History of Rotterdam

As a true industrial city, the history of Rotterdam is immense. Ships have been coming and going in and out of the port for hundreds of years. The city was built around a dam in the river Rotte, which immediately explains the origin of its name. Located by the Rotte was not only the port but also the second Heineken brewery in the Netherlands! Heineken has played a significant part in the history of Rotterdam with its brewery. 

History of Rotterdam: Heineken Brewery

With growing success in Amsterdam, the founders of Heineken decided to start their history in Rotterdam with a second Heineken beer brewery. The location chosen was the Linker Rottekade in Rotterdam's Crooswijk. This was not only for its favorable location near the port for beer transportation but also due to the large number of water sources. Due to the enormous growth in both demand and population, the factory was expanded in the 1920s with a grain silo, boiling house, and office building. The office building is now a national monument known as the Heineken Building Rotterdam.  

Taste the history of Rotterdam in the Heineken Building

Heineken left a piece of its history in Rotterdam; the Heineken Building. This monumental building was purchased twenty years ago by Stadsherstel Historisch Rotterdam and fully renovated to preserve the history of Rotterdam as best as possible. As soon as you step inside, you are surrounded by the stunning monumental atmospheres from the 1920s. And good news: you can book meeting rooms there! With a meeting on the grounds of the former Heineken brewery, you get very close to the history of Rotterdam.

Meeting rooms with the history of Rotterdam

In the Heineken Building, there are various meeting rooms that showcase not only the history of Heineken but also the history of Rotterdam. For example, the Family room tells the story of the Heineken family and former employees, and the Lab provides more insight into the A-yeast discovered by chemist Dr. Hartman Elion in 1866. Read more about the history of the Heineken Building Rotterdam on our Heineken Tour page or experience it in one of our meeting rooms! 

Heineken Tour Meeting Rooms

Experience the history of Rotterdam during a meeting?

Meet in the Heineken Building Rotterdam and experience how history in Rotterdam began for one of the most leading brands!