Markthal Rotterdam

The Markthal at Dominee Jan Scharpstraat 298 in Rotterdam's old harbour district opened in October 2014 as the Netherlands' first covered food market and immediately became one of the city's signature architectural landmarks. The building was designed by MVRDV architects as a horseshoe arch of 228 residential apartments enclosing the market hall below; the arch's inner surfaces and the glass end walls together form a sheltered space approximately 120 metres long, 70 metres wide, and 40 metres high. The interior ceiling and walls are covered by the Horn of Plenty artwork designed by artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, a pixelated mural of enlarged flowers, fruits, insects, and fish measuring approximately 11,000 square metres — the largest artwork in the Netherlands. On the ground floor, around 100 fresh-produce stalls and specialist food vendors sell cheese, fish, meat, bread, spices, and prepared foods from Dutch and international suppliers. The surrounding perimeter houses restaurants and cafes ranging from Dutch snack bars to international cuisine. Below the market is a large supermarket and underground parking. The Markthal's immediate neighbourhood also contains the Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen), the Blaak metro station, and the Old Harbour (Oude Haven), making it the hub of a compact architectural sightseeing circuit. Saturday mornings between 10:00 AM and noon attract the largest combination of food shoppers and sightseers; the hall is notably quieter on weekday mornings. Entry is free at all times; the market operates every day of the week.