OVERVIEW
This large and modern port city has risen phoenixlike from the ashes of World War II. In 1940 the Germans bombed the city to force a fast surrender of the Netherlands. Most demolition was actually done in the process or rebuilding the city to modern standards. Only three large buildings in the center have survived miraculously: the city hall, the St. Laurence church and the White House.
Today Rotterdam’s the most modern city in the Netherlands, with the high rising towers of company buildings in the center. Some people think it became a playground for architects trying their theories and thus making Rotterdam one giant wind tunnel, but you can really feel things are happening here if you are interested in architecture. However, don't expect this to be the place for a decent night out. Though Rotown has decent, though small acts and is well-known internationally, Nighttown is the place to be for dance and house, and De Doelen is a wonderful venue for classical music, ttheatre is sorely missed. Not even the city theatre and the Luxor theatre can compensate, as the programming there is uninspired and only aimed at the Dutch.
Symbol of Rotterdam is the Euromast Space Tower, 605-ft-/184-m-tall that had to be extended several times to keep its leading position as highest building of the Meuse city. From this tower with its revolving sit-down elevator you have an excellent over the city and the surrounding industrial harbour landscape. The harbour is one of the busiest in the world is a draw in itself and still the largest one if you count by pure volume.
A city like this can’t do without Museums. A collection of painting, sculpture and design worth seeing is displayed at the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum. Half a day in Rotterdam is really sufficient for most, but you can also spend several days if you want to see it all. The Dutch institutes of photography and of architecture are located right near the center, and there are lots of galleries. In February there’s always the Film festival and every other year there’s a photo biennale. The Kunsthal, designed by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas, has changing exhibitions on all sorts of expressions of art and culture.
The people, though claiming to be one of the friendliest of Holland, are actually fairly prejudiced towards foreigners - a fact clearly demonstrated by the 2004 city laws to forbid people from poorer families to settle in the city. This law came to be, when all other recources were depleted to stop poverty from becoming ever more popular. It is therefore no surprise Rotterdam was also the home of the ultra right wing politician Pim Fortuyn, who became the first victim ever of political assassination in The Netherlands when he was killed on May 6th, 2002. There is a statue you can visit, which still regularly has flowers put underneath it.
Do come to Rotterdam - for the architecture, the museums, the music or just some shopping, but buy a return ticket. There is a reason why the average tourist only spend $15 and three hours in town...
SIGHTS
Blijdorp Zoo
The Blijdorp Zoo is very popular due to its many different animal species that live in imitation surroundings: a Gorilla island, Malayan 'forest rim', a widely varied Asian area with many unique animals like bantengs and babirussa. The newly build Oceanium is a real sight. Here you can experience walking beneath the sea surrounded by tons of fish.
Laurens kerk
The St Laurence church is one of few buildings in the centre of Rotterdam that survived the WO-II bombardment. It suffered severe damage and had to be partly rebuild, but it’s still standing. This rebuilding was finished in 1968. The church dates back to the first half of the 16th century (1525) and replaces an earlier church. It’s build in a typically Dutch fashion with gothic shapes made in brick. Just the top of the 64 meters rising tower and the window and doorframing are made of stone. The place is near the origin of the town Rotterdam. The dam build in the river “Rotte”, which gave it’s name to the city, once was were the 'Hoogstraat' crosses the 'Binnerotte'.
The black blocks to the northern side of the church were added between 1976 and 1981. But are still topic of discussion. They are by W.G. Quist,the architect who designed the Cities Theater. Their dimensions represent the same masurements on what basis the church was build.
The church is now also used for concerts, lectures and exhibitions.
Spido harbourtrips
To take a real close look at the biggest port of the world go on a Spido boattrip and see the busy river and sea traffic from close by. An ocean liner or cargo carrier may be an impressive sight standing ashore, see how it looks from a relatively small ship.
Arboretum Trompenburg
This is a unique botanical garden in the heart of Rotterdam since 1820 and it's the best place to enjoy the nature and tranquility in the noisy Dutch city.
You will see beautiful plants and trees from all around the world for only 5 guilders.
GETTING AROUND
In the plans for the rebuilding of Rotterdam there's been a lot of attention for transport. Rotterdam was to be a city with separated areas for offices, industry and living. The plan therefore incorporated broad motorways, bicycle paths and pedestrian areas. Even today the centre is good accessible, though parkingspace is becoming more and more a problem. There are three ways of public transport: trams, busses and subways. A taxicab can be hailed if the sign is not lit or at a taxistand.
Taxi
For a taxi you can call the Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale RTC. You can also hail a taxi when the sign on the roof is lit. Most cafés and restaurants will be happy to call you a cab when you're leaving, just ask. Usually there's a small fee charged for a called cab, but this should not be more than more..
Bus
The Busstation In Rotterdam is opposite the Central Trainstation. From here there are leaving many buses within Rotterdam and to the places around this city. Kippers
Tram/Metro
The best means of transport are the tram and the metro in Rotterdam. General info can be found at the info stand in the central station. Most trams have their startingpoint here as well.
Boat
There are several boatcompanies in Rotterdam which you can find at the port. They can take you for a roundabout through the harbour.
Car
When you are visiting Rotterdam you can also choose to travel by car, although it isn't a very fast way of traveling here. You are likely to get in a traffic jam because the roads are often busy, especially around the centre.
SHOPPING
Shopping
In Rotterdam you can shop all week long. Besides all the shops in the city-centre you should also try the several markets here.
The Lijnbaan
Europe's first pedestrian shopping streets, it's one of Rotterdams typical shaped streets.
Noorderboulevard
Really nice street in North part of Rotterdam.
The Vrij Entrepot Rotterdam
a worldmarket and several other stores. Try one of the many international places to eat and drink.
Alexandrium I, II and III
an indoor shoppingmall (I), a shoppingstreet with mega-stores (II), and 60.000m2 ideas for domestic decoration (III). You can easily reach this by bus.
Zuiderboulevard
A 2 km long shopping street with hundreds of shops in the southern part of Rotterdam.
The Centrummarket
This market is one of the biggest in Holland and is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Take a look at the stands (there are about 500 of them!) where you definetely will find what you're looking for.
NOTICE
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