Trendy Rotterdam is a city of many sides. It offers sophisticated shopping opportunities, art and museums, a stunning skyline and excellent food. Plus, it is home to the relatively undiscovered area of Delfshaven, a traditional corner of the city, with a large windmill, cute cafes and pretty houses lining the canals. This forward-thinking city has been a centre of modern architecture since the 1920s and 1930s - it was here that the Netherlands Architecture Institute was founded before going on to build its fantastic reputation. The city is also home to the Netherlands' largest indoor food market, the Markthal, with almost 100 fresh produce sellers and restaurants. You can buy anything from fresh bread to delicious cheese, fish, poultry and even flowers and plants - all under one roof. And, don’t forget to look up at the ceiling, where you will find the largest mural in the Netherlands!
Other architectural must-sees in Rotterdam include the Museum Depot with around 155,000 pieces to admire, including works by Van Gogh, the swan-like Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam Central Station and the 185 metre tall Euromast. Rotterdam is known to be a sustainable city where innovative ways are used to preserve nature and biodiversity. Examples of this can be seen at the Floating Farm with its black and white cows or The DakAkker, the largest 'open-air roof farm in the Netherlands' in the heart of the city.
You can also explore the city from the water, in a water taxi along the River Maas. Or take a short trip along the water to the nearby city of Schiedam, home to the largest windmills in the world, or visit the Kinderdijk windmill park, a picturesque and historic UNESCO World Heritage site.
There is always something to do in Rotterdam and the surrounding areas...
