The Heineken brand has grown from a small family brewery in Amsterdam over the past two centuries to become one of the largest and best-known brands worldwide. Not only research, innovation, and marketing have made this brand great, but especially the people behind this brand have been a driving force.
The Heineken Building Rotterdam has a different dynamic than a regular museum. Here, hard work is still done every day by various companies that have settled in this fantastic monumental building.
Heineken Tour
Audio tour
Discover the history of the former Heineken brewery in Rotterdam. This brewery was in use until 1974.
From Monday to Friday between 10 AM and 4 PM, you can wander independently through the halls and soak up the history and architecture via an audio tour. Enjoy the beautiful view of the city.
Monday to Friday:
Audio tour (independent) for €8.50 p.p., including a drink and a visit to our rooftop terrace.
Reserve the Audio tour via our contact form or call us at 010-555 5510.
Guided tour
This tour is conducted by one of our guides. Listen to stories about the origin of yeast and learn about the Heineken brand.
From Monday to Saturday, you will go on a journey with this genuine Rotterdam guide and finish the tour with a beer in our Secret Bar.
Monday to Saturday:
Guided tour (60 minutes) for €15.00 p.p. (from 4 people), including a drink and a visit to our rooftop terrace.
Reserve the Guided tour via our contact form or call us at 010-555 5510.
Guided tour & Brewery Noordt
150 meters away from the Heineken Building is the largest and youngest brewery in Rotterdam: Brewery Noordt. A pleasure to see how they brew the latest beers and end the day with two freshly brewed Noordt (30 minutes).
Friday and Saturday:
Tour (1.5 hours) €27.50 p.p. (from 8 people)
Beer Handling Workshop
Learn to tap yourself during the Beer Handling workshop in our beautiful Secret Bar. In this workshop, you will receive an explanation about the brewing process and learn how to tap the perfect beer yourself. Of course, this workshop ends with beer, bitterballen, and great stories from Rotterdam hospitality.
On request:
€37.50 p.p. (from 12 people)
Discover the highlights...
Opening of the brewery in Rotterdam
In 1873, the history of Heineken in Rotterdam began. Following the success of the first brewery in Amsterdam, a second brewery was opened in Rotterdam's Crooswijk. Located on the Rotte, this brewery was a logical step for supplying the south of the Netherlands. Moreover, this second brewery was a thoughtful step with an eye on overseas export. With a workspace of 30 square meters and advanced cooling systems, the brewery was ahead of its time and could rightly be called cutting-edge. In the course of the 1920s, it was expanded with a new office building, a grain silo, a malthouse, and a coal transporter, all designed by the renowned architect Willem Kromhout.
Discovery of the Heineken A-yeast
In 1886, director Feltmann suggested also establishing a company laboratory in the Heineken Building Rotterdam. In this laboratory, chemist Dr. Hartman Elion worked, among other things, on improving the fermentation process to achieve a longer shelf life for the beer. He quickly achieved surprisingly positive results, and within a year, the first 'scientifically produced beer' was brewed in Rotterdam, equipped with the Heineken A-yeast of exceptionally high quality.
Meet the Heineken Family
The Rotterdam brewery had a major social function from the start of construction due to the many new jobs involved. Additionally, a job at Heineken was not just a workplace, but it provided a time to never forget. Heineken became part of your life when you worked there. For instance, various staff associations were formed, billiards, and card clubs were established in the building's basement, and theater clubs and a genuine Heineken football club came into existence. The arrival of the Heineken Brewery brought a tremendous revitalization to Rotterdam's Crooswijk.
Heineken in times of crisis
1939-1945, the second world war. Rotterdam experienced a crisis even more intensely than the rest of the Netherlands, literally shaking the city to its foundations. It was a time of destruction, sorrow, and despair. But also a time of solidarity and support for one another. As the Heineken Brewery was spared during the bombing, the building took on a significant role in the subsequent period. A soup kitchen was established, and despite the fact that German soldiers regularly stopped by for beer, the different people in hiding in the brewery remained unnoticed. There were even spaces used by resistance movements, and later the Domestic Forces settled in the building.
Today: Heineken Building Rotterdam comes to life
The Heineken Building Rotterdam continues to play a significant role in the Crooswijk district and in the city of Rotterdam. The distinctive office building has now been completely renovated and restored. This way, the design by Willem Kromhout has not only been beautifully preserved, but the Heineken Building Rotterdam has also been given new life. The many authentic elements and original details lend a touch of old grandeur to a contemporary use of the splendid building.
Now, more than 150 years after the completion of this special building, it stands again at the center of one of Rotterdam's most characteristic neighborhoods. And again, the building not only has a professional function but also plays an important role in keeping the dynamics and social contacts in the neighborhood alive. Thus, the building does what it has been doing for over 160 years: connecting, innovating, and making people feel at home.
Taste the history at Heineken Building Rotterdam
Would you like to visit the Heineken Building Rotterdam? During the Heineken Tour, our guide tells you everything about the building and its history.