nhow Rotterdam – Where Architecture, Art, and the Soul of the City Converge
A Vertical Masterpiece That Captures Rotterdam’s Boldest Ambitions
Type: architectural hotel, design hotel, lifestyle & creative hotel
Vibe: lively
DNA: eco & sustainability, industrial chic, minimalist, pets allowed, rooftop bar, wheelchair accessible
A City That Builds the Future, Not the Past
Few cities wear their identity on their skyline quite like Rotterdam. Shaped by war, rebuilt with vision, and defined by its fearless embrace of innovation, this Dutch port city has become a global capital of cutting-edge architecture and experimental design. Rising proudly from the south bank of the River Maas, nhow Rotterdam embodies that same spirit—bold, modern, and unapologetically forward-looking. Housed in De Rotterdam, the colossal “vertical city” designed by Rem Koolhaas and his renowned firm OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), nhow is far more than a hotel. It’s an architectural landmark, a cultural playground, and a living expression of the city’s relentless creativity.
The Vertical City – A Rem Koolhaas Icon
To understand nhow is to understand its extraordinary home. De Rotterdam, completed in 2013, is not just a building—it’s a city within a city. Towering nearly 150 metres above Wilhelmina Pier, it’s a complex of three interconnected towers containing offices, apartments, restaurants, and, at its heart, nhow’s design-forward hotel. Koolhaas envisioned the building as a vertical metropolis—a space that reflects the multi-layered complexity of urban life. Its dramatic, stacked volumes appear to defy gravity, shifting and overlapping like a sculptural composition. Vast glass façades capture shifting light and frame panoramic views of the river and skyline, while the building’s sharp geometry and modular rhythm mirror Rotterdam’s obsession with progress and reinvention. From the moment you see it, De Rotterdam doesn’t just house the city—it expresses it. And nhow, occupying the east tower, is where that architectural ambition comes alive for guests.
Design That Engages, Not Intimidates
Inside, nhow Rotterdam translates OMA’s radical exterior into a bold but welcoming design language. Interiors channel the industrial beauty of Rotterdam’s working port—think exposed concrete, raw steel detailing, and soaring floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the spaces with light and offer cinematic views of the Erasmus Bridge and the skyline beyond. Yet this is no cold modernist box. Splashes of colourful graphic art, curated contemporary installations, and playful furniture compositions add warmth and wit. The lobby is part gallery, part social hub, blurring the boundaries between art space and living space. Corridors are canvases, public areas feel like curated exhibitions, and rooms—sleek, minimal, and beautifully planned—become observation decks over one of Europe’s most progressive cities. The design never shouts. It invites—encouraging interaction, reflection, and a sense of belonging.
A Hotel With Rotterdam in Its DNA
nhow doesn’t just sit in Rotterdam; it participates in it. This is a space where architects, artists, entrepreneurs, and travellers converge—drawn by a programme of cultural happenings that includes pop-up exhibitions, creative talks, DJ sets, and collaborations with local institutions. Its proximity to the Kunsthal, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, and the Fenix Food Factory places guests at the crossroads of Rotterdam’s artistic and culinary scenes, while its design philosophy—bold contrasts, fearless experimentation, and a refusal to be ordinary—mirrors the city’s ethos at every turn.
Sky-High Social Energy
One of nhow’s most iconic features is its rooftop bar and terrace, a vibrant social space perched high above the river. It’s here that locals and visitors mingle over cocktails as the Maas shimmers below and the skyline lights up in a thousand reflections. Whether you’re watching the sun sink behind the Erasmus Bridge or the port disappear into morning mist, the perspective from this vantage point is unforgettable—an urban panorama that captures Rotterdam’s dynamism in a single glance.
A Love Letter to a City Like No Other
nhow Rotterdam isn’t just inspired by its city—it’s a physical manifestation of it. Its architecture tells the story of Rotterdam’s resilience, its design reflects the city’s creative pulse, and its social spaces channel the city’s inclusive, forward-thinking energy. For design enthusiasts, architecture lovers, and cultural explorers, this is far more than a place to rest. It’s a way to experience Rotterdam from the inside out—to stay not just in the city, but with it.
DNA Hotels Verdict
nhow Rotterdam is one of Europe’s most architecturally significant hotels: a bold collaboration between OMA’s structural genius and a design philosophy that celebrates creativity without pretension. It’s a destination where architecture becomes experience, where hospitality meets culture, and where the soul of Rotterdam—innovative, resilient, and ever-evolving—pulses through every floor. For anyone passionate about design and the cities that dare to dream, this is Rotterdam at its most inspiring.
