from study areas to play areas, from an amphitheatre for gatherings to the Hut high up in the building – an intimate city living room with views over Rotterdam. The Waterfall connects old and new, and literally and figuratively gives visitors the space to move through the building.

A haven for everyone
The interior concept is inspired by the port of Rotterdam: a place of arrival and departure, of diversity and connection. It is a neutral but welcoming base where everyone – young and old, reader and creator, student and casual passer-by – can find their place. Mini harbours in the form of neighbourhood squares, seating niches and workspaces ensure that everyone can discover a suitable place. Acoustic ceilings, modular furniture and circular materials make the interior flexible and sustainable, so that the library can continue to adapt to the needs of the city.

Intimate and metropolitan at the same time
The interior is designed to bring back the human scale in a large urban gesture. Robust concrete meets warm wood, openness goes hand in hand with sheltered corners. Mini harbours, reading tables and seating niches offer security, while the atrium creates space for meeting and exchange. The result is a library that is both monumental and homely – a second home for every Rotterdam resident, rooted in the city and open to the world.