Is similar to Amsterdam because it has canals and Manhattan for the number of skyscrapers that decorate its skyline. But really this city in the Netherlands is different from any other and they have been working on it for years, to make it unique. Almost completely destroyed in World War II, in Rotterdam they did not want to follow the example of other cities who suffered the same fate and decided to bet heavily on new architectural trends, some so new that they did not even have references. In a landscape filled with horror and desolation, they saw a blank canvas to begin designing the city of the future.
In a landscape filled with horror and desolation, in Rotterdam they saw a blank canvas to begin designing the city of the future.
Houses that look like trees, gravity-defying skyscrapers and liveable markets. Anything is possible in Rotterdam and these are some examples that are worth a visit on your next getaway.
1. Cube Houses
One of the great icons of the city. Designed by local architect Piet Blom in the 70s, these houses are literally cubes that stand on a large pillar. The architect’s idea was to create a forest in whose canopies people lived while the exterior was organized to take advantage of the space. If you doubt whether it worked or not, just say that people still live here. All these yellow cubes They are inhabited except onewhich is a museum designed precisely so that you can see what these houses are like inside and how the spaces are distributed.
2. The Markthal
Very close to the Cube Houses, it stands out one of the most spectacular and original buildings you have ever visited. Shaped like a gigantic horseshoe arch, some two hundred homes coexist here with an impressive market in complete harmony. Much of its façade is glass, so the feeling when entering is that of enter a tunnel full of colors and flavors. And the ceiling of the market is covered in a colorful mosaic of fruits, flowers and vegetables made by artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. A total of 11,000 square meters of fantasy that are the largest artistic work in the Netherlands.
3. Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot
The function of this building is to accommodate the many works that the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum cannot exhibit due to lack of space (and because it is now being fully restored) and its shape is exactly that, a huge bowl in which to store all that heritage. Yes, a 40 meter high bowl, covered in glass so that the surroundings are reflected and crowned by a wonderful terrace that offers beautiful views.
In the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum the works are displayed “naked”, without being hung on a wall
If the interior is impressive, what’s inside is even more so. A stair maze It takes you through the rooms where the works are displayed “naked”, that is, they are not hung on a wall and it is possible to see both the front and the back with all their marks and annotations. The variety of works, periods and artists is overwhelming, having in the same sequence, a work by Münch next to another by Jan Van Eyck, another by Mondrian and one by Kandinsky. There are also works by Miró, Picasso, Cézanne, Gauguin…
4. Erasmus Bridge
The layout of the city is defined by the route of its canals and the Meuse River, so bridges are an important part of its urban planning. The Erasmus one stands out above all and not only for its functionality, but also for its design. Besides, Its surroundings are full of large (in every sense) buildings that make Rotterdam have such a particular skyline. Designs signed by star architects of this century. Álvaro Siza, Renzo Piano, Francine Houben or Norman Foster This very small space is grouped together.
5. Korenmolen from Distilleerketel
It’s about a traditional windmill, like many others that dot the landscapes of the Netherlands. But this one is very special as it is one of the few buildings that survived the Nazi destruction. In the Delfshaven neighborhood It is still possible to get an idea of what the city was like before the bombing as many old buildings remain. That is why this neighborhood is a mandatory stop on any visit to Rotterdam.
And they continue to innovate
The city does not stop adding new interesting points and of all kinds. In a few weeks it will be inaugurated the first urban beach with waves, RiF010. A dream for many surf enthusiasts who will be able to practice their favorite sport in the city center. And also there will be the chill version: a beach to sunbathe, take a dip and relax among towering skyscrapers in the Rijnhaven area.
An advice
The bike is the most popular means of transport in the Netherlands, but in Rotterdam they are The Watertaxi. Book a ride and enjoy the landscape at full speed.
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