Netherlands · City Guide
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is one of Europe's most architecturally adventurous cities, a port metropolis that rebuilt itself after wartime destruction with extraordinary contemporary ambition creating a skyline of remarkable buildings including the Cube Houses, the Market Hall and the Erasmusbrug that make it one of the world's great modern architecture destinations. Combined with the excellent Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, outstanding food markets and the proximity of Delft and The Hague, Rotterdam rewards every architecture enthusiast.
Elect's take
"Rotterdam is the European city that most demonstrates what urban architecture can achieve when starting from almost nothing. The ambition and quality of the contemporary buildings here are genuinely extraordinary and the food scene has developed to match the city's cosmopolitan character."
The Cube Houses — irregular cubes tilted at 45 degrees and raised on a concrete pylon, designed by Piet Blom in 1984 — are one of the world's most recognisable examples of experimental architecture and provide a fascinating interior experience through the show house. The Market Hall, a horseshoe-shaped residential arch surrounding an extraordinary fresh market hall with a vast digital ceiling artwork, provides one of the finest European market experiences. The Erasmusbrug is a stunning single-pylon cable-stayed bridge over the Nieuwe Maas that has become the symbol of contemporary Rotterdam. The Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the Netherlands' finest art museums. Delft, with its Vermeer heritage and beautiful canals, is 20 minutes by train.
Best time to visit
How to get there
What to expect
Cube Houses
One of the world's most recognisable examples of experimental residential architecture.
Market Hall
A spectacular horseshoe market hall with outstanding fresh food and digital ceiling artwork.
Erasmusbrug
A stunning cable-stayed bridge that has become the symbol of contemporary Rotterdam.
Boijmans Van Beuningen
One of the Netherlands' finest art museums with outstanding Dutch and international collections.
Contemporary Architecture
A remarkable city of buildings by some of the world's greatest contemporary architects.
Delft Access
The beautiful canal city of Vermeer heritage and Delftware porcelain 20 minutes by train.
