The port, the Erasmus Bridge, the summer carnival? No, it’s the Euromast that has been the icon of Rotterdam for more than half a century. Originally built for the 1960 Floriade flower festival, and later almost doubled in height, the Euromast has been a popular attraction for decades and is still the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands.
In 1960, the very first Floriade in the Netherlands was opened by Princess Beatrix. In the park with flowerbeds, ponds, pavilions and a cable car, the 100-metre-high Euromast was the main attraction. It was the tallest building in Rotterdam at that time and quite an achievement in those days - architect Huig Maaskant went all out for this project. The foundation consists of a block of concrete that weighs almost 2 million kilograms and the asymmetrical steel and glass crow’s nest weighs 240,000 kilograms. The colossus (which now also houses a restaurant) was built on the ground and in 5 days lifted to an elevation of 100 metres. Even after the Floriade the Euromast remained a top attraction, drawing half a million visitors each year. 10 years later the mast was no longer the tallest building in Rotterdam. A second tower was built on top of it: the Space Tower with the Euroscoop, a glass elevator that rotates as it ascends to the 185-metre-high top.
'Everything changes except the view', was the recommendation when the Euromast underwent a comprehensive renovation at the start of the new millennium. The mast reopened in 2004 with a brand-new contemporary restaurant in the crow’s nest. Here you can enjoy brunch, lunch, high tea or dinner, all with the same fabulous views. Interior designer Jan des Bouvrie has decorated 2 luxurious suites on top of the restaurant. From 10:00 pm until 10:00 am, hotel guests have the viewing platform all to themselves – the highest balcony in the whole of Rotterdam. Another new addition is the opportunity to abseil at the tower - nerves of steel are a must.
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