32 In Europe/ Netherlands/ Rotterdam

Cubic Houses Of Dutch City Rotterdam

When in Rotterdam you have to see the famous Cubic Houses, also known in Dutch as the Blaakse Bos (Blaak Forest) situated at Blaak. These unique houses were designed by architect Piet Blom in 1977, representing trees in the city center. The original plan of 55 houses resulted in 39 completed, all built at 45 degrees. Its unique that each house has 106 square metres (1,100 sq ft),  but realistically there is 1/4 of the space unusable based on the shape!

Each cube house contain three floors:

  • ground floor: entrance
  • 1st floor: living room & kitchen
  • 2nd floor: two bedrooms & bathroom
  • top floor: small garden/spare room & storage

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You can visit the museum Kijk-Kubus which is a showroom of one of the cube houses for you to explore and feel for yourself what it would be like to live in one! Make yourself at home by checking out the views from the top floor or find yourself relaxing in the living room looking out to the Markthal. You can check the opening details here.

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There is also Dutch hostel Stayokay for travellers to sleep the night and share rooms with other travellers, but for the more luxury travellers and families in mind, an Airbnb to experience the whole cube living is also available.

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Last but not least, the cubic houses are home to a chess museum. Opened in May 2006, the museum is home to many private collections and unique chess pieces. I’m not really a chess fan, but it’s impressive to see so many chess pieces in one location! You can even play a large game of chess with the city of Rotterdam – moving the green and white pieces such as the Erasmus Bridge, Euromast and the WTC tower.

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Read more of our Rotterdam posts! 

Rotterdam Markthal

Rotterdam in Winter

Spring Photoblog of Rotterdam

The Famous Cubic Houses

Rotterdam Museum ’40-’45 NU

Rotterdam Open Monument Day

Rotterdam Rooftop Days

Rotterdam Helicopter Tour

World Harbour Days Festival

Discover the prettiest neighborhood Kralingen

Rotterdam Centraal Station Rooftop Tour

‘De Rotterdam’ Tour – Highest Skyscraper In The Netherlands!

Where to stay in Rotterdam

Rotterdam In Winter

Rotterdam In Summer

Helicopter Tour Above Rotterdam

Explore the Markthal

Easy to reach by walking roughly 25 minutes from Rotterdam Central Station through the city,  or by taking a tram, bus or even train to Rotterdam Blaak station. From here you will see them instantly! Other places you may wish to visit in Rotterdam is the famous Markthal that is situated next to train station Blaak. The cubic houses are also close to the Oude Haven, a popular spot for a bite to eat or drink and now one of the most vibrant nightlife areas in the city of Rotterdam.

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Are you thinking of visiting Rotterdam and the famous cubic houses? Take a look at our recommendations for places to stay in Rotterdam.

Pin for later:

Cubic Houses Rotterdam are a must see in the city center during a visit to Rotterdam

Have you visited the Cubic Houses of Rotterdam? What did you think? Could you live in one?

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32 Comments

  • Reply
    xtralush
    7th April 2018 at 7:36 am

    These houses are SO cool! Looks like I’ll be visiting Rotterdam on my next trip to Holland!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:25 pm

      Great! 😀

  • Reply
    Kiara Gallop
    7th April 2018 at 7:51 am

    I’d seen photos of these before but didn’t really know anything about them or where they were. Totally on the bucket list now and I had no idea you could stay in one *heads over to Airbnb to search* 🙂

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:26 pm

      Great to hear that! I’m even tempted myself to stay in one, but the museum gave a great impression too 🙂

  • Reply
    Kathi Kamleitner
    7th April 2018 at 8:04 am

    WOW looks like a photographer’s dream! I didn’t know that there was an entire museum around these houses. Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Thanks for commenting! It sure is a great place to explore with your camera 🙂

  • Reply
    Ainsley DS
    7th April 2018 at 10:38 am

    Omg these are incredible! I had no idea such a thing existed! 🙂

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Pretty unique right!? Thanks for commenting Ainsley 🙂

  • Reply
    kylieuk
    7th April 2018 at 2:30 pm

    So cool! I’d love to have a nose around the inside of one!!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:27 pm

      Haha for sure worth the nosing around! Pretty unique, but I can’t imagine living in one myself!

