Discover Rotterdam

First impressions of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the Netherlands' modern architecture capital and the second city of a country that, after the WWII bombing levelled the entire centre in 14 minutes on 14 May 1940, decided to rebuild itself in the boldest contemporary style available. The result is the most strikingly futuristic skyline in northern Europe, anchored by the recognisable Erasmus Bridge (the city's symbol, by Ben van Berkel), the cube-balanced 'Pencil' Cube Houses by Piet Blom (you can visit a show home), the wild Markthal indoor market with its 11,000 m² painted ceiling 'Horn of Plenty' (by Arno Coenen, Europe's largest artwork), and the Erasmusbrug-rivalling new Rotterdam Centraal station. Europe's largest port is still here — the Maashaven and Wilhelminapier have been remade with residential towers, but the Spido harbour boat tours up the Maas to see the working terminals are essential. The brilliant Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum is mostly closed for refurbishment until 2026 but the public art-storage building, the Depot, by MVRDV is a brilliant new attraction in itself — a mirrored bowl-shaped warehouse where you can walk through the actual museum collection in storage. Don't miss the moving Holocaust memorial at the central station and the design-forward Witte de Withstraat for restaurants and galleries.