About ‘Along the Maas – The Shipping Quarter, Rotterdam’ by Robert Jan Smit
One of Rotterdam’s most distinctive areas lies along the banks of the Maas: the Scheepvaartkwartier. This photo is dominated by the imposing Zalmhaven Tower, the tallest residential building in the Netherlands, which towers over the city like a modern beacon.
The Scheepvaartkwartier has a rich maritime history. In the 19th century,…
One of Rotterdam’s most distinctive areas lies along the banks of the Maas: the Scheepvaartkwartier. This photo is dominated by the imposing Zalmhaven Tower, the tallest residential building in the Netherlands, which towers over the city like a modern beacon.
The Scheepvaartkwartier has a rich maritime history. In the 19th century, shipowners, merchants and captains settled here, drawn by the proximity of the ports and the strategic location on the Maas. The stately buildings in the neighbourhood still reflect this period of prosperity and international orientation.
Today, the area offers a unique blend of history and modern urban development. The Zalmhaven Tower, part of the De Zalmhaven project, marks a new chapter in Rotterdam’s skyline. With its slender, soaring form and light-coloured façade, the tower creates a strong vertical accent that contrasts with the lower, historic buildings in the immediate vicinity. In the distance, the elegant Erasmus Bridge is also visible, which has connected the north and south banks of the Maas since 1996. Together with the tower, this bridge underlines the city’s modern character, without losing its connection to the past.
The Maas itself remains the constant factor in this whole — once the lifeblood of trade and shipping, now also the backdrop to a city that continues to renew itself. The Scheepvaartkwartier demonstrates how Rotterdam not only preserves its maritime history, but actively weaves it into contemporary architecture and urban ambition.
Photography has been my passion since 1975. Whereas in the past I often photographed people, I now mainly focus on photographing landscapes, nature and animals.