The vibrant Kop van Zuid area, home to the Cruise Terminal, is also a lively district full of attractions. One of the sights is the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, now stylishly transformed into Hotel New York.

From the terminal, a short walk past the hotel brings you to a pedestrian and cycle bridge leading to Rotterdam-Zuid (Katendrecht). This is where Chinatown once began, back in 1910. Today, the area has evolved into a charming residential neighbourhood, known for its cosy restaurants and as the home of the historic cruise ship ss Rotterdam, now a hotel and museum ship moored at the quay.

From 16 May, the FENIX art museum on migration will also be open to visitors. This beautiful building contains impressive and moving artworks, and stories centred on human beings. The new art museum on migration is housed in a restored monumental warehouse from 1923 on the historic departure and arrival quay of the city of Rotterdam. It was on this quay where new lives began for millions of Europeans migrating to the New World.

FENIX has arranged space for more than 100 artists from around the world in this venue. Another jewel in Rotterdam’s crown! Queen Maxima opened this new art museum on migration on Thursday 15 May. On display are objects, artworks and photographs from around the world, centred on the theme of migration. The collection includes a refugee boat from Lampedusa, a piece of the Berlin Wall, as well as a painting by Willem de Kooning.

This Rotterdam-born artist, who left for New York as a stowaway on a ship in 1926, was also looking for happiness. Now his painting is suspended in the very place, somewhere on these quays, where he stepped on board.

Photo 1: FENIX is a restored monumental warehouse from 1923
Photo 2: Queen Maxima's arrival (photo by Kees Grimm).
Photo 3: Opening FENIX museum by Queen Maxima (photo: Jorrit Lousberg).