The 40 frames form a permanent exhibition. The exhibition changes three times a year. One of these consists of historical images of the Maastunnel, as well as photographs of its renovation and restoration. Here, we tell the complete story of our tunnel through images, from past to present.

This exhibition forms the core collection. The other two change each year. Gemeente Rotterdam works together with Museum Rotterdam to curate the rotating exhibitions.

An ode to the Maastunnel

The core collection of historical photographs is once again on display along the escalators of the Maastunnel. In addition to images of its construction, there is also remarkable photographic material to see, selected by curator Joop de Jong from the rich visual history of the tunnel.

Along the descending escalators, the story of the construction process of the Maastunnel complex unfolds. The Maastunnel is the oldest in the Netherlands to have been sunk using nine caissons, and it consists of four tubes: two for cars, one for cyclists, and one for pedestrians.

On the ascending side, works are shown by photographers who documented the Maastunnel after 1945 as a lively, contemporary monument with a strong urban presence. The photographic commissions often came from construction companies, architects, the Municipality of Rotterdam (Gemeente Rotterdam), or cultural institutions, for publications such as books, newspapers, and websites.

In total, 40 photographs form a journey down and up, in which a diverse group of photographers brings together the history of the Maastunnel and the development of photography in Rotterdam.

The participating photographers are: Freek van Arkel, Roel Dijkstra, Eric Fecken, Fotodienst Gemeentewerken, Jan van der Hoeven, Christian van der Kooy, Aart Klein, Carel Kramer, Jannes Linders, Kees Molkenboer, Daan Roosegaarde, Frits Rotgans, Otto Snoek, Cock Tholens, Cornelis Vermeulen, Levien Willemse, Hans Wilschut, and Stefanie Zoche.

Proposal for a new exhibition

Do you have an idea or proposal for a new exhibition? Submit it digitally to Kirsten van Wijk at [email protected]

To be eligible, a proposal must meet a number of conditions:

• it is about Rotterdam or its residents
• it shows recognisable images of the city or its inhabitants
• it connects to the history, culture, or everyday life of Rotterdam
• it is suitable for a broad audience
• the material is copyright-free and may be used in the exhibition
• the proposal is clearly developed, so that the exhibition committee can properly assess it
• the costs of the exhibition are borne by the initiator (approximately €6,000)
  

Image specifications:

• 200 gsm satin paper
• satin gloss laminate
• size: 960 x 660 mm
• mounted on 3 mm Dibond

The exhibition committee reviews all submissions and will inform you whether the proposal will be included in the exhibition programme.