The 12 tallest buildings in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is known for its modern architecture. Some even refer to it as 'Manhattan on the river Maas.' Of all the buildings, have you ever wondered how tall they were? We've made a list of Rotterdam's tallest current and future skyscrapers. 

Rotterdam likes to build up. If you walk along the Maas and let your eyes climb the skyline, you are looking at a city that has turned height into a habit. Below is our updated list of the 12 tallest completed buildings in Rotterdam as of 27 January 2026.

P.S. A quick note before we count down. Heights can be reported in different ways. In this list we use architectural height, the standard used by CTBUH’s Skyscraper Center, which includes spires and architectural elements but not functional antenna masts. That is why you may sometimes see slightly lower figures quoted elsewhere for the same building. 

12. Erasmus MC, 119.5 metres, completed 2012

Erasmus MC Rotterdam 120 meters completed in 2012

This is the high rise marker of Rotterdam’s biggest medical campus, a tower built for the daily realities of a major hospital. In the 2010s, Erasmus MC also completed a huge campus renewal that opened in stages and culminated in a high profile opening in 2018. The new buildings and tower were designed by EGM Architecten.

11. The Red Apple, 123.5 metres, completed 2008

The Red Apple Rotterdam 127 meters completed in 2009

The Red Apple is a multifunctional building with a tall residential tower located on Wijnhaveneiland, in Maritiem District (maritime district). The residential tower has 40 floors and houses 152 apartments. It was designed by KCAP together with Jan des Bouvrie, a Dutch interior designer who focused on the lifestyle aspects of the building.

10. FIRST Rotterdam, 128.2 metres, completed 2015

FIRST Rotterdam 128 meters completed in 2015

The First Rotterdam office building, located across the street from Rotterdam's central station, is part of the Weenapoint complex. It has 31 above-ground floors and two floors below-ground. The building was designed by de Architekten Cie. and opened to the public in 2015. 

9. World Port Center, 133.6 metres, completed 2001

World Port Centre Rotterdam 123 meters completed in 2001

The World Port Center is a 32-storey office building, mostly in use by Port of Rotterdam. It was one of the very first skyscrapers built in the Kop van Zuid area, now known for its many tall buildings. World Port Centre was designed by Sir Norman Foster and completed in 2001. 

8. Millennium Tower, 149 metres, completed 2000

Millennium Tower Rotterdam 131 meters completed in 2000

The Millenium Tower, across the street from Centraal Station, is perhaps better known as the Marriott hotel. The building was designed by WZMH Architects alongside AGS Architecten and was completed in 2000. 

7. De Rotterdam, 151.3 metres, completed 2013

De Rotterdam 149 meters completed in 2013

De Rotterdam is a colossal building designed by Rem Koolkaas' Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) in 1998. It features 72.000 m² of office space, a hotel with 285 rooms, 2.500 m² of fitness facilities and 240 residential apartments. Construction started in 2009 and the building was opened to the public in November of 2013. 

6. Delftse Poort, 151.4 metres, completed 1991

Gebouw Delftse Poort 151 meters tall completed in 1993

Delftse Poort is a skyscraper complex consisting of two towers reaching the heights of 151.35 meters (Tower I) and 93 meters (Tower II) respectively. It's usually referred to as the 'Nationale Nederlanden' building. Moreover, its reflective surface often makes for stunning photography. The complex was designed by Dutch architect Abe Bonnema.

5. Montevideo, 152.3 metres, completed 2005

Montevideo 140 meters completed in 2005

Montevideo is a 43-storey residential tower designed by Mecanoo. The name 'Montevideo' was chosen because it was in line with the names of old warehouses which once stood in this area. These warehouses had names such as New Orleans, Baltimore, Santos and Havana. There's a large letter M on top of the building (invisible in the above photo) which is 8 meters tall and serves as a weather vane. 

4. CoolTower (Cooltoren), 153.7 metres, completed 2022

Cooltower Rotterdam. Photo credit: Ossip van Duivenbode

The Cooltower is a prominent residential skyscraper situated in the Cool district of Rotterdam, Netherlands. It ranks among the city's tallest residential buildings. The tower was designed by V8 Architects and developed by UVastgoed, with construction commencing in 2017 and reaching completion in 2021. Spread across its 50 floors are 284 apartments, offering residents a high-rise living experience. The Cooltower is not just about its impressive height; it also provides a range of amenities for its residents.

3. New Orleans, 158.4 metres, completed 2010

New Orleans 158 meters completed in 2010

This modernist residential skyscraper was designed by award-winning Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. The 46-storey building is currently the tallest residential building in the Netherlands. The address is Otto Reuchlinweg 996, 3011 BN Rotterdam. 

2. Maastoren, 164.8 metres, completed 2010

Maastoren 165 meters completed in 2009

The Maastoren office building, which is home to the Dutch headquarters of Deloitte, was designed by Dam & Partners Architecten with support from French firm Odile Decq Benoit Cornette. An interesting fact is that the interior of the building is both heated and cooled with water from the river. Even the sprinklers are powered by river water. 

1. Zalmhaven I, 215 metres, completed 2022

Zalmhaventoren

The Zalmhaven Tower, also known as Zalmhaventoren, is a residential skyscraper in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It holds the distinction of being the tallest residential building in the country, reaching a height of 215 meters or 705 feet. The tower is part of a larger project known as Zalmhaven, which also includes two smaller residential buildings, Zalmhaven I and Zalmhaven II, each standing 70 meters tall.

The project was a collaborative effort, designed by Dam & Partners Architecten and KCAP Architects&Planners, and developed by AM and Amvest. Construction began in 2019 and reached completion in 2022. The Zalmhaven Tower is home to a variety of residences, including apartments, penthouses, and townhouses, totaling 475 residences. It's also home to skybar Celest.