Rotterdam is one of the world's largest seaports and the second largest city in The Netherlands. Rotterdam was founded in 1278, when a dam was built in the river Rotte, hence the city's name.

After Germany invaded The Netherlands at the start of WWII they bombarded Rotterdam to force the Dutch government to capitulate. The destruction was almost complete and there are only a handful prewar buildings in Rotterdam; mostly in the area of Delfshaven. Most of the city consists of experimental postwar architecture.

Places of interest

• The current Bibliotheek Rotterdam (public library) was established in 1869. The city's original municipal library was founded in 1604.
• The Central Railway Station is a striking piece of modern architecture. It was opened in 2014.
• The clubhouse of the Royal Maas Yacht Club was built in 1909 in the Jugendstil style.
• De Hef (The Lift) is the popular name for the Koningshavenbrug. It was constructed in 1927 and it was used as a railway connection until 1993. The bridge remains as a monument.
• Delfshaven is one of the few areas in Rotterdam that survived the destruction of WWII. It features numerous historic buildings.
• The kubuswoningen (cube houses) are innovative houses that are based on the concept of 'living as an urban roof'. The houses consist of a tilted cube shape construction on a hexagon-shaped pylon. They were built in 1984, in the neighborhood of Blaak and are popularly known as the Blaak-forest.
• The Erasmusbrug (Erasmus bridge) was constructed in 1966. It is a cable-stayed bridge that connects the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. Its nickname is De Zwaan (the swan) because of it characteristic bended pylon. The Erasmus bridge is 790 m (2,600 ft) long.
• The Euromast was a 101 m (331 ft) tall tower, built in 1960 to provide a viewing platform for the Floriade. In 1970, its height was extended to 185 m (607 ft). It has a rotating viewing platform and restaurant that provide excellent views over the city.
• The Feyenoord football stadium De Kuip dates from 1936.
• The former headquarters of the Holland America Line.
• Het Witte Huis (the White House) was built in 1898. It is 45 m (148 ft) tall and it was the tallest office building in Europe at the time of construction.
• Lijnbaan 1952.
• The Maastoren (Maastower) is the tallest office building in the Netherlands. It was built in 2009 and it is 165 m (541 ft) tall.
• The Markthal is a modern hall with a market and restaurants.
• Peperklip.
• Schiecentrale 4b is located in the Lloydkwartier neighborhood.
• The Stadsarchief Rotterdam (Rotterdam City Archives) was established in 1857. It holds the city's historical administrative records and sources, including notarial deeds, an audiovisual collection and a library.
• The STC college building is also located in the Lloydkwartier.
• The Van Nelle fabriek (Van Nelle factory) was constructed in 1929. It was added to the UNESCO list of world heritage sites in 2014.
• There is a historical Windmill in Rotterdam.
• De Zalmhaven Tower is the tallest residential building in the Netherlands. It is 215 m (705 ft) tall.

Museums

• Construction of the Depot of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen commenced in 2003, but it was not cpmpleted until 2021. It is the world's first fully accessible art depot.
• Fenix, or the Museum for Migration.
• Het Nieuwe Instituut.
• The Kunsthal.
• The Kunstinstituut Melly.
• The Maritime Museum Rotterdam.
• The Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
• The Museum Rotterdam was originally known as the Historical Museum Rotterdam. It does not only show the city's history, but also its contemporary transnational state.
• The Natural History Museum.
• The Netherlands Marine Corps Museum.
• The Rotterdam Public Transport Museum.
• The Tax & Customs Museum.
• The Wereldmuseum (world museum).

Parks

• Arboretum Trompenburg was originally founded in 1820, but it was not opened to the public until 1958. The park is home to some 4,000 different species of trees, shrubs and perennials. It is located in the district of Kralingen.
• Diergaarde Blijdorp is Rotterdam's zoo. It is located in the northwest of the city. It houses countless animal species, as well as a walkthrough sea aquarium called the Oceanium.
• Het Park, or Het Park bij de Euromast (the park by the Euromast), is a park next to the Euromast, on the banks of the Maas river. The eastern part of the park was laid out between 1852 and 1863. The western part was added in 1866.
  The international agriculture exhibition and garden festival of the Floriade is held every 10 years in the Netherlands. The first Floriade was held in Het Park in 1960 and the Euromast was built to serve as an observation deck.
• The Kralingse Bos is located in the district of Kralingen. It was opened in 1953 and it includes the lake of Kralingse Plas.
• The Museumpark was laid out in 1927, not far from Het Park. It is surrounded by several of the city's museums.
• Park Rozenburg is a small park in the neighbourhood of Kralingen.
• Park Schoonoord is another small park in the district of Scheepvaartkwartier. It was laid out in 1860.
• The Vroesenpark was opened in 1929, in the district Rotterdam-Noord.
• The Zuiderpark dates from 1952 and is located in the district of Charlois.

There are many hotels and restaurants in Rotterdam. The city has excellent road and rail connections with the rest of The Netherlands. It is 60 km southwest of Amsterdam.

Rotterdam ©Ben Koorengevel

Rotterdam ©Stephan

Rotterdam ©Rowan Heuvel

Rotterdam ©Illiya Vjestica

Markthal ©Mike van den Bos

Kubuswoningen ©Gerrit Stam

Delfshaven ©Desiré Kranenburg

Erasmusbrug ©Keller Chewning

Delfshaven ©Micheile Henderson

Rotterdam ©Chay Kