Want to know more? Visit the Tramhuis website.
Anyone who regularly walks across Eendrachtsplein has probably already seen it in recent months: the glass house that suddenly looks almost brand new. The historic Tramhuisje—a night café for years, then a kebab shop—has been given a new lease on life.
Since this week it has not only been restored, but also transformed into something striking: a starting point for city walks.
According to its initiators, the renovated Tramhuis is the world’s first kiosk concept entirely dedicated to city walks. The idea is simple: you walk in, choose a route, and explore Rotterdam on foot.
At the Tramhuis you can choose from several routes. Some are guided by city guides at weekends. Others can be followed independently using a booklet or a podwalk app. Four Rotterdammers have created their own routes:
There is also a special family route where the children themselves act as the guides and lead the adults around.
The Tramhuis was built in 1914 as a waiting shelter for tram passengers. Made entirely of glass and steel, it was strikingly modern for its time. It survived the bombing of 1940, was relocated several times within the city centre, and later served a variety of purposes: from meeting place to late-night shop and snack bar.
A photograph from 1931, sourced from the City Archives, was used as a reference for the restoration. The result is not a replica, but a carefully restored piece of the city’s history.
The Tramhuis is explicitly not intended only for tourists. Rotterdammers themselves are also invited to see their own city afresh. Under the banner Hartstochtjes, walks are organised that connect residents with their neighbourhood, with local stories, and with one another.
The Tramhuis is located at Hermesplantsoen 3, on Eendrachtsplein, and is open from Wednesday to Sunday between 10:00 and 16:00. Visitors can choose walking routes, obtain information, or join a guided tour.
