Rotterdam: An old city with a modern soul
From a medieval fishing village to a modern architectural marvel, Rotterdam stands apart in the Netherlands with its daring skyline, historic harbours, and vibrant multicultural life
Three of the most renowned cities in the Netherlands are Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam. According to Dutch historical records, Rotterdam was established in 1228. Yet today, it is very much a city of the twenty-first century.
In the Netherlands, one of the easiest ways to travel from one city to another is by train, although buses are also available. The first time I went to Rotterdam, it was just Boni and me. We were classmates, and within a short time we developed a wonderful bond.
The story of the city itself is somewhat like this: Rotterdam was once a fishing village along the River Rotte. In 1340, it was officially named Rotterdam. Later, in 1872, the city was connected to the North Sea. The Rhine, originating in Switzerland, was channelled through Rotterdam to meet the sea.
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The Dutch are fearless, skilful, tireless and dedicated — a nation that has survived by battling the sea and, at times, has even brought the sea closer to their homes when necessary.
I did not plan my journey from The Hague to Rotterdam in detail; therefore, I am sharing my own impressions of the city rather than recounting a single day's story in sequence.
When I first stepped off at Rotterdam Central Station, I was dazzled. The city felt entirely different from The Hague and Amsterdam. The station itself had a distinct appearance. At that time, I was not very familiar with the Netherlands, but now I feel Rotterdam's style stands out across the country. Most Dutch cities are quite similar in terms of cleanliness, facilities, architecture and canals — yet Rotterdam is known especially for its skyline, modern structures, striking bridges and river port.
Within nearly 500 acres around the Central Station, houses, shops, markets and churches were all newly constructed — because in 1940 Nazi forces reduced much of the city to ashes. It was later reborn. Every year, about thirty-four thousand cargo and passenger ships dock at Rotterdam's harbour. Besides being one of Western Europe's major historic cities and a world-famous port and industrial centre, Rotterdam is admired for three attractions: the six-hundred-foot Euromast, the SPIDO harbour boat tours and the Blijdorp Zoo.
At first glance, the yellow Cube Houses looked as if they might topple over at any moment — yet inside, life continues in three angled levels of clever design
The Euromast was built in 1960 along the River Maas, surrounded by gardens. The lift to the top is called the Euroscoop. At first sight, the tower looks intimidating — from afar resembling a long, barrel-like structure. At the top, visitors are slowly rotated before descending again. From the summit, through binoculars, I once imagined I caught a fleeting glimpse of Buckingham Palace in London after several attempts.
Rising one hundred feet by lift reveals ships along the North Sea coast — as if watching the city from the sky itself. At 112 feet, visitors can step outside and look around freely. Besides enjoying the scenery, there are glass-walled restaurants, photo studios, souvenir shops, cafés and entertainment facilities — truly a recreational complex offering a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and harbour.
From Central Station, taking a tram to the harbour terminal and boarding a SPIDO trip is an appealing experience for tourists. Since 1977, these cruises have operated, offering a 75-minute journey along the River Maas towards the North Sea estuary.
The zoo lies about a ten-minute walk from the station. Fierce animals remain in enclosures, but elephants roam more freely in spacious habitats. Alongside the wildlife areas, there is about an acre of playground space for children and a vast restaurant capable of comfortably serving fifteen hundred people at once.
Beyond these three sites, other attractions include the geometric yellow Cube Houses; the Markthal — a vast horseshoe-shaped building containing apartments, offices and a lively food market with magnificent ceiling artwork; and the mirror-clad Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a marvel of modern architecture. As a lover of historic places, I was especially fond of charming Delfshaven — the only part of the city left largely untouched during the Second World War.
Rotterdam is a multicultural city. I knew little about migration in the Netherlands before, but walking around Rotterdam made it clearly evident. Diverse communities live here, mainly from Turkey, Morocco and the Middle East — perhaps drawn naturally by the character and opportunities of a port city.
Delfshaven remains my favourite place in Rotterdam. It is deeply layered with history. Upon entering, one sees wooden boats anchored along canals, historic buildings, a windmill and a church. Add to this a brewery, a pinball museum, pieces of street art and charming restaurants — truly like a painting brought to life on canvas. You can now understand why I love it so much.
At first glance, the yellow Cube Houses looked as if they might topple over at any moment. I wondered how furniture could possibly fit inside them. Designed by architect Piet Blom between 1977 and 1984, these cube-shaped homes tilt at a 45-degree angle. There were thirty-eight when I saw them — though I cannot say the exact number now. Each house has three levels and is used partly as a residence and partly as office space.
There is also the Kijk-Kubus museum and a Stayokay hostel where tourists may stay overnight — though I personally did not. The layout includes an entrance and storage room on the lower level, a kitchen and living space in the middle, and bedrooms, a bathroom and studio space on the upper level.
Museum or mirror house — its name is "the Depot". It may not appear on every tourist's list, but the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is unique because of its exterior appearance. Many visitors admire it from outside without entering the building itself. The building holds a collection of more than 145,000 artefacts. After seeing it online, I longed to see my own reflection, along with the sky and surrounding trees, in its giant fishbowl-like mirrored surface. It too appears as though it might tilt unexpectedly at any moment.
Rotterdam is a city that encourages unconventional thought through its futuristic skyline and striking art installations. When my son and husband visited from Bangladesh, I personally guided them through the city. My family explored three Dutch cities — and my son chose Rotterdam as his favourite.
