There's no doubt that a visit Rotterdam is a must if you're in Amsterdam.
Rotterdam is also a unique city.
Because Rotterdam is so exceptional, it can't be compared with The Hague, Utrecht and even less with our great rival Amsterdam.
Today, I'm going to tell you all about this place.
Visit Rotterdam: article summary
Visit Rotterdam: a port city without a port
Many first-time visitors to Rotterdam will wonder where the famous port of Rotterdam is located.
You won't find it! The pride of Rotterdam is miles from the center, towards the North Sea.
Here you'll find major ports and terminals that are fully automated. This is also where the huge oil tankers dock, and where you can see many other large ships.
A dynamic city
Rotterdam is the modern architectural city of the Netherlands. It is a Dutch metropolis with a unique skyline comprising :
- Cube-shaped houses
- The Erasmus bridge
- Les Halles du marché
- The Timmerhuis.
Rotterdam looks like a dynamic, youthful city where constantly changing appearance thanks to new buildings.
One of the main reasons why the city seems so new is the impact of the Second World War.
A major impact for the city
The devastation of the 1940 bombing largely wiped out the old town center. That's why the site was completely redesigned.
Thanks to this post-war urban planning, it is still possible to develop new buildings in the city center.
Visitors can see and feel the extent to which the Second World War is still present in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam's most famous monument is Ossip Zadkine's destroyed city. Despair and the sufferings of the bombing are powerfully described here.
Visit Rotterdam: the medieval village
The city of Rotterdam is older than its buildings might lead you to believe. In fact, many of the city's are proof of Rotterdam's past.
The Laurenskerk church was built between 1449 and 1525 and, like many other places of worship, was the center of a medieval town.
Rotterdam is a medieval city with over 700 years of history. Around 1270, fishermen began building a dam on the River Rotte to establish a settlement and, in 1340, Rotterdam became a city.
Discover soccer fever
Rotterdam boasts no fewer than three professional soccer clubs.
Excelsior is the charming little club in Kralingen, and Sparta is the traditional club that plays soccer in a pretty old-fashioned stadium.
But most of Rotterdam is reserved for Feyenoord, the biggest and most popular club in the Netherlands. This is where the people of Rotterdam gather.
Feyenoord club history
Feyenoord is traditionally a working-class club. Founded in 1908 in the working-class district of Feijenoord, the club quickly became a popular favorite thanks to its many successes.
Feyenoord was the first Dutch club to win the 1970 European Cup. A tradition was born to celebrate its success at Coolsingel with hundreds of thousands of fans.
Even today, when Feyenoord wins a championship or a national cup, the Coolsingel is packed and the event is celebrated all evening long.
Visit one of the many attractions on site
As with Amsterdam, Rotterdam has plenty to offer. During your visit, you can discover unique churches or museums you won't see anywhere else.
If you'd like to find out more about the various attractions that await you on a visit to Rotterdam, I suggest you read the article I've written on the subject.
A visit to Rotterdam is a must if you're traveling around Amsterdam. You'll discover a quieter city steeped in tradition. Nevertheless, I'd advise against thinking that the place is old-fashioned. In fact, Rotterdam breathes youth, and you'll see it every minute you're there.
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