With the Veerhaven, Parklaan, Westerkade, Parkkade and the view over the Maas, the Scheepvaartkwartier – the shipping quarter – is the most attractive part of Rotterdam. And yet, the people of the city and visitors alike had to rediscover this historic district. Despite its impressive buildings and the sailing ships moored on the old waterfront, ‘Little London’ – as the Scheepvaartkwartier was once known – was not a popular place for people to go for a bite to eat or a drink. It was beautiful but, except on Sunday afternoons, it was also often very quiet.

The opening of grand café-restaurant Loos in the monumental Atlantic House (1930) on the Westplein in 1988 coincided with the transformation of the Scheepvaartkwartier into an appealing recreational district. More restaurants were opened around the Veerhaven and along the Van Vollenhovenstraat, the Parklaan grew to become a special events venue, and the city authorities invested in greening and generally upgrading the waterfront.

All of these efforts have not gone unnoticed: the Scheepvaartkwartier is still the city’s most elegant district, but it is a secret that we now share with many others.