Opened in March 2025, Portlantis is a visitor and exhibition centre for the Port of Rotterdam located at the port’s westernmost point, occupying a prominent location on the beach of the Maasvlakte 2 artificial land extension. Comprising a stack of five rotated exhibition spaces, the building stands out from its surroundings with its crimson-red public route from the dunes to its rooftop, while offering spectacular views in all directions of the North Sea, the coastline, and the port.
The shape of the building is a direct response to the activities taking place inside and out: each floor is square in plan and has a large panorama window that frames a different view of the surroundings. The orientation of each floor, and the direction its main window faces, corresponds to its function: on the ground floor café, this window faces westward and provides an intimate view of the dunes, while diners in the fourth-floor restaurant can enjoy views of both sunsets over the North Sea and the illuminated skyline of the port at night. On the outside, the different orientations of each level create platforms, which are connected by bright red staircases highlighting the route to the roof. This route is accessible to the public for free, allowing the building to act as a viewing tower over the port.
The permanent exhibition, designed by Kossmanndejong, is spread over the three levels in between as objects in this industrial environment. Each level addresses a different theme, and the panorama windows are focused on elements within the port that enhance the content of the exhibition. At the centre of the building is a 22-metre-tall atrium that functions as an exhibition space in its own right. A kinetic sculpture hangs in its centre, with a model of the Port of Rotterdam greeting visitors on the ground floor. This dramatic space is emphasised by the mirrored ceiling, which doubles its apparent height, and by the entrance from the ground floor, in which a rotating door conceals the exhibition until visitors enter the voluminous heart of the building.
Client: Port of Rotterdam
Exhibition designer: Kossmanndejong
Structural engineer: van Rossum
MEP, Building physics, & Environmental Advisor: Nelissen
Photo credits: Ossip van Duivenbode
