Things to do in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is considered the most modern city in the Netherlands, having been effectively completely rebuilt following WWII; as a result, there are few historical buildings here, although there are many museums where you can learn about the history of the city.

The 185 metre Euromast tower is the symbol of the city and the highest building in Rotterdam, offering stunning views over the city and the harbour, which is the second biggest harbour in the world. For lovers of modern architecture, there are plenty of interesting buildings here, with Piet Bloom’s remarkable cubic houses being some of the most famous.

The St Lawrence Church, along with the interesting area of Delfshaven, are among the few sights that survived WWII and these are a must-see. With around 30 museums, there is plenty to keep you busy, and both the Boijmans van Beuningen and Kunsthal art museums should be on your agenda during any stay here.

Boijmans van Beuningen

The Boijmans van Beuningen art museum is one of the most interesting and important museums in the city, and one of the most popular attractions. The museum’s galleries feature a whole history of art from the Middle Ages to the present day. There are exhibits from some of the great masters including Degas, Van Gogh, Monet and of course, Rembrandt, the most important artist in Dutch history. Other Dutch artists from that era represented here include Van Eyck and Rubens.

There are also plenty of modern works from artists such as Salvador Dali, Man Ray and Andy Warhol. The museum café is also worth a visit, with a great collection of chairs, each by a different designer. The museum is open from 11:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Sunday (closed on Mondays), with free admission on Wednesdays. Phone: +31 10 44 19 400; website: www.boijmans.rotterdam.nl.

Euromast

At 185m high, the Euromast tower is the highest point in the Netherlands. The tower was built between 1958 and 1960 for the Floriade flower and garden show. The views from the top of the city are stunning and there is an excellent restaurant at the 100m mark. On a clear day, it is possible to see all the way to the border with Belgium. This was initially the peak of the building, but in 1970, they added the Space Tower to give an extra 85m, ensuring it remained the highest point in the city. For the really daring, it is possible to abseil down the Euromast from the 100m point or ‘rope slide’, where you will reach the ground in 15 seconds. Phone: +31 10 24 11 788; website: www.euromast.nl/.

Cubic Houses (Kuboswoning)

Architect Piet Blom's ‘Kuboswoning’ is a public housing project that was built in the 1980s and is one of the more bizarre sights in Rotterdam. The development consists of houses tilted 45 degrees from the conventional, in a dizzying layout on Overblaak street. There are 32 houses here, resting on a hexagon shaped pylon, all attached to each other. All the houses are lived in, but one of them is open to the public to experience. Each house has three floors with a total area of approximately 100 square metres; about 25 per cent of the space can’t be utilised due to the angles of the ceilings! Phone: +31 10 41 42 285; website: www.kubuswoning.nl.

The Kunsthal

The Kunsthal is an interesting building designed by local architect Rem Koolhaas and it has more than 3,000 square metres of exhibition space, in which they stage around 25 exhibitions every year. The Kunsthal is a wide-ranging museum of culture and art, with exhibits of both modern and older art, design and photography as well as covering many unusual and thought-provoking subjects.

They have a reputation for being quite experimental with their content here and the result has been exhibitions focusing on lingerie, Leonardo da Vinci, pop art and jewels of the Orient among many others. The Kunsthal is a 20-minute walk from the main railway station and easily accessible by public transport. There is also a café and a museum shop here. Phone: +31 10 44 00 300; website: www.kunsthal.nl.

Laurens kerk

The St Laurence Church in the centre of Rotterdam is one of the few buildings that survived the bombing of WWII. It wasn’t completely unscathed, with significant parts having been rebuilt, but it was left standing. The church’s history dates back to the early 16th century, when it was built to replace another church. The style is typically Dutch with a Gothic feel.

The central tower is 64 metres high and is made of stone. The rebuilt church was finished in 1968, but there have been some further alterations since; in the late 1970s, the black blocks were added to the north side of the church by WG Quist, who also designed the city’s theatre. The church is well worth a visit and often hosts concerts and exhibitions. Website: www.laurenskerkrotterdam.nl/.

Maritime Museum

As you would expect of a city with Rotterdam’s history, there is an interesting Maritime Museum. The museum is situated at Leuvehaven, in the heart of the city. There are regular temporary exhibitions focusing on the rich history of the city and the sea. Aside from the main building is the De Buffel, a perfectly restored 1868 warship with lavish fittings, and in the harbour there are around 20 different ships dating from the mid-19th century.

The museum has a whole floor dedicated to children, with museum staff demonstrating periscopes and various other activities connected with Dutch naval history. The museum has a good restaurant with a large terrace, a bookshop and  library. Phone: +31 10 41 32 680; website: www.maritiemmuseum.nl

Delfshaven

Just outside the city centre is the beautiful area of Delfshaven, with a tree-lined canal and many restaurants and shops. The area has a rich history as the launching point for the Pilgrims voyage to the Americas in the 17th century. There are a number of interesting old warehouses and buildings in amongst the cafés, as this is one of the few areas that escaped significant bombing in WWII. There is also Rotterdam’s oldest brewery, De Pelgrim, which is worth a visit for beer enthusiasts.

There is a range of eating options here, with Turkish, Dutch and Surinam cuisine available. Delfshaven is easily reached from the city centre by taking the Metro to Delfshaven Station.