The Twirling Tales: A Journey into Fenix Rotterdam
Rotterdam welcomes a fresh artistic hub of compelling interest.
Say goodbye to the humdrum museums of the past, Rotterdam is now hosting a unique cultural gem: Fenix, a migration art museum. Nestled in the heart of the city's historic port area, Queen Máxima gracefully unveiled its grandeur on a star-studded night, May 16th, 2025. A once-old warehouse, now transformed into a masterpiece of modern art, Fenix is Europe's first museum to narrate the theme of migration through contemporary artworks.
This architectural marvel was brought to life by MAD Architects, with lead architect Ma Yansong making a bold statement in his first European cultural project. A standout feature is the mesmerizing "Twister"—a tumbling vortex of gleaming steel, mirroring the city, water, and people, spiraling from the ground floor up to the rooftop.
Sprawled over 16,000 square meters, the museum captivates visitors with a tapestry of migration stories woven from contemporary art, photographs, and personal possessions. From labyrinthine corridors adorned with over 2,000 suitcases belonging to emigrants, to an old, vibrant city bus from the Big Apple, every corner offers a glimpse into the lives of both the past and present.
Fenix proudly stands where once millions sailed for the New World, including the renowned Albert Einstein. Rotterdam, having risen from the ashes of German bombing 85 years ago, now flourishes as a buzzing tourist hotspot, boasting a breathtaking skyline and daring modern architecture.
- Migration
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- Art
- Tourism
Additional Insights:
- Fenix is the realized vision of the Droom en Daad Foundation, in collaboration with local partners.
- MAD Architects aimed to create a harmonious blend of the existing structure and its surrounding environment.
- The museum's exhibitions provide a comprehensive exploration of migration as a universal human experience.
- A rooftop platform extends visitors an enchanting vista of the River Maas and the cityscape beyond, beautifully complementing the stories housed within.
- The Droom en Daad Foundation, in collaboration with local partners, has created Fenix, a museum that reflects the community policy of fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment for people who have migrated to Rotterdam, demonstrating how their employment policy in the realm of art and cultural preservation has sparked new opportunities for the city's home-and-garden landscape.
- As visitors explore the contemporary artworks, photographs, and personal possessions at Fenix, they can reflect on the lifestyle changes brought on by migration, considering the varied experiences and challenges faced by those who have journeyed to Rotterdam from different parts of the world, transforming the city's employment policy and enriching its cultural scene.
