Hotels near Kunsthal Rotterdam

The Kunsthal is Rem Koolhaas and OMA's 1992 built manifesto - a low, cross-shaped building of raw concrete, corrugated plastic and steel that sits on a slope in the Museumpark. It has no permanent collection; instead it runs 25 to 30 shifting exhibitions per year across four halls, ranging from Old Masters and Fabergé eggs to contemporary fashion, street art and design. The 2012 heist that saw seven paintings by Picasso, Monet, Gauguin and Matisse stolen in under 3 minutes remains one of the great art crimes of the 21st century - the paintings are still missing, likely destroyed.

Entry is EUR 17.50, or free with a Rotterdam Welcome Card. The building itself is worth the visit even between exhibitions: Koolhaas mixed a car ramp with an auditorium, a colonnade with an open-air terrace, and used the sloping site to create diagonal sightlines through the halls. The Kunsthal Cafe on the lower level does an under-EUR-15 lunch. Allow around 90 minutes.

Pro Tip: Check the exhibition calendar before you go. Kunsthal is exhibition-only, so a slow week between shows can leave you with just two of the four halls open. Combine with the Depot Boijmans and the Chabot Museum in Museumpark for a full afternoon.