ALL HANDS ON DECK
Portlantis
A striking new landmark has emerged on Rotterdam’s Tweede Maasvlakte: Portlantis. This state-of-the-art visitor centre brings the Port of Rotterdam to life, revealing its inner workings and hidden stories. As one of Europe’s most vital logistical hubs, the port is a vast, dynamic world—constantly evolving to improve efficiency and sustainability. At Portlantis, visitors explore how the port operates, its impact on the economy and environment, and the challenges it faces to remain future-proof.
- Location
- Maasvlakte (NL)
- Client
- Havenbedrijf Rotterdam N.V.
- Year
- 2025
Project data
- 22metre high atrium
- 10years in the making
- 266solar panels
- 5floors filled with stories
A building full of stories
Portlantis is a gesamtkunstwerk, where architecture, exhibitions, and interior design blend seamlessly. What makes this project unique is that the storytelling concept and visitor experience were developed first. This vision then shaped the architectural design by MVRDV. The result is an integrated and dynamic design where content and form strengthen each other at every level.
Three-part collage
At the heart of the building is the 22-metre-high atrium, where a kinetic installation and an interactive port model bring the port’s energy to life. The experience is visible from every level.
A dynamic meeting place
Portlantis is a place for both learning and connection. Schoolchildren, students, policymakers, and port professionals all come together here, fostering natural exchange and collaboration. The exhibition spans three floors, each with its own theme: TODAY – the port as it is now, IMPACT – the significance of the port, and TOMORROW – the port’s future. There is no fixed route. Visitors can explore in their own order, navigating interactive installations and layered information tailored to different levels of knowledge and expertise.
Schoolchildren, students, policymakers, and port professionals all come together here, fostering natural exchange and collaboration.
All hands on deck
Portlantis is the result of close collaboration with the Port of Rotterdam (client), MVRDV (architecture), and Piet Harm Sterk (art direction, Bind). From the outset, these partners worked closely together to ensure perfect synergy between content and design. Content developers, spatial designers, graphic designers, light and sound specialists, interaction designers, filmmakers, and builders joined forces to create a cohesive and immersive experience. This integrated design approach has resulted in a unique, all-encompassing experience where information, wonder, and connection seamlessly come together.
