The nearby Kruisplein has also been renovated during the development of Central Station. To give the square a green appearance and to make it an attractive residential area, five rows of two-stemmed plane trees (Platanus x hispanica) were chosen. || Here you will find Augmented Reality -> read further below ||
The V-shape of the trees is a reference to the shape of the pylons under the awning of the Rotterdam Central Terminal. Under the trees and greenery, a water storage facility temporarily collects rainwater during heavy showers.
Underground
It is very busy here underground! The garage has a large water storage, which prevents flooding in the area. Millions of liters of rainwater can be temporarily collected there. It works like this: the Westersingel is connected underground with the Kruisplein water storage facility. If the water level in the Westersingel rises by more than ten centimeters during intensive rainfall, the water will run into the storage facility.
When the water level falls again, most of the water flows back to the Westersingel by itself. The last part flows into the sewer. The 'water shell system' is used for water storage. This is a system that is often used for installing water storage facilities under roads and squares. You probably didn't know that!
Did you know?
A large World War II plane bomb was discovered during the construction of the parking garage ?! Before digging in the underground of Rotterdam, the archives are always checked to see if there is a possible bomb in the ground. Nobody was aware of this bomb in 2 and the discovery came as a big surprise.
It was a British 250 pounder. Rotterdam CS, de Doelen, surrounding buildings and all public transport in the area were shut down. The bomb was defused on the spot by the Explosives Ordering Service.
Augmented Reality
This location contains Augmented Reality (AR +). With the help of the app and your camera we can show things that are normally not visible. Click on the AR + symbol in the app at the top right. Our guide Mussie (red bird) will emerge and fly to the exact location where you will find the AR +. At this location tree doctor Ronald Loch will tell you a story as a hologram and you will see what is under your feet.
Where do you start the AR +?
You will find Ronald Loch near Codarts in the middle of Kruisplein. Start the AR module here to immediately see the hologram.
