De Kuip (II) – design description

Erick van Egeraat’s koncept aims at changing as little as necessary of the historical project from 1937. This is why steel staircases will remain uncovered by any sort of fancy cladding as they were decades back.

Similarly, inside the stands will retain just two tiers despite exceeding 60,000 in capacity, as they did in 1937. Lower tier will be brought closer to the field by additional rows (and lowered pitch) of 5,500 seats. Upper tier will be expanded upwards in a similar fashion. Despite new entrances and stairways, the stands will remain mostly as they were in upon the stadium’s opening.

At the same time the stadium would become a multi-event arena with retractable roof, attracting visitors not only on weekend football matchdays. To become a top leisure destination surrounding space would see various commercial and entertainment outlets. Altogether the scheme is thought to be a possible catalyst for the underdeveloped south Rotterdam.