Overwhelming number of signs of the Petitie Cinerama must remain. The 27,702 signatures were handed over by Loes Luca to aldermen Kasmi and Zeegers this afternoon.
On Tuesday, January 14 at 1 p.m., with great interest from action group members, media, politicians and involved film lovers and Rotterdammers, the 27,702 signatures that the Petitie Cinerama must continue to endorse in the hall of the Rotvendam town hall. Former Cinerama employee Ilse Zwaan expressed a statement on behalf of action group Cinerama at the start, in which the city council is asked about more clarity about the survival of the iconic municipal monument from 1957 on Westblaak. On behalf of Rotterdam, the action group asks for clarity to the municipality about frameworks for maintenance by the property owner and preservation of Cinerama (inside and outside) also with a view to the redevelopment plans of Westblaak. In addition, the aldermen was asked about the guarantee of the cultural destination.
Loes Luca, who immediately committed her cooperation, handed the signatures on behalf of all Rotterdammers, film lovers and the action group on the spot.
In response, alderman Klimaat, Bouwen en Wonen Zeegers (D66) endorsed the importance and preservation of Cinerama for the city and illustrated this with her personal connection and memories of this film theater. Alderman for Education, Culture and Events Kasmi (D66) also argued for maintaining the cinema at this location and the cultural function. The action group has indicated that he would like to remain involved as a discussion partner in conversations about the building and the place it has in the redevelopment plans.
The action group had also invited the current owner of the building, VolkerWessels, for the presentation. They received no response and they were not present as far as they were. The municipal administration has reportedly received a response from VolkerWessels, but the content of this is not yet known.
Cinerama Filmtheater is in danger of closing at the end of 2025. City councilor Astrid Kockelkoren submitted written questions about this in November 2024. In anticipation of answers, a petition was started on November 15 for the preservation of Cinerama. The film theater is a popular place with a rich history, deep -rooted in the city, with a very own programming and where a wide and diverse audience feels at home. Over the past 10 years it has not been possible to invest in the maintenance of Cinerama through always temporary and extremely short (half year to year) lease contracts. Formally, property owner and real estate developer VolkerWessels has canceled the lease contract as of January 1, 2026 to tenant Kinepolis, making the future of Cinerama Filmtheater uncertain.
Despite the status of the municipal monument, there are great concerns about whether the historic unique building and the cultural function are preserved in the future. The plans of VolkerWessels are unclear in the short and long term or what the consequences are if the building is sold to another real estate party. The action group wants to work and hopes for support from the municipality for the well -deserved status of the national monument. The action group is currently also investigating the possibility of restart and self -management/ own organization after December 31, 2025.
Cinerama Filmtheater has been in existence for no less than 65 years this year and is the last reconstruction cinema in Rotterdam. It would be a great loss for both the cultural life and the iconic street scene of the city. Rotterdam must be committed to cherishing this kind of scarce historical-cultural places, places that make the city unique, places that stand for the history of the city and brings together the residents. Cinerama fits seamlessly with regard to function and architectural value within the redevelopment plans for the Westblaak. Within the ambition of lively city center, this place and cultural function are indispensable.
The building was designed by the architects B. Hoogstraten and G.E. Lette in 1956. With an entrance of 6.5 meters high and a canopy that protrudes 2.5 meters, the cinema had to stand out and impress. On either side of the cash register, the walls are decorated with the large characteristic decorative mosaics made by artist Teus van den Berg. The cinema, then still Scala, is officially declared open on Thursday 12 December 1957 by Mayor of Walsum, with Charlie Chaplin’s a King in New York as the opening film. In 1960 the Filmhuis continues as Cinerama, with the unique projection system of the same name and a room with 1500 seats. In 1978 the building was taken over by the Meerburg group that renovates the cinema and adds four halls to it. Nowadays Cinerama is one of the most visited film houses in Rotterdam.
