Van Nelle Factory – UNESCO World Heritage

Along the bank of the Delfshavense Schie lies a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage site: the Van Nelle Factory. This unique building from 1931 is considered to be the symbol of Dutch modernism.

In the 1920s, the Rotterdam company Van Nelle decided to build a new, large factory on the edge of the city. The existing, dark and poorly ventilated buildings in the city center would make way for a progressive design that approached air, light and space in a revolutionary way. The result was a masterpiece of modern architecture that even Le Corbusier said during a visit to the factory: “the most beautiful spectacle of modern times”. To this day, the Van Nelle Factory is without a doubt one of the most special factory buildings in the Netherlands.

Would you like to discover for yourself why this building is so unique? UrbanGuides has been offering exclusive tours of this ‘glass palace’ since 2004. During an hour-long tour you will learn everything about the architecture, the history of Van Nelle, the production process in the factory and the impressive transformation into a new future as a business complex and event location.

Join one of our expert (architecture) guides and discover why this groundbreaking design was not only a milestone in architectural history, but remains an international source of inspiration to this day.

More interest, more time; If you are extra eager and want to hear more, the tour can be extended to 1.5 hours. The factory stands for so much more; for example technology, social history, colonial past and the special relationship with the famous design school Bauhaus. In short, enough to talk about further.

Public Tours; Are you going out alone or in a small group? You can also join one the public tours we organize during the weekends with the Chabot Museum. Please look here for more information.

Interested in more Dutch Modernism? The also visit the social housing project The Kiefhoek.