• Nieuwe Instituut outside view of the building in the museum district Rotterdam
  • Nieuwe Instituut inside view of an exhibition hall showing design art works
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Nieuwe Instituut Museum Rotterdam

Nieuwe Instituut Museum Rotterdam

The Nieuwe Instituut is the Netherlands’ national museum and cultural centre for architecture, design, and digital culture. Founded in 2013 through a merger of the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Premsela (design & fashion), and Virtueel Platform (e-culture), it brings together exhibitions, research, archives, and programs under one roof.

Opening hours

  • Closed on Monday
  • Tue–Wed: 10:00 – 17:00
  • Thu: 10:00 – 21:00 (extended hours)
  • Fri–Sun: 10:00 – 17:00

How to get there

Museumpark 25, 3015 CB Rotterdam

Prices from

From €18.00

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Nieuwe Instituut – Design, architecture, and digital culture

Nieuwe Instituut is a museum and knowledge center in Rotterdam. It focuses on design, architecture, and digital culture. The museum looks at how we live now—and how we might live in the future.

What to See

  • Exhibitions on buildings, cities, and living spaces
  • Displays about fashion, technology, and society
  • Famous designs and new ideas from around the world
  • Children’s exhibition: “The New Garden” with play areas
  • The National Collection of Dutch Architecture and Urban Planning

Why Visit

  • See how design shapes daily life
  • Explore new ways of thinking about the future
  • Great for adults, students, and curious kids
  • Located next to the Kunsthal and Museum Boijmans Depot

The Museum

Nieuwe Instituut opened in 2013, combining several design and architecture organizations. It also manages the Dutch national archive for architecture. The building was designed by architect Jo Coenen and includes a museum, study center, café, and garden.

Visitor Information

  • Address: Museumpark 25, Rotterdam
  • Open: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 – 17:00
  • Tickets: €14.00 (adults), free under 18
  • Free with Museumkaart
  • Facilities: Café, shop, study rooms, and events

Nieuwe Instituut is perfect for visitors who are interested in how design, tech, and architecture shape our future.

Some Highlights of Nieuwe Instituut Museum Rotterdam

Garden Futures exhibition

A thematic showcase exploring the past, present, and future of modern garden design. Curated in four chapters, it examines cultural, political, and ecological dimensions featuring figures like Roberto Burle Marx, Mien Ruys, and Piet Oudolf

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Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion

This immersive exhibition presents the visionary work of Ma Yansong and MAD Architects, exploring how architecture can evoke emotion, memory, and a deeper connection to nature. Through physical models, multimedia installations, and augmented reality experiences, visitors journey through seven themed chapters—each revealing Ma’s humanistic approach to design. Blending futuristic concepts with traditional Chinese aesthetics, the show challenges the boundaries between built environments and natural landscapes. It’s a poetic and multi-sensory experience that redefines how we feel space.

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Sonneveld House

A pristine 1933 functionalist villa preserved as a total work of art. Covers architecture, interior, and garden; original Gispen furniture and hygienic design highlight modernist domestic ideals

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