Rotterdam has some of the most impressive and significant architecture in the Netherlands. While much of our ancient buildings and squares were destroyed or damaged beyond repair in World War II, we have rebuilt in a modern and unusual style, unique to the city. Sonneveld House is one of the best-preserved houses in the Dutch Functionalist style and a great attraction for lovers of architecture visiting Rotterdam. Careful restoration and interior refurbishment has transformed what may have been a forgotten home into a museum house and a monument to style. PREMIER SUITES serviced apartments in Rotterdam are a 10-minute walk from this magnificent house.
Sonneveld House
Located on the edge of Museumpark in Rotterdam, Sonneveld House is a perfectly preserved and restored example of a Functionalist home, a style of building that focuses on the function of the home rather than aesthetics. The home was designed in the 1930s by the architecture office Brinkman and Van der Vlugt, renowned for the Van Nelle Factory and Feyenoord Stadium. It was occupied by a prominent Rotterdam family and showed their loved of modernism and how that choice affected the style and design of their everyday functions. The interior of the home has been decorated and furnished with art and utensils donated, purchased, and loaned by the family, collectors and members of the public. The modernist architecture and unique style has earned the house national heritage status.
Owners
Sonneveld House has enjoyed a long history and has been home to various residents, the most notable being the namesakes, the Sonneveld Family. The family consisted of Albertus Sonneveld, one of the directors of the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, his wife Gésine Sonneveld-Bos and their two daughters Puck and Gé. They lived in Sonneveld House from 1933 to 1955 having previously lived in a 19th-century stately home in the centre of Rotterdam. When they left, they left almost everything behind them, taking only personal belongings, artworks, books and clothing. They left a lot of new items such as clocks, lamps, vases, tableware and furniture which are now displayed in the museum.
Restoration
The house was opened to the public in 2001 after extensive restoration work to recreate the original condition of the house and interior. The idea was to give visitors a taste of how the Sonnevelds lived at the time to the standard when it was completed in 1933. Alterations to the house while the Sonnevelds lived there were regarded as authentic, but any changes made after that were reversed. The restoration was based on the original records of the house held in the collection of Het Nieuwe Instituut and the drawings of architects Brinkman and Van der Vlugt. The drawings and useful information provided by the records allowed the restoration team to reconstruct the home meticulously, including the original colour scheme, furniture and soft furnishings. Thanks to the Sonneveld heirs, almost half of the furniture, lamps and utensils are originals dating from 1933. Sonneveld House is a member of the Iconic Houses Network.
Visit Sonneveld House
The House is located on Jongkindstraat 12, Rotterdam and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm except for holidays. The House is managed by Het Nieuwe Instituut. Unfortunately, due to the original design of the home, it is not accessible by wheelchair or baby stroller. There is no toilet available in Sonneveld House; you can use the toilets in Het Nieuwe Instituut. Tickets cost between €8.00 for students to €16.50 for adults with a combi ticket to visit Nieuwe Instituut. You can book online in advance or purchase a ticket at the entrance. A free online audio tour is available for all visitors to Sonneveld Museum House. There are a couple of house rules to follow to protect the precious glassware and art. You must wear slippers over your shoes, keep a distance from the artwork and not touch anything during your visit.
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Book a stay in PREMIER SUITES PLUS Rotterdam and enjoy an architecture tour of our city from our central location. Sonneveld House is one of the many attractions tourists and locals love to visit. Our best available rates are exclusively available on our website or when you book with one of our friendly team.
