Rotterdam Markthal Webcam – Watch the Laurens Quarter

The Rotterdam Markthal Webcam looks down on the Laurenskwartier, the quarter around the Laurenskerk where medieval Rotterdam once stood. A wide lens mounted high above the rooftops takes in the church tower left of center, the grey horseshoe roof of the Markthal to the right, and the pointed Blaaktoren and the tilted Cube Houses just behind it. A narrow canal runs up the middle of the picture toward the market hall, a tower crane rises over a building site in the middle distance, and on a clear day the Nieuwe Maas shows along the right edge of the horizon. The two residential towers on the right of the frame are close enough to pick out single balconies. On Tuesdays and Saturdays the Binnenrotte market sets up in the open avenue that runs to the Markthal.

About the Markthal and the Laurenskwartier

The open avenue at the heart of this view follows the old course of the Rotte, the small river that gave the city its name. Around 1270 a dam was built in the Rotte that almost closed it off from the Maas, and Rotterdam takes its name from that dam. Between 1869 and 1871 the inner stretch of the river gave way to the Luchtspoor, a raised railway viaduct that dominated the historic center for more than a century. When trains moved into the Willemsspoor tunnel in 1993, the viaduct came down and the Binnenrotte became the wide public space used for markets and events today.

The Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, built between 1449 and 1525, is the only remnant of the medieval city. The German bombing of 14 May 1940 almost completely destroyed the heart of Rotterdam, killing some 900 people and leaving about 80,000 homeless, and the church was left with only its tower and walls standing. Queen Juliana laid the foundation stone for the restoration in 1952, and the work was finished in 1968. The church sits about 200 meters (660 feet) from the Markthal.

The Markthal, designed by MVRDV and opened by Queen Maxima on 1 October 2014, wraps 228 apartments around a covered market inside a single arch whose roof reaches 40 meters (131 feet). The inside of the arch carries Horn of Plenty, an artwork of 11,000 square meters (118,400 square feet) by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, and a garage under the hall holds more than 1,200 cars. The hall stands next to Blaak station, with the 61 meter (200 foot) Blaaktoren a short way beyond. Besides the Markthal and the Cube Houses, the operator lists the Central Library, the market, Rif010 and a glimpse of the Willemsbrug among the landmarks on the Rotterdam Markthal Webcam.

Weather and Climate in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has a mild, damp maritime climate. Under the 1991 to 2020 normals of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, January afternoons average 6.4 C (44 F) and nights 1.3 C (34 F), so winter frost is usually light. Days are short at this latitude in December and January, and the low sun throws long shadows across the rooftops when it does break through. April warms to 14.3 C (58 F) by day and 4.8 C (41 F) at night. Rain is spread across the whole year, about 882 millimeters (34.7 inches) in total, and the city records around 1,752 hours of sunshine.

July is the warmest month, with afternoons near 22.7 C (73 F) and nights around 13.2 C (56 F), and on clear days the view reaches past the river to the flat green country beyond the city. October still reaches 14.9 C (59 F) by day and 7.2 C (45 F) at night. By mid-October the trees along the canal in the middle of the frame have turned orange and brown, the brightest color in a scene of grey roofs, brick and glass.

Things to Do Near the Markthal

The Markthal is the obvious first stop, with a covered market under the painted arch and Horn of Plenty overhead. Outside, the Binnenrotte market is one of the largest in the Netherlands, with more than 450 stalls. It runs every Tuesday and Saturday all year, and on Sundays from April to September as well. From the market it is a short walk to the Laurenskerk, rebuilt inside its surviving walls between 1952 and 1968, and the Cube Houses and the Blaaktoren stand beside Blaak station on the other side of the hall.

Across Blaak, about 400 meters (1,300 feet) from the Markthal, the Witte Huis was the tallest office building in Europe when it was completed in 1898, at 45 meters (148 feet). It stands beside the Oude Haven, the old harbor basin. The Erasmusbrug across the Nieuwe Maas is about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) south of the Markthal and has its own live camera from the same operator.

Similar Webcams You Might Like

For more Dutch city views, try these cameras next.

• Erasmusbrug Webcam
• Amsterdam Webcam
• Grote Markt Groningen Webcam

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Markthal in Rotterdam?

The Markthal is in the Laurenskwartier in central Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland, the Netherlands. It stands at the end of the Binnenrotte next to Blaak station, about 200 meters (660 feet) from the Laurenskerk and about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) north of the Erasmusbrug.

What can you see on the Rotterdam Markthal Webcam?

A wide, high view over the Laurenskwartier: the Laurenskerk tower on the left, the Markthal arch to the right with the Blaaktoren and the Cube Houses behind it, a canal up the middle of the frame and, on clear days, the Nieuwe Maas on the horizon.

What is the weather like in Rotterdam?

Mild and damp. January averages 6.4 C (44 F) by day and 1.3 C (34 F) at night, July 22.7 C (73 F) and 13.2 C (56 F), with about 882 millimeters (34.7 inches) of rain spread through the year.

Can you see the Erasmus Bridge on this webcam?

No. The Erasmusbrug is about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) south and is not in the frame. The operator says only a glimpse of the Willemsbrug shows, and the Erasmusbrug has its own camera.

When is the Binnenrotte market open?

Every Tuesday and Saturday throughout the year, and on Sundays from April to September. With more than 450 stalls it is one of the largest markets in the Netherlands.

When did the Markthal open?

Queen Maxima opened the Markthal on 1 October 2014. The building was designed by MVRDV and holds 228 apartments above and around the market floor.

Is the Laurenskerk the oldest building in Rotterdam’s center?

It is the only remnant of the medieval city. Built between 1449 and 1525, it lost everything but its tower and walls in the bombing of 14 May 1940 and was restored between 1952 and 1968.

Can you rewind the Rotterdam Markthal livestream?

Yes, for a while. The operator says the footage is not recorded, but the stream can be replayed up to 12 hours back in the player.

Source: Rotterdam Make It Happen