McDonald’s or Mac store?

You can already see them in the distance: the large yellow arches of your temple. Warm air flows towards you as you walk in. McDonald’s is always recognisable, but this branch in Rotterdam is quite a Jetsons version of what we know.

On Coolsingel stands a square building. It has something of an Apple store about it, except you don’t buy an iMac here, but a Big Mac. The enormous windows, sleek interior with lounge benches and the white circular staircase make this Mac a real eye-catcher. And that’s a major improvement, because the business that used to be here was voted Rotterdam’s ugliest building.

Grab a terrace burger

Because the building is almost completely transparent, you can look straight at the post office behind it. There will also be a large terrace in spring. Maccie in the sunshine, yes! But until the weather improves, we’ll have to make do with lounge benches by the large windows overlooking Coolsingel. That’s no punishment either.

Special effects

The back of the building is perforated with lots of small holes. From a distance, you can see that they depict a crowd of people. According to the architects, these are Rotterdammers who can now once again be proud of their favourite fast-food restaurant. After sunset, the light from the restaurant shines through them. Hello, special effects. And whether you’re proud or not, there’s always room for a Big Mac.