Small in size, big in potential. The bridge keeper’s houses of Rotterdam are largely unused. How do we create opportunities for sustainable reuse for these unique places? And what are the bottlenecks? Come and have a look and think along in the bridge keeper’s house of the Koninginnebrug.

The municipality of Rotterdam has 22 bridge keeper’s houses. The bridges are generally operated remotely, which means that most of the houses are ’empty’ most of the time. This offers opportunities for reuse  of these bridge keeper’s houses.

In order to gain insight into the possibilities, the Bridge Keepers’ Houses Foundation conducted an inventory of this on behalf of the municipality of Rotterdam for the bridge keeper’s houses of the Achterhavenbrug, Beukelsbrug, Doenbrug, Jan Kuitenbrug, Oostbrug, Admiraliteitsbrug, Landhoofd Oude Willemsbrug (Noordereiland) and Koninginnebrug.

A pilot for reuse

Under the name Rotterdamse Waterparels, a varied cultural programme of activities, presentations and interventions will start this summer in and around the four bridge keeper’s houses of the Koninginnebrug (Feijenoord) and the two bridge houses on the Noordeiland of the Oude Willemsbrug – as a pilot for reuse.

This programme makes the values ​​of the bridge keeper’s houses visible and tangible for Rotterdam residents. What stories do they tell about the history of the city and its residents, about the importance of water and bridges in Rotterdam and in what ways can they remain meaningful in the future? The programme will run until the end of 2026.

During the opening of the bridge keeper’s house, ideas and plans are also collected from local residents, entrepreneurs and other interested people. The aim is to set up an inspiring, creative and hospitable program in collaboration.

The book (in Dutch) Bakens in de stad is available in the bridge keeper’s house. Special price during the Rotterdam Architecture Month: € 20,-

Go to Instagram page