When Sergione at the peak of his university career in modern philology filled out the Erasmus project application form, he had to indicate the three alternative destinations he liked.
With a twinge of emotion he did not hesitate to write: 1 - Barcelona, 2 - Berlin and 3... on the third and statically most unlikely, to give himself a semblance of seriousness, he chose to write Rotterdam.
Guess what? As fate would have it, Sergione spent the most electrifying six months of his life in Barcelona. In Spain, however, he did not take a single exam, contracted five different sexually transmitted venereal diseases and today, despite the tremor in his left hand, works as a ceramist in San Patrignano. Life is made up of sliding doors, and if the globe of his destiny had pointed to Rotterdam that day, Sergione's entire existence would have taken a different course.
Because Rotterdam is not only home to a prestigious university but is also one of Europe's liveliest and most modern cities. But what makes it so? What is there to visit in just a few days?
"/>
Rotterdam
With more than 600,000 inhabitants, Rotterdam is a young, dynamic and international city that keeps reinventing itself at a rapid pace with cultural and social events that make it different with every new visit.
Located on both banks of the Nieuwe Maas, the Rhine delta in the North Sea, it is home to the world's largest port, a key hub for goods in and out of Europe.
During World War II, the city was razed to the ground by a tremendous Nazi air raid, but from the smoking rubble its inhabitants found the strength to rise up and rebuild from the ground up.
The new Rotterdam bears little resemblance to the old city it was. World-renowned architects have been given carte blanche to redesign it entirely with experimental and modern structures that have reinvented its identity.
Today, the city bears little resemblance to the classic European metropolis of old. Its innovative skyline, cubic buildings, skyscrapers and the Euromast Tower make it unconventional, iconic and proudly different.
The second largest city in the Netherlands also offers a wide variety of museums, restaurants and numerous entertainment activities for its inhabitants and tourists alike.
If you have planned a trip to Rotterdam, you will have plenty to discover in the near future, so here is our short list of tips to make the most of your time in the city.
What to see in Rotterdam
The Cube Houses
As we mentioned, Rotterdam is home to many examples of modern architecture, so a great way to start getting to know it is to visit its most iconic and recognisable attraction: the Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen).
These eccentric residential buildings were designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom in the 1970s. In his vision, each house represents a tree and all together a forest, like a bizarre village in the big city that includes shops, a school and a children's playground, all within a traffic-free pedestrian zone.
Different from any other type of houses, the cubes rest on a hexagonal pylon and are tilted at a 45-degree angle, making them easily visible when walking through the Old Port.
Although most of the cubic houses are still inhabited, it is possible to visit one of the cubes to experience what life would be like inside its tilted walls. An unconventional living solution that, more than forty years after its conception, does not cease to arouse curiosity and amazement in every visitor-
Markthal, the central market
The Markthal is Rotterdam's covered market. Opened in 2014, it has immediately become an iconic part of the city's urban landscape. Located next to Blaak station, opposite the cubic houses, this market is a place to visit for its innovative architecture and the gastronomic offerings inside.
The structure has a large semi-circular façade and a large glazed section, but the real highlight is a huge 40-metre high arched ceiling entirely adorned with a gigantic painting depicting vegetables, fish, fruit, flowers and other food subjects, which has earned it the nickname 'The Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam'.
Inside it houses a wide range of shops, stalls, restaurants and bars serving all kinds of traditional Dutch and international food, plus there are also 200 residential flats nestled within its walls.
The market stalls are located on the ground floor, while on the first floor there are restaurants, a supermarket and underground car parks.
Europort
The area called Europort is the port area of Rotterdam. It is a huge port that occupies half of the city's total area of 247 square kilometres and is absolutely fascinating to understand the city's historical connection to the sea and trade.
You can visit it on foot or by bicycle to admire the huge ships docked there, the modern quays perpetually bustling with goods and people, the storage facilities and the shipyards that give life to a city within a city.
To get a different perspective on the harbour and Rotterdam you can also easily find several boat tours, so you can get a close-up view of the massive dyke designed to defend the city from the threat of high tide and to get a perspective view of the spectacular Erasmus Bridge illuminated during the evening.
Delfshaven District
The old Delfshaven district is one of the few areas spared from the bombings that devastated much of Rotterdam during World War II and consequently one of the city's most famous sights.
To take a little trip back in time to old Rotterdam, simply hop on a tram to this neighbourhood, which has the largest concentration of pre-20th century buildings in the city. Here you will also find a beautiful marina and strolling along the canals you will come across numerous antique shops, small galleries and art studios, breweries and restaurants.
Also worth a visit is the Dubbelde Palmboom Museum, which is housed in a 19th-century building and presents a rich collection of material on the history of Rotterdam.
Windmills around Rotterdam
A trip to the Netherlands would not be complete without seeing the windmills and just 20 km east of the centre of Rotterdam you can do this by visiting the small village of Kinderdjik (the 'children's dam').
In this charming village you can find 19 perfectly preserved and visitable 18th century windmills, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To experience the magical atmosphere of one of the most visited places in the Netherlands, all you have to do is take a vaporetto or bus and then explore the area on foot or by bicycle along the network of canals that line the largest concentration of windmills in the country. A tradition that is celebrated during special Mill Days, when their sails are set in motion again.
What to see in Rotterdam two days
Cube houses (Kijk-Kubus)
Europort - harbour tour Covered market (Markthal)
Delfshaven district
Windmills in Kinderdijk
Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug)
Euromast Tower
White House (Witte Huis)
Rotterdam Central Station (Centraal Station)
Church of St Lawrence (Sint-Laurenskerk)
Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum
SS Rotterdam- ship museum
Hotel New York
Fenix Food Factory
Street Art on Witte de Withstraat
Rotterdam Videos
What to see with children
Rotterdam is a city that we recommend you see with children. The port city with an interesting historic centre is a wonder to discover on foot or by bicycle.
Among the things you should not miss in the city is Plaswijck Park, the wonderful and huge playground that is perfect for young and old. Then don't miss a tour of the Euromast, the city's observation tower, and a tour of the Markthal market.
Weather Rotterdam
The weather in Rotterdam is cold and tends to be rainy. The best time to enjoy high temperatures (around 20°) is in June, July and August. The best time to visit Rotterdam is from spring to the end of summer. Due to the sub-zero temperatures and frequent rainfall we advise against travelling in winter.
Rotterdam - Amsterdam
From Rotterdam station you can comfortably reach Amsterdam by train, travelling on the carriages of the NS company. Every 10-15 minutes a train will take you to Amsterdam Central Station in approximately one hour.
Surroundings of Rotterdam
The Hague
Amsterdam
Delf
Utrecht
Kinderdijk
Eindhoven
Gouda
Antwerp
Brussels
Keukenhof
Spijkenissse
Map
Netherlands
Rotterdam
