Rotterdam - the city with the largest port in Europe

The largest port in Europe, a city full of modern architecture, art, pubs, discos, street artists and atmospheric places with soul. Rotterdam is a port city with a rich history, which was practically completely destroyed during World War II. For this reason, it may be hard to find old historic buildings in it, but traces of history can be found in the numerous museums full of works of art and valuable artifacts.

Rotterdam - attractions in the city

What is worth seeing while in Rotterdam? Below is a list of the most important and some of the most interesting sites on the map of this city.

City Hall

The City Hall building was built between 1914 and 1920 and is now recognized as a national monument. It was the few building in Rotterdam to survive the 1940 bombing. Its facade combines Beaux-Arts and art-déco styles with Byzantine and Roman influences. Inside the city hall's courtyard is a more than 70-meter bell tower with a statue of the Golden Angel of Peace.

St. Lawrence Church (Laurenskerk)

This Protestant church was built between 1449 and 1525 and is one of the city's oldest surviving monuments. It was built in the Late Gothic style, and inside you can admire beautiful sculptures, historic chapels and tombs, and the largest all-mechanical organ in Europe.

The Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum

The museum is one of the six largest art museums in the Netherlands. It collects more than 125,000 works of art, including extensive collections of painting, sculpture, photography or applied stucco covering periods from the Middle Ages to the present. It features works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Bosch, Monet, Degas and van Gogh, among others. Among the most viewed paintings is Pieter Bruegel's famous "Tower of Babel".

Erasmusbrug Suspension Bridge

This landmark of the city was commissioned in 1996 by Queen Beatrix. The bridge connects the southern and northern districts of Rotterdam separated by the New Meuse River. Its length is 89 meters, part of which is drawbridge. The name of the bridge refers to Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the most important thinkers of the Renaissance known, among other things, for his assumption that man is inherently good and all evil comes from ignorance.

Markthal Market Hall

In addition to its retail and catering function, the Markthal is also a residential and office building with underground parking for 1,200 cars. Its shape resembles a horseshoe inside which there are market stalls with many delicacies.

Port and Maritime Museum

Located on the North Sea, Rotterdam's port is the largest in Europe, with an area of 105 km². Thanks to its great depth, it can receive and handle the largest ships in the world. Near the port is the Maritime Museum with replicas of ships and preserved copies of old vessels that once passed through the Rotterdam port. Noteworthy there is an interesting collection of maritime paintings and an exhibition dedicated to children from 4 to 12 years old, introducing the theme of sailing and the relationship of the Dutch with the sea.

Euromast Viewpoint

From this tower, measuring 186 meters high, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and, in good weather, even objects and places 30 kilometers away or nearby cities like The Hague. The tower consists of two floors, the first of which, colloquially known as the "crow's nest," houses a restaurant, and the second is a drive-in observation deck at the very top. In addition, the observation deck is movable - it rotates slowly all the time, allowing you to see the surrounding area from all sides.