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Rotterdam.nl
2016 |
Bestuursdienst
Concerncommunicatie
21-22 juni
Bezoekadres:
Stadhuis
Coolsingel 40 Rotterdam
Postadres:
Postbus 70012
3000 KP Rotterdam
Van Nellefabriek in Rotterdam is UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Netherlands has a new world icon. Today, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee awarded the Van
Nellefabriek in Rotterdam World Heritage status. This is a worldwide acknowledgement of the unique and
universal value of the former coffee, tea and tobacco factory. In the meantime, the factory has been used
successfully for years as office premises and events venue, under the name Van Nelle Fabriek.
Mayor Aboutaleb: “Rotterdam is undeniably the number one city of architecture in the Netherlands. I am therefore
extremely proud of both our new and historic icons. The Van Nellefabriek is one of these icons. A building that was
unique for its time in terms of the materials used and its shape, and way ahead of its time from a social perspective.
The fact that the Van Nellefabriek has now been given the status of World Heritage Site is a gift for all future
generations, something all Rotterdammers can be very proud of.”
Internationally renowned architects like Norman Foster and Renzo Piano, and famous Rotterdam firms of architects
such as OMA and MVRDV are making their mark on the city’s modern architecture. However, Rotterdam also has
some historic gems from the ‘Nieuwe Bouwen’ era. The newly awarded UNESCO status for the Van Nelle Fabriek
(1925-1931) confirms that Rotterdam has a lot to offer in terms of architectural history.
The factory, which was designed and built in the 1920s, is a striking and characteristic example of modernism. The
factory complex is made up of various connected buildings and is one of the highlights of 20th century industrial
architecture. Shortly after it was built, prominent architects referred to the factory as ‘the most beautiful spectacle of the
modern age’ (Le Corbusier, 1932) and ‘a poem in steel and glass’ (Robertson and Yerbury, 1930).
Ideal factory
Commissioning party K. van der Leeuw and architects J.A. Brinkman and L.C. Van der Vlugt succeeded jointly in
creating the ‘ideal factory’: functional, beautiful and open. Natural light was used to make the working conditions
pleasant for the workers. This is evidence of employment practice with a concern for the physical and mental wellbeing of employees; in those days, this was not yet something people could take for granted in business.
10th World Heritage Site for the Netherlands
The award of World Heritage status to the Van Nellefabriek brings the total number of sites in the Kingdom of the
Netherlands on the UNESCO World Heritage List to ten. It is Rotterdam’s first World Heritage Site and the city is proud
of it. Alderman Adriaan Visser: “Rotterdam is currently known mainly for its progressive new architecture, with such
icons as the Markthal and De Rotterdam. We are also seeing a renewed interest in architecture from the past, and we
are getting better at reusing old buildings. The fact that the Van Nelle Fabriek has now been given World Heritage
status is a wonderful and well-deserved acknowledgment of this.”
Keeping it alive for future generations
When the nomination file was submitted in January 2013, Minister Bussemaker of Education, Culture and Science
predicted that the Netherlands had pure gold in its hands with the Van Nellefabriek: “This magnificent building is an
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example of how monuments can be preserved and kept alive for future generations. The necessary modifications have
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been made to the building, but the spirit of the olden days lives on in every sense.”
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Van Nelle community
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After production
ceased in 1995, the then owner of the factory, Sara Lee/DE, together with the municipal authority,
looked for a fitting new use for the building complex. With the sale to the CV Van Nelle Design Factory, a new ‘Van
Nelle community’ arose. Director Roger Meertens: “As before, the current Van Nellefabriek is an inspiring working
environment, where more than 80 businesses develop the most beautiful things on a daily basis and also where all
kinds of national and international events take place: from Art Rotterdam to exclusive dance parties. In this way, we are
again giving substance to the social-cultural function of what was at the time a progressive factory and commissioner
Kees van der Leeuw’s legacy of ideas.”
The successful redevelopment of the factory took place between 1999-2006, under the direction of building concern
VolkerWessels. Architect Wessel de Jonge acted as coordinating architect. UNESCO endorses the fact that the
authenticity of the complex was preserved in all respects thanks to the painstaking restoration. A result that visitors and
new business users of the Van Nellefabriek can clearly see and feel.
UNESCO meeting in Qatar
The Mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, was there when the World Heritage status was awarded in Doha (Qatar),
where the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is meeting this year from 15 to 25 June.
Please contact for futher information:
Municipality of Rotterdam
Mark van der Roer, spokesperson for the Mayor, T +31 (0) 6- 130 48 645
Claudia Verhulp, spokesperson for Stadsontwikkeling, T +31 (0)6 - 512 66 315
Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands
Dolf Muller, spokesperson, T +31 (0)6 – 109 15 593
Van Nelle Fabriek
Gwenda van der Ham, pr assistant T +31(0)6 – 421 54 390