Piet Blom's tilted yellow Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) seen from the Blaakbos courtyard in Rotterdam

Photo: Trougnouf, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Architecture

Cube Houses in Rotterdam

Piet Blom's tilted Kubuswoningen, one of Rotterdam's most photographed landmarks.

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In the middle of Rotterdam's modern skyline stand the Cube Houses, or "Kubuswoningen" in Dutch: a cluster of cube-shaped homes tilted at a 45-degree angle atop tall pylons, designed by architect Piet Blom and completed in the late 1970s.

Cube Houses: architect Piet Blom

Piet Blom's vision was to create a "forest of houses" within the city, with each house representing a tree, together forming a small urban community. What sets the Cube Houses apart is their cube-shaped design, tilted 45 degrees atop hexagonal pylons, an unconventional layout that challenges normal architectural rules. Inside, the homes are surprisingly spacious, with three floors arranged to make the most of the tilted shape.

Guided tours of the Cube Houses

Visitors come for the architectural significance as much as for the experience itself. Guided tours let you explore the interior of one of the show-houses (Kijk-Kubus) and learn about Blom's approach to urban living, before continuing on to the nearby Old Harbour.

A symbol of modern Rotterdam

The bright yellow facades and angular shapes of the Cube Houses stand out sharply against the rest of the Rotterdam skyline, making them a favourite for photographers. Despite their unusual appearance, the Cube Houses are fully functional homes, occupied by residents who live inside this unusual structure day to day.

Opening hours and tickets for the Kijk-Kubus

Only one of the cube houses, the Kijk-Kubus (Show Cube) at Overblaak 70, is set up as a museum-house open to visitors; the other cubes nearby are private homes. The Kijk-Kubus is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (source: kubuswoning.nl, accessed 16 August 2026). Admission is €3.50 for adults, €2.50 for seniors 65+ and students, €1.50 for children aged 5 to 12, and free for children up to 4. Rotterdam Pass holders visit free, and Rotterdam City Card holders get €1 off (source: kubuswoning.nl and whichmuseum.com, accessed 16 August 2026). Payment is on the spot by cash or card; there is no online ticket system.

How to get to the Cube Houses from Rotterdam Centraal

The Cube Houses are about 2 km from Rotterdam Centraal station, a walk of roughly 25 minutes through the city centre. The faster option is the direct train from Rotterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Blaak, which runs every 10 minutes and takes about 3 minutes; Blaak station sits right beneath the cubes, a 2-minute walk from the Kijk-Kubus entrance. Walking is the more scenic route if you want to pass the Markthal and Old Harbour on the way.

How long to spend, and accessibility

A typical visit to the Kijk-Kubus takes 30 to 45 minutes at a steady pace, or up to an hour if you want to read every information panel. The house is not wheelchair accessible: the interior has steep stairs, sloping ceilings and narrow passages spread over three levels. Accessible toilets are available nearby at the Markthal rather than inside the cube itself.

What to avoid when visiting

Don't assume every cube is open to the public: only the Kijk-Kubus is a museum, the rest are occupied private homes, so stay off doorsteps and avoid peering into windows.
Don't wear anything that makes stairs difficult; the interior stairs are steep and the tilted walls narrow the passages further.
Don't visit only around midday in high season if you dislike crowds; early morning or a weekday visit is quieter (source: planetwhitley.com).
Don't skip the Old Harbour right next door; most visitors budget time only for the cubes and miss the water-level view of them from the harbour quay.

Practical Information

Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen)

Overblaak 70, 3011 MH Rotterdam

Piet Blom's tilted cube houses, Rotterdam's most photographed example of avant-garde architecture.

Kitchen inside the Kijk-Kubus museum-house, Rotterdam, showing the tilted window and angled walls

Kijk-Kubus interior

The only cube open to the public, arranged over three levels to make use of the tilted shape.

Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Row of yellow tilted Cube Houses seen from below against a blue sky, Rotterdam

The cube cluster from below

The 45-degree tilt and hexagonal pylons are clearest looking straight up from the pedestrian bridge.

Old Harbour (Oude Haven)

Oude Haven, 3011 WB Rotterdam

Historic harbour right beneath the Cube Houses, lined with cafes and terraces by the water. This is the best angle to see the cubes as a cluster rather than one at a time.

Get directions

Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the opening hours of the Cube Houses?

The Kijk-Kubus museum-house at Overblaak 70 is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (source: kubuswoning.nl, 2026). The cube houses themselves are visible from the street at any time, since most are private homes rather than the museum.

How much does it cost to visit the Cube Houses?

Viewing the cubes from outside is free. Entering the Kijk-Kubus museum-house costs €3.50 for adults, €2.50 for seniors and students, and €1.50 for children aged 5 to 12; under-4s and Rotterdam Pass holders go free (source: kubuswoning.nl, 2026).

How do I get to the Cube Houses from Rotterdam Centraal?

Walk about 25 minutes (2 km) through the city centre, or take the direct train from Rotterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Blaak, which takes roughly 3 minutes and runs every 10 minutes. Blaak station is a 2-minute walk from the cubes.

How long does a visit to the Cube Houses take?

Seeing the cubes from outside and the Old Harbour takes 15 to 20 minutes. Add 30 to 45 minutes if you go inside the Kijk-Kubus museum-house, or up to an hour if you read every information panel.

Are the Cube Houses wheelchair accessible?

The exterior and surrounding square are step-free, but the Kijk-Kubus interior is not wheelchair accessible: it has steep stairs, sloping ceilings and narrow passages across three levels, with no lift.

Can I go inside all the Cube Houses, or just one?

Just one. The other cube houses in the cluster are occupied private residences, not open to visitors. Only the Kijk-Kubus at Overblaak 70 is set up as a museum-house you can enter.

See the full Rotterdam things-to-do guide for more landmarks nearby, the museums guide for the city's art and culture scene, including Art Gallery Voûte in nearby Schiedam, the Rotterdam architecture guide for more of Piet Blom's contemporaries, and getting around Rotterdam for RET metro and train fares.