In den Rustwat

You are standing in front of Huize In Den Rustwat, a building with a long history dating back to the late sixteenth century. It was once an inn on the outskirts of Rotterdam, where travelers on their way to Dordrecht could eat, drink, and sleep. The innkeeper also earned money as a fisherman and reed cutter because business was inconsistent. Flooding was a recurring problem due to its location by the dike.

In the eighteenth century, it became a popular resting spot, especially after a park was created in 1769. In 1880, the inn was in the way of a new tram line, but the city decided to reroute the line because of the owner's high asking price. Only in 1896 did the city buy the building and reopen it as a tavern.

In 1916, a storm surge led to raising the dikes, causing the building to sit lower than its surroundings. This caused problems during the 1953 flood disaster when water reached 1.65 meters high and severely damaged the inn.

After years of decline, the city wanted to demolish the building, but historians protested. In 1959, it was dismantled and rebuilt brick by brick in 1960 at a new location near the botanical garden and Excelsior stadium.