Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Rotterdam is a vibrant cosmopolitan, attractive and in every way impressive metropolis. Not only is it the second largest city in the Netherlands, it is also one of the country’s commercial and economic centers. A large number of international companies have settled in Rotterdam. Because of its numerous high-rise buildings that make an impressive Skyline form, Rotterdam also carries the name Manhattan of the Meuse. Visit vaultedwatches.com for Netherlands – cheese tulips and beautiful cities.
The absolute highlight of this imposing city is the gigantic port. It dates back to the founding days of Rotterdam in the early Middle Ages and still has a very large influence on the development of the city. This port at the gates of the city is one of the largest in the world today.
Unfortunately there is hardly anything left of the historic Rotterdam and therefore one should rather be prepared for a multicultural and modern city.
There are many streets and neighborhoods worth seeing and interesting in Rotterdam. In the center on the eastern Meuse you can walk past the town house built in 1920 , the impressive Bijkendorf department store and several sculptures and statues. The 26 meter high plastic construction attracts full attention.
Lijnbaan is the oldest pedestrian zone in Europe, this business district southeast of the train station is ideal for a shopping spree. Modern art is exhibited in the covered promenades.
Delfshaven is a district of Rotterdam that was largely spared from the chaos and battles of World War II. The south-western part of the city impresses with its historical buildings. The most famous pirate in the Netherlands, Michiel de Ruyter, was born in this part of the city and in 1620 the Mayflower set sail with its pilgrims on board and set sail for America.
One of the landmarks of Rotterdam is the Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge), which attracts the attention of visitors with its gleaming white, the hundred and forty meter high pylons and the asymmetrical shapes.
The Kontorhaus Witte Huis, built in 1900, is one of the first high-rise buildings in Europe. Ten floors are spread over 46 meters in this high-rise.
A visit to the Lade-en-Doane Museum (Tax and Customs Museum) is definitely worth it. This museum gives an insight into the modern customs system in the Netherlands, but also stories of bygone smuggling times are very interesting. In the Rotterdam City History Museum you can get a deeper insight into the past of this city. The De Dubbelde Palmboon is a museum, located in an old storehouse from the 19th century.
World-famous works of art from the fourteenth, sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by famous painters such as Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt and Rubens can be admired in the Boymans von Beuringen Museum. But modern works can also be seen, from Monet and Chagall to Kadinski.
If you are lucky and get tickets for the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, you should definitely use them, as this is an unforgettable musical experience. Rotterdam’s Schonburg, a theater in the center of the city with four small stages, is also highly recommended. On this dance performances, operas and classical as well as modern theater pieces are performed.
The most famous church in Rotterdam was built in the fifteenth century and is called Grote Kerk or St. Laurenskerk and is a cruciform basilica. The basilica is built in the Dutch late Gothic style.
The Erasmus University Rotterdam, which has existed since 1913, was initially a business school. In 1939 it was converted into a business school and in 1966 a medical faculty was added. The final merger to form the Erasmus University Rotterdam took place in 1973.
The green and blooming parks of Rotterdam are ideal for a relaxing and relaxing walk. In the parks you can find a wide variety of trees and shrubs from all over the world. The most beautiful parks are the Trompenburg Arboretum, created in 1820, and Het Park, which is located near the center, with a few ponds and flowering meadows. From a hill in Het Park you have a magnificent view of the Niewe Maas.
In 1857 the gates to Diergaarden Blijdorp (a zoological garden) were opened for the first time. One of its greatest attractions is the Oceaniuem, where different sharks and countless underwater creatures and small reef creatures can be admired.
One of the most popular excursion destinations for tourists and locals alike is the Kralinger Bos forest area. In the forest area there is also the Kralinger See, where you can practice various water sports. A windmill from 1740 stands on the shores of the lake. It was recently restored and is open to visitors.
