• Fenix Rotterdam Migration Museum outside view with the artwork of a metal slide on top.
  • Fenix Rotterdam Migration Museum internal view of the mail hall with white floor and internal big slide of metal
1 2

Fenix Rotterdam Migration Museum

Fenix Rotterdam Migration Museum

The Fenix Museum of Migration in Rotterdam, opened on 16 May 2025, is a pioneering cultural institution that explores the global and personal impact of migration. Located in the historic San Francisco Warehouse, once a key departure point for emigrants via the Holland America Line, the museum connects past and present migration stories. Using a multidisciplinary approach—combining art, history, personal narratives, and interactive exhibits—it offers a powerful, immersive experience. Featuring innovative architecture like the Tornado staircase by MAD Architects, Fenix is both a historical site and a space for reflection, empathy, and cultural dialogue.

Opening hours

  • Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Closed on Mondays

How to get there

Paul Nijghkade 5, 3072 AT Rotterdam, Netherlands

Prices from

From €15

Get your tickets here > View full details

More details

FENIX Rotterdam – A museum about movement and migration

FENIX is a new museum in Rotterdam. It is located in an old harbor warehouse in the Katendrecht area. The museum tells the story of people who move from one place to another—by choice or by need.

What to See

  • Stories about travel, migration, and identity
  • Personal objects, videos, and photos
  • Interactive exhibits about where we come from
  • Spaces that let you listen, feel, and imagine
  • Rooftop artwork by Ai Weiwei (opens in 2025)

Why Visit

  • Learn how movement shapes who we are
  • Explore stories from around the world
  • Visit a creative part of Rotterdam’s harbor
  • Good for adults, teens, and curious minds

The Museum

FENIX is in a large harbor building where many people once left for new lives. The museum connects local and global stories. It shows how travel and change are part of all human lives.

Visitor Information

  • Address: Paul Nijghkade 19, Rotterdam
  • Opening: Expected in late 2025
  • Check website for updates and preview events
  • Facilities: Café, programs, rooftop (coming soon)

FENIX Rotterdam is a place for visitors who want to think about where we come from, where we go, and what home means.

Some Highlights of Fenix Rotterdam Migration Museum

The Tornado

The Tornado, the eye-catching double-helix staircase clad in stainless steel, spirals from the ground floor to a rooftop platform 24 meters above ground level, offering panoramic views. Built from bio-based modified wood, the structure spans 550 meters and includes 336 steps. It is clad in 297 stainless-steel panels, each produced in Groningen, Netherlands, and polished for over 100 hours, contributing to a total of 4,000 square meters of polished steel. The staircase incorporates 12,500 wooden planks, adding both structural and aesthetic value. The canopy atop the viewing platform measures 11.6 meters in width, 17.1 meters in length, and 3.1 meters in height.

Get your tickets

The Suitcase Labyrinth

The Suitcase Labyrinth is an installation made up of 2,000 suitcases donated by migrants from around the world, where visitors can also listen to stories about the former owners.Fenix is complete with a museum shop and eateries, as well as a 6,750 square metres green roof. To the east is an adjacent building called Plein, which has a separate entrance and is designed as a flexible community and events space that will be curated with local people.

Get your tickets
Exterior view of the FENIX Museum of Migration in Rotterdam, designed by MAD Architects, featuring a dramatic rooftop viewing platform and modern industrial-style architecture.

MAD

MAD is an architecture studio founded by Yansong in Beijing in 2004. Its completion of Fenix coincides with the launch of an exhibition at the Nieuwe Instituut called Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion, which opens on Saturday and will showcase the evolution of MAD's work since its beginnings. The studio's other recently completed projects include a "flying saucer-shaped" hut and the canyon-like One River North apartment block in Denver. The photography is by Iwan Baan unless stated otherwise.

Get your tickets

Other Dutch Museums

View all