Port experience centre Portlantis festively opened
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Portlantis, the new port experience centre at Maasvlakte II, was festively opened on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 March. Mayor Carola Schouten officiated at the opening in the atrium of Portlantis. From Saturday 22 March, visitors will have the opportunity to admire the port experience centre first-hand, as Portlantis opens to the public.
After the Rotterdam mayor raised the Portlantis flag next to the building, alongside school pupils from the last year of primary and first year of secondary school from the region, the official opening of Portlantis followed in the building's central atrium. There, together with three people who work in the port day in and day out, Mayor Schouten placed her hand on the metre-wide three-dimensional port model, which illuminated upon touch, revealing the image of the port of Rotterdam.
Pulling away a large canvas simultaneously unveiled the entire 22-metre-high atrium, where 12 unique port symbols are in motion. The mayor was then given a tour of the brand-new building, accompanied by other invited guests.
Showing the port to a wide audience
Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, emphasised the pivotal role Portlantis plays in conveying the ambitions and responsibilities of the port of Rotterdam and the Port Authority. ‘We are proud to showcase the port of Rotterdam to a wide audience in Portlantis. We are thus responding to the interest of visitors from all over the world, as well as from this region. In Portlantis, people can admire our port, learn all about it and also have space for reflection,’ Siemons stated.
‘We see it as our task to unite different social interests, ensuring that we can develop the port in harmony with the environment. Portlantis tells that story to both young and old alike.’
Unique view of the port
Robert Simons, Alderman for Port and Economy for the Municipality of Rotterdam welcomes the opening of Portlantis. ‘The port of Rotterdam is a key driver of our economy. In an inspiring way, Portlantis presents the immense value of this sector to our city, region and the Netherlands as a whole. The centre not only offers a unique perspective on the port but also encourages the next generation to explore the opportunities within this dynamic sector. In this way, Portlantis is also an investment in the economy of the future.’
'Attracting even more young people to the port'
EIC Mainport Rotterdam has relocated to the edge of Maasvlakte II. The educational information centre on the Rotterdam port was previously located in Rozenburg. The centre organises excursions and other activities to introduce schoolchildren and students to the port and the many opportunities it offers. In recent years, the EIC has reached around 15,000 young people each year through its activities, with the majority coming from the Rotterdam region. With the move to Portlantis, that number will grow further, expects Ben Vree, Chair of EIC Mainport Rotterdam.
‘The move to Portlantis gives us the opportunity to introduce school pupils and students to the port in an interactive, exciting and innovative way. We urgently need these young people to eventually come and work at the port. In Portlantis, we demonstrate to them how diverse the work in the Rotterdam Port can be.’
Place full of admiration
Portlantis offers a stimulating day out: a place full of admiration for the port, whether you have been in the port for years or coming for the first time. The interactive experience centre allows you to discover and immerse yourself in the port of Rotterdam. Portlantis tells the story of both the port of today and the port of the future, using a variety of narrative forms. These include virtual reality, augmented reality, exhibitions with large 3-D models, and laboratories where you can conduct chemical and technical experiments.
The aim is for Portlantis to attract 150,000 visitors each year. It can be visited in combination with a boat trip or bus tour of Maasvlakte. Tickets are available for purchase via the website.
Eye-catching building
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and EIC Mainport Rotterdam have worked intensively together on the Portlantis concept in recent years. Deltalinqs, representing the port business community, also contributed to the creation of the new centre.
The eye-catching building was designed by a team led by Winy Maas of the renowned architecture firm MVRDV, known for De Markthal and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, among others. Exhibition architects Kossmanndejong was responsible for designing the various exhibitions. In turn, Bruns BV constructed the exhibitions. Bureau BIND was responsible for the integral creative direction.