A Mobile Museum: A New Institution Chronicles the Human Experience of Migration
Migration is a topic of great importance and complexity in our world today. At Fenix Rotterdam, there is a heartfelt effort to portray this ‘timeless and universal’ journey in a thoughtful manner.
A remarkable new art museum dedicated to migration has opened in Rotterdam, close to the very dock from which Albert Einstein embarked to start anew in the US. The Fenix museum stands at the heart of a rejuvenation project in the harbour-side neighborhood of Katendrecht, an area rich in history, once home to Rotterdam’s red-light district and Europe’s largest Chinatown. Its opening is particularly poignant in a time when the discourse surrounding immigration is evolving.
The museum resides in a beautifully restored 16,000 sq m building, originally constructed in 1923 and part of what was once the largest warehouse in the world for the Holland America Line. This historical site played a vital role in the voyages of millions of migrants during the 19th and 20th centuries, facilitating their journeys from the surrounding docks.
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“We aren’t here to dictate feelings about migration,” says Esmee Köhler of the museum. “Our aim is simply to enrich the understanding of it.”
Fenix, envisioned by Chinese architect Ma Yansong, opened with three inspiring exhibitions, one of which is Suitcase Labyrinth—a moving collection of 2,000 suitcases, each embodying personal stories from people around the globe. The building is itself a work of art; the chrome double-helix on its roof symbolizes movement and the myriad paths individuals traverse in their lives.
The inaugural exhibition, All Directions: Art That Moves You, showcases 150 diverse artworks and objects—from historical pieces to contemporary expressions—drawn from the Fenix collection and acquired over the past five years.
Beyond exhibitions, the museum features a spacious indoor city square or ‘plein’ on the ground floor. This tranquil space is designed for connection and exchange, hosting cultural events throughout the year, curated by Rotterdam’s vibrant communities.
Fenix is generously supported by the Droom en Daad Foundation, founded in 2016 and led by Wim Pijbes, former director of the Rijksmuseum.
“The story of Fenix is deeply intertwined with Rotterdam and its many communities; but that story also reflects the world’s narrative,” shares Anne Kremers, director of Fenix. “It captures themes of arrivals and departures, celebrating the changes necessary for a hopeful future. From the crossing of the Berlin Wall to journeys on grand steamships, and the arrival of new communities from across the globe, Fenix mirrors the myriad experiences and stories of people, told through the lens of art.”
“Migration is a journey shared by all,” Kremers adds. “As long as humanity exists, we will always be on the move. It is an intrinsic part of our being.”
Main image: Mounir Raji
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