Rotterdam Fenix Art Museum on Migration Tickets

Fénix is deeply rooted in the history it recounts. The museum is housed in a former warehouse overlooking the river, in an area through which millions of people passed for decades as they arrived in Rotterdam or set off for other destinations. That past makes the building itself an essential part of the experience.

Inside, stories of migration are presented from multiple perspectives through contemporary art, photography and large-scale installations. The aim is not only to explore population movements, but also identity, memory, loss, hope and new beginnings.

One of the most striking spaces is the ‘Labyrinth of Suitcases’, an installation that transforms an everyday travel item into a symbol of the stories each person carries with them. You can also explore ‘The Migrant Family’, an exhibition of nearly 200 photographs capturing moments of departure, journeys and arrivals in different places and eras.

The exhibition also brings together works by international artists such as Willem de Kooning, Shilpa Gupta and Yinka Shonibare, creating a journey in which each room explores migration through a distinct and highly visual language.

Before you finish, it’s well worth climbing ‘Tornado’, the grand spiral staircase that winds its way up through the building to a viewing platform. From there, you can take in the view of Rotterdam and round off your visit by connecting the museum’s stories with the surrounding harbour landscape.