Rotterdam Centraal

Why Rotterdam Centraal works as a photo location

Rotterdam Centraal is not subtle. The terminal, which opened in 2014, has a roof like an arrow shooting towards the city, clad in a skin of steel and glass. That is not accidental design. Architects Benthem Crouwel, MVSA and West 8 deliberately made it a landmark. For a photographer's eye, that is convenient: the lines tell you where to look.

The Stationsplein in front gives you space. You can step back, you can go low, you can wait for people to walk through the frame. That contrast between the hard, geometric roof and the movement of travellers is exactly what makes street and architectural photography interesting.

The best light

The blue hour works very well here. The lit canopy stands out against a deep blue sky, and the lamps on the square add enough atmosphere without the image going purely dark. Arrive a quarter of an hour before sunset so you catch the transition. Early in the morning you have the square largely to yourself, which is useful if you want clean architectural shots without people in the frame.

In overcast daylight, the texture of the steel panels on the roof shows up nicely. Strong backlight from the sun works too, but then you need to watch the exposure differences between the dark underside of the roof and the bright background.

Composition and focal length

With a wide angle, say 16 to 24mm, you can follow the diagonal point of the roof all the way along. Stand low, almost on the ground, and let the sharp nose of the terminal push into the frame. A slightly longer focal length, around 35mm or 50mm, works better if you want to isolate people against the steel structure as a background.

Inside the hall, the canopy, the skylights and the symmetry of the platforms are also worth photographing. Travellers with luggage walking into backlight give the space a sense of scale.

Practical

The Stationsplein is public and freely accessible. You can park in the nearby car parks, but Rotterdam Centraal is obviously easier to reach by train. For commercial shoots inside the station you need permission from NS or ProRail. For personal and editorial work on the square and in the hall no permit is required, but be aware of security staff if you bring a tripod or large equipment.

Sources and further reading

• Rotterdam Centraal, officiële NS-pagina
• Benthem Crouwel Architects over het ontwerp
• Wikipedia: Rotterdam Centraal