Rotterdam is a city that is rich in History. On 14 May 1940 Rotterdam was under attack by the Germans. After being almost completely reconstructed following WWII, the city is now known for bold, modern architecture.
Cube Houses
Revolutionary architect Piet Blom designed and developed Rotterdam’s collection of 40 innovative cube houses in 1984, each of which has a giant yellow and gray tiled, wooden cube balancing on top of the ground level. The houses were built to resemble trees in a forest. These bizarre apartments are centered around a courtyard playground and lean at an angle of 45 degrees over the buzzy waterfront bars and restaurants of Oude Haven.
Inside, the houses have three stories and myriad angled walls with plenty of light pouring in from the triangular, plate-glass windows.
The Cube Houses are on Overblaak at Oude Haven. Entrance to the Show Cube costs €2.50, and it is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m
Erasmus Bridge
Better known by its affectionate local nickname of “the Swan,” Erasmus Bridge crosses the River Nieuwe Maas with its elegant white spines. It was constructed to link north and south Rotterdam across the harbor. The Swan is beautifully illuminated at night and often provides an eerie backdrop for Rotterdam’s festivals and fireworks displays.
The view from the boardwalk along the Bridge is mixed with old and new architecture.
Old Harbor
The Old Harbor of Rotterdam is the city’s first port, dating back to 1350. Today, the Old Harbor is an entertainment center of Rotterdam, with a unique mix of old and new structures and a collection of terraces and restaurants to enjoy some time to relax in the bustling city.
Rotterdam’s Old Harbor is home to a number of old sailing ships that harken back to the heyday of the city as a trading port. Alongside the harbor stands Het Witte Huis (The White House), recognized as the first skyscraper in Europe. Standing 45 meters, the White House was built in 1898 and was not only the first but also the highest skyscraper in Europe. The area around the harbor has now been transformed into a center for dining and nightlife in Rotterdam.
Markthal Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s brand new market hall is more than just a place to shop for produce and grab a bite; it’s an attraction in its own right. It features food stalls, restaurants, and shops, all located underneath an imposing horseshoe-shaped structure with glass facades consisting of small windows.
It is known as the largest glass-window cable structure in Europe and is considered an architectural masterpiece. The inside of the market is covered by colorful tiles that give the horseshoe-shaped arch a boost of color.
Markthal is located on Verlengde Nieuwstraat in Rotterdam. It is easily accessible on foot from all over central Rotterdam. Markthal is open every day of the week; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Mondays and Thursdays as well as Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The market is free to enter.
Miniworld Rotterdam
Miniworld Rotterdam is the largest indoor miniature world in the Netherlands. The Dutch landscapes are complete with miniature versions of polders, city views, harbors and model trains.
Experience the city of Rotterdam, complete with historic architecture and modern towers, including buildings such as the Erasmusbridge, the new Rotterdam Central Station and City Hall. There is even a to-scale working model of the Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in the world. The site even expands beyond city limits, stretching out to the coast and including the suburbs of Rotterdam.
One day in Miniworld Rotterdam lasts 24 minutes, and toward the end of each cycle, night falls with the overhead lights dimmed in a sunset, while thousands of tiny lights illuminate the miniature landscape.
xoxo
Chante’
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