  • Reply
    Andrea Mayfield
    7th April 2018 at 2:31 pm

    Those are the coolest houses I have ever seen! so unique! great photos

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      10th April 2018 at 4:28 pm

      Great to hear, thanks for commenting Andrea!

  • Reply
    Mei Qi
    13th April 2018 at 6:23 pm

    Deze huizen heb ik nog nooit gezien! Heel gaaf!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      17th April 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Leuk eh! 😀

  • Reply
    Liz
    3rd May 2018 at 5:23 am

    I have never heard of those but I really want to see them one day. Amazing architecture!

  • Reply
    momentsoftreasures
    3rd May 2018 at 6:15 am

    I have not yet been to Rotterdam, but would love to go one day! These pictures of the cubic houses look really cool!!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      30th May 2018 at 8:57 pm

      Thank you for commenting 🙂 They really do make the city pretty awesome to visit!

  • Reply
    Joanna
    3rd May 2018 at 7:10 am

    I am actually going to be in Rotterdam in about 2 weeks and I am looking forward to seeing these houses. They look spectacular! I’d love to visit one inside and see the functionality of the space.

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      30th May 2018 at 8:56 pm

      I hope you got to see them when you arrived! 🙂

  • Reply
    Amy Fujimoto
    3rd May 2018 at 8:01 am

    These look so neat! I’d love to go there and just walk and explore the architecture!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      30th May 2018 at 8:57 pm

      The whole city is quirky like these, totally worth visiting one day!

  • Reply
    hayleyjones98
    3rd May 2018 at 8:03 am

    This looks incredible! It’s actually the first time I’ve heard about the cubic houses 😱 but now I really want to see it!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      30th May 2018 at 8:56 pm

      Definitely worth adding to your list if you are ever in Rotterdam, you can’t miss them!

  • Reply
    SecretMoona
    3rd May 2018 at 2:12 pm

    What a cool place!It’s definitely is a place people who love architecture like me will enjoy. I would love to know how it feels to live in a quirky place like this. I have never heard of this place so I’m glad I read this.

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      7th May 2018 at 8:42 am

      Glad to have shared with you 🙂 Even for Dutch people its pretty awesome to explore when they visit Rotterdam because of the architecture and great location to the city!

  • Reply
    Unta
    3rd May 2018 at 5:14 pm

    Rotterdam has amazing architecture, very entertaining. I could spend days exploring it. Btw love the cubic houses!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      7th May 2018 at 8:42 am

      Glad to hear & thank you for commenting 🙂 I pass them often when I go to work or to the city for shopping and I think I take a photo every time haha!

  • Reply
    birdstravels
    3rd May 2018 at 5:36 pm

    OMG, this is so so cool that I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am to learn about it! Amazing place to see I bet!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      7th May 2018 at 8:41 am

      It sure is! If you are ever here it’s definitely a must see in Rotterdam 🙂

  • Reply
    suzystories
    3rd May 2018 at 10:50 pm

    This is SO cool! It’s really my dream attraction, I love architecture, art, unusual angles, and yellow! Hard to believe people really live inside them, I wonder if the novelty ever wears off?! Thanks so much for sharing these awesome photos, I love it!

    • Reply
      Zoe | Together In Transit
      7th May 2018 at 8:41 am

      Thanks for commenting Suzy! I don’t think it wears off as more than half of the owners are the original owners and they don’t plan to move out very soon from this awesome location!

  • Reply
    Redoy
    17th September 2019 at 10:27 pm

    These pictures haveblown my mind away! Just came across about the Cubic house now. This article inspires me to visit there at least one time in my life. Thanks for your presenting. It looks so atractive and descriptive.

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