Around 110.000 passengers make their way to the train, metro, bus or tram on and around this square every day. This is estimated to triple by 2025. The station and the surrounding square is the result of a collaboration between West 8, Benthem Crouwel Architects and MVSA Architects.

It was finished in 2014 as a replacement for the station designed in 1957 by Sybold van Ravesteyn, which no longer met the increasing needs in terms of capacity and lay-out. The new design of the station differentiated the façade on the North and South side. The North side is kept modest and relates to the neighbourhood, whereas the South side is extravagant and provides the main entrance to the city centre via Kruisplein. Public transport, such as buses, trams and bikes, are organised on the edges of the square and underneath the Kruisplein a parking garage is situated. The roof of the station partially consists of solar panels and some of the historical elements from 1957, such as the clock and letters, have been reused.

The trees on the Kruisplein, Platanus acerifolia U-Zwiebel, are specially grown in a Y-shape for the promenade to make a symbolic connection with the columns inside the Central Station. They separate pedestrians on the esplanade from the trams and the cars and act as a sound barrier.

Sources
Sánchez, D. (2022). Rotterdam Central Station / West 8 + Benthem Crouwel Architects + MVSA Architects. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/588218/rotterdam-central-station-benthem-crouwel-architects-mvsa-meyer-en-van-schooten-architecten-and-west-8

R. T. Information. (z.d.). Centraal Station Rotterdam. Rotterdam Tourist Information. Geraadpleegd op 8 mei 2021, van https://rotterdam.info/locaties/centraal-station-rotterdam/
Straatbeeld magazine. (2014, 1 mei).

Bewegen tussen het groen bij Rotterdam Centraal. Straatbeeld. https://www.straatbeeld.nl/nieuws/bewegen-tussen-het-groen-bij-rotterdam-centraal