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Market · Roterdã, Holanda Meridional
Markthal
A covered market inside a giant arch of apartments, with the entire ceiling painted with fruits, vegetables, fish and flowers. It sits on the Binnenrotte square, next to the cube houses.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Markthal
The Markthal is a horseshoe-shaped building: the apartments sit within the arch itself, and beneath it is a covered market with stalls selling cheese, cold cuts, fish, sweets and food from many countries. The project is by the Rotterdam firm MVRDV, and the building was opened in 2014 by Queen Máxima.
What makes everyone look up is the ceiling. The inner surface of the arch is covered by a work of about 11,000 square metres called Hoorn des Overvloeds (Horn of Plenty), by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam: giant fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, flowers and insects. In one corner of the painting the tower of the Laurenskerk appears — it stands right next door.
The two ends of the arch are closed by glass façades fixed with a cable net, 34 metres high. Inside, besides the stalls, there are restaurants, shops and a supermarket in the basement that connects to a car park.
On the square in front, the Binnenrotte, a traditional street market occupies the space on some days of the week. Together, the Markthal, the cube houses, the Laurenskerk and the Oude Haven make for a short walking route of a few minutes.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
From 30 minutes to 1½ hours, depending on how hungry you are.
Best time
Lunchtime is the busiest; early in the morning it's quieter for photographing the ceiling. Stall opening times vary: check before you go.
How to get there
It's about 200 metres from Rotterdam Blaak station (train and metro). From Rotterdam Centraal it's roughly a 20-minute walk or one train stop to Blaak.
Tip
To photograph the whole ceiling, take the escalator up to the mezzanine on one side. Many stalls sell small portions: you can sample several things and stand to eat.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Markthal
Do you have to pay to enter the Markthal?
No, entry is free. You only pay for what you consume at the stalls and restaurants.
What to eat at the Markthal?
There's everything: Dutch cheeses, stroopwafel (syrup waffle cookie), fried fish, dishes from many countries and desserts. Restaurants are located on the sides and on the ground floor.
What is the Markthal near?
From the cube houses, Blaak station, the Laurenskerk and the Oude Haven, all a few minutes on foot.