Erasmusbrug

Erasmusbrug, commonly referred to as the Erasmus Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge in Rotterdam, Netherlands, spanning the Nieuwe Maas to connect the southern district of Kop van Zuid with the northern city center. Completed in 1996, it carries motor traffic as well as pedestrians and cyclists, and serves as a major urban link and landmark for the city.

Designed by architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, the bridge is distinguished by a single, asymmetrical pylon that rises about 139 meters above the water and a sweeping deck supported by a fan of stays. Its white color and elegant curve have earned it the nickname “The Swan” in local usage. Construction began in the early 1990s and the bridge was inaugurated in 1996 by Queen Beatrix.

With an overall length of around 800 meters, Erasmusbrug has played a key role in Rotterdam’s riverfront redevelopment, notably the Kop van Zuid area, and has become an iconic symbol of the city and of late 20th-century bridge design.

The bridge is named after Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam, the Dutch humanist, whose legacy is reflected in the city’s cultural and historical narrative.