What To Do In Rotterdam, The Netherlands | Eileen Aldis Travel Channel

What To Do In Rotterdam, The Netherlands
This video is a city guide and city tour of Rotterdam. You'll see my top 5 highlights of one of the most modern cities in Europe.

Above all, Rotterdam is a city with vision. It was very nearly completely destroyed during World War II and chose to see the devastating loss as an opportunity to innovate and build anew. The city was a blank slate for architects and artists. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of war, this Dutch city has become a city of the future. Rotterdam is a centre for design, art, architecture, and sustainability. Locals joke that you should take a photo of the skyline today because it won't be the same tomorrow.

The Floating Forest is a great symbol of all that Rotterdam cultivates and inspires. It's an art installation of twenty live trees floating in the harbour. Rotterdam has the largest harbour in Europe and you can't talk about the city without reference to the water. The trees are recycled from the city's 'tree bank.' With all the new construction, trees are sometimes cut down in the march of progress. Now, instead of being chopped, they are moved to a tree bank for further use and enjoyment. The trees float in recycled sea buoys that are filled with fresh water to sustain the trees. The artist, Jorge Bakker, hopes the public art will get people talking about the relationship between the city dweller and nature. In this time of climate change and urbanization, this is relevant not only to Rotterdam but the entire world.

The Erasmus Bridge - Erasmusbrug, in Dutch - is the graceful link between northern and southern Rotterdam. Locals adore this steel-cabled suspension bridge and lovingly refer to it as 'the swan.'

Nearby the bridge, and across from the Fenix Food Factory, is Hotel New York. This is the former head office of the Holland America Line - the first shipping and passenger ship connecting the Netherlands and the United States. It was also the first connection between the two continents.

The newest architectural gem of Rotterdam is the Market Hall (Markthal). It's the first covered market in the Netherlands and is a masterful example of innovative multi-use space. Inside you'll find food vendors, shops, restaurants, parking for 1200 cars and over 200 residential apartments. The exterior is plain grey stone so as to draw attention to the interior which is dominated by the massive painting on the ceiling. Covering 11,000 square metres, it's the largest painting in the world and is known as the Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam.

Just across from the Markthal are the world-famous, iconic cube houses. Conceived and designed in the 1970s to solve the dilemma of housing above a pedestrian bridge, these atypical homes show, again, how Rotterdam answers limitation with innovation. The cube houses are meant to represent an abstract forest and are tilted at an angle that gives excellent views of the surrounding area. Ironically, however, because of the slanted walls and ceilings, only a quarter of the interior space is actually usable.

Looking around, it's easy to see why Rotterdam feels futuristic and is leading the way for green living and modern design. Have you visited Rotterdam? I'd love to hear your impressions so please leave a comment down below.

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Subtitles available in English and Spanish! Click the 'CC' button (bottom right) .

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[richardk.]

Being from Rotterdam, watching this video and hearing your wonderful words actually filled me with pride. I am glad you enjoyed my hometown so much. Thank you for your kind words.

[mambamba]

I love Rotterdam alot! Most interesting city in The Netherlands because it is so innovative in urbanism. You do not see that as much in Europe, Rotterdam is unique in that matter. I like the fact that it is easy to get around, not infested with mass tourism, overall safe and clean. And people are very friendly and helpful, they do not see you as as burden. Rotterdam shows that modernism is not always ugly, and does it beautifully. Rotterdam rules!

[samuvisser]

Having lived in Rotterdam for 18 years, it is amazing to see such a glamorous review of it and the amazing comments below. Thanks for the video!

[SATULAL]

I'm so happy to see the love that Rotterdam is getting these days! I'm frankly addicted to this city and love that this is a hidden gem in Europe! I'm glad its next to Amsterdam as well because you'll never find Rotterdam overcrowded and you can enjoy it just as much as the locals! Great video and I can't wait to go back!!!

[nancyjohnson]

Wow the City of Rotterdam deserves huge thanks and admiration for how they have developed their city into such
an amazing place. Thank you for the tour. Love it all but especially those floating trees!! What an original idea.

[lindalouwagie-neyens]

Wow! Mind blown! If I ever go to the Netherlands, now I know which city to see! I especially loved the mural in the market.

[nicholasivanderstoop]

Brilliant, progressively tasteful. Yeah Rotterdam and the Netherlands

[beltfed]

Rotterdam hasn’t been top of mind, I’ll admit…But ….WOW!
Bombed to smithereens during WW2…Now it’s “Manhattan on the Meuse”!
The city just oozes architectural freedom and new thinking.     And how about that market!
Another eye opener for me!    Thanks for a really great video tour!

[amishapandya]

Wow, I never knew how cool Rotterdam was but now I know, thanks to your awesome video! Thank you for bringing it into our lives! Like the others commented, I was very impressed with the Market Hall - I definitely need to get there someday. I love the sign that said "Take a picture of the skyline today - tomorrow it will change." Lots to see there...can't wait!

[yvonnaboth]

I was born and grew up in Rotterdam and I am extremely proud of that ! I am glad you enjoyed the city !

[RottenRonnies]

Very informative. Looks like an amazing place to visit. Thanks for sharing.

[Cocolieno]

I love your style of travel videos!! Especially the facts and the insights in history :) feels like a mini tour guide tour rather than just a view clips of the most instagramable locations :)

[jos]

Thanks for introducing the city where I was born and live to the world with this video.

[lalitalune]

The cube houses! Oh my goodness. What wonderful architecture.

[myafelicia]

Though we love our architecture in our beloved Rotterdam, the vast majority of our citizens will tell you that their favorite spots in the city are: the public parks and gardens. And there is nothing else that will make us sigh with relief and love when we're driving down the Maasboulevard or the Van Brienenoordbrug, and we see our skyline (especially at night). That's when we know that we're home again.

[arissetiawan]

Wonderfull Rotterdam...thanks for the video

[Stroopwafelbae]

Rotterdam looks gorgeous 😍😍 I really hope I get to visit the Netherlands one day 🙏🏽🤞🏽

[surendrapatnaik]

Rotterdam is lovely. Full of beautiful architecture

[ОлександрОлександр-мн]

I'm fascinated of your video about Rotterdam 👍👍👍

[tomvogels]

Fun fact: the original Cube houses stand in another Dutch city called Helmond and were build in 1974, they were designed by the same architect and were the main inspiration source for the ones build in Rotterdam!