The Euromast in Rotterdam by Anthony Malefijt

About "The Euromast in Rotterdam"

by Anthony Malefijt

About the artwork

The Euromast in Rotterdam during the sunset.

On the occasion of the Floriade in 1960, architect Huig Maaskant and contractor J.P. van Eesteren erected the Euromast in Het Park, near the entrance to the Maas tunnel. A restaurant in the shape of a crow's nest was raised to a height of 100 metres in five days by jacking it up. At a height of 32 metres, the tower was provided with a replica of a ship's bridge, giving the public an impression of navigation equipment and a map room. The tower is made of reinforced concrete and has a diameter of 9 metres and walls 30 centimetres thick. In order to keep the centre of gravity as low as possible - and thus increase stability - the foundation consists, among other things, of a block of concrete weighing 1,900,000 kg. The crow's nest, made of steel, hangs 96 metres above the ground and weighs 240,000 kg. Visitors are taken to the original highest point by two elevators, both of which travel four metres per second.

The building was officially opened by Princess Beatrix on March 25, 1960. The location was strategic; whoever drove to Rotterdam on the then motorways saw the 107 meter high tower (including the flagpole) protrude straight ahead above the city. After the opening, the city continued to grow and the buildings became higher. After a few years, buildings rose above the Euromast, such as the building of the Medical Faculty on the Westzeedijk in 1968, ten metres higher.