Above the Blaak train and metro station is a large square where the Markthal can be found. On the inside of the horseshoe-shaped colossus you can see De Hoorn des Abundance, an amazing work of art of two football fields, designed by Arno Coenen.
The artwork and her name are completely in place here. Good food, fresh fruit, nuts, delicacies… And on top of the fresh food stalls you can enjoy a drink while overlooking all that abundance.
Did you know…
The square in front of the Markthal is called the Binnenrotte? The square owes its name to the river Rotte that used to run here. In 1871 this part of the Rotte was filled in. Today, one of the largest underground railway switches in the Netherlands is located under the square: the Willemspoortunnel. You may recognize the Laurenskerk in the photo below. When this photo was taken, the train was still going above ground.
TIP:
Don't go into the Markthal on Saturdays, too busy! Then you better just visit the outdoor market on the Binnenrotte. Especially during the day on weekdays you can stroll along the fresh food stalls in the Markthal, and then you are in good company: Mayor Aboutaleb gets his fish here from Andalus Fish.
You can also view the Markthal from a distance in peace, from the terrace of Bistrobar Binnenrotte in the Central Library of Rotterdam. That library is worth a visit anyway! Furthermore, here is the Laurenskerk (one of the few historic buildings that survived the WWII bombing) and the famous cube houses.
Continue traveling
This is where the route ends. From Blaak you can take tram 21 or 24 back to Central Station, or you can take the metro and change at Beurs.
