In 1948 it was renamed the Historical Museum Rotterdam with the explicit purpose to preserve, describe and inventory objects related to urban history.

[1] In 2011 the museum was renamed Museum Rotterdam, with the aim to exhibit Rotterdam as a contemporary transnational city in past and present sense.

Due to an ongoing reorganization in 2020 the Museum Rotterdam was relocated in the location at the Coolhaven.

The museum has a collection ranging from household objects, such as ceramic tiles, furniture, kitchenware and tableware to textiles, clothing, hand fans, handbags, jewellery and coats of arms.

And also from coins and medals, playing cards, board games to glassware, tins to books, paintings, photographs to sculptures and maquettes.