The former Van Nelle Factory (Dutch: Van Nellefabriek) is located on the Schie in Rotterdam. It is an important example of modernist and functionalist architecture. The factory was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. After it was built, famous architects praised it. One called it "the most beautiful building of the modern age" (Le Corbusier in 1932). Another described it as "a poem in steel and glass" (Robertson in 1930).

History

The buildings were built between 1925 and 1931 by architect Leendert van der Vlugt, who worked with civil engineer J.G. Wiebenga, an expert in reinforced concrete. This structure is an example of Nieuwe Bouwen, a type of modernist architecture in the Netherlands. It was commissioned by Cees van der Leeuw, a co-owner of the Van Nelle company, on behalf of the company’s owners. Van der Leeuw and the two company directors, Matthijs de Bruyn and Bertus Sonneveld, were so impressed with Van der Vlugt’s work that they asked him to design private homes for themselves in Rotterdam and Schiedam between 1928 and 1932. The Sonneveld House, now fully renovated and open as a museum in Rotterdam’s center, receives more than 30,000 visitors each year from around the world.

In the 20th century, the building was a factory that processed coffee, tea, tobacco, chewing gum, cigarettes, instant pudding, and rice.

In 1989, the Van Nelle company was purchased by Sara Lee/Douwe Egberts, and the Van Nelle brand was moved to Douwe Egberts Nederland. All Van Nelle production facilities closed in 1996. In 1998, the tobacco division of Douwe Egberts Van Nelle was bought by Imperial Tobacco Group.

After renovations, the building was first called the Van Nelle Design Factory. Later, it stopped focusing only on design and architecture businesses. Today, the building houses many companies and includes a modern co-working space. Some areas are used for meetings, conventions, and events.

Eric Gude, a Dutch expert in repurposing old industrial sites, planned the change in use for the Van Nelle factory in 1997. He brought in Wessel de Jonge, an expert in renovating modern architecture, to lead the overall renovation, which began in 2000.

In 2015, the Van Nelle Factory was named one of The 25 Most Beautiful Factories in the World.

Architecture

The Van Nelle Factory is a well-known example of modernist and functionalist architecture. Leendert van der Vlugt was the main person responsible for designing the factory. After his death, others, such as Johannes Brinkman and Mart Stam, were often mentioned in connection with the design. Mart Stam worked as a draughtsman at the Brinkman & Van der Vlugt office in Rotterdam in 1926. In 1922, he met the Russian Avant-Garde movement in Berlin. In 1926, Mart Stam arranged a trip for the Russian artist El Lissitzky and his wife, Sophie Küppers, who collected avant-garde art. During the trip, they visited other artists, including Jacobus Oud, Cornelis van Eesteren, and Gerrit Rietveld. Sophie Küppers said Mart Stam talked about "his" factory during the visit. After a disagreement about who designed the Van Nelle Factory, Mart Stam left the office of Leendert van der Vlugt.

It is said that the building had the first industrially prefabricated curtain wall in the world.

• Rear view of the complex
• The front façade
• View from the entrance gate by night
• The four transport bridges
• Transport bridges
• Van Nelle neon lettering seen from inside.
• The side façade
• Interior

National monument

The Van Nelle Factory is a Dutch national monument (Rijksmonument) and was given the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. In 2013, the reasons for its special value were shared with the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.