After a short bus ride, get off at the Koninginnebrug stop and walk across the left side of the bridge. Here you have a beautiful view of the Hef.
The railway bridge from 1927 is actually called the Koningshaven Bridge, but Rotterdammers like short descriptive names.
There was originally a swing bridge on this site, which was built in 1878. After a collision in 1918, it was decided that a swing bridge was not so useful for a port city: the bridge had to become a lifting bridge. The bridge was put into use in 1927. The bank parts are still from the original bridge from 1878.
When the railway tunnel was constructed under the Nieuwe Maas, the Hef became redundant. It was on the demolition list, but the people of Rotterdam protested, so we can still enjoy the Hef.
Did you know…
In the run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest, the well-known DJ Afrojack gave a show from the Hef. At a height of about 50 meters in the middle of the fall, accompanied by fireworks and a large light show. The show was filmed with dozens of cameras and drones and can be viewed on YouTube. Look it up, it's very spectacular!
In 2018, the marines from the Rotterdam barracks held a major exercise at the Hef. An appropriate location: the Marine Museum shows a film about the defense of the Hef just before the bombardment of 1940.
TIP:
You can take beautiful pictures of the Hef from both banks. When you leave the bridge, walk back via the other side of the bridge, you will have a beautiful view of the Rotterdam skyline, the Kop van Zuid and the Erasmus Bridge.
Continue traveling
Take a walk towards the Erasmus Bridge along the Koningshaven. You pass Villa Zebra (great fun with the children!) and walk under the monumental Poortgebouw, which has been squatted since the 1980s.
You arrive at Wilhelminaplein. Here you will find the Het Nieuwe Luxor theater palace, the foot of the Erasmus Bridge and De Kop Van Zuid next to a metro station. From Wilhelminaplein, take tram line 23 towards Marconiplein at the tram stop on the water side.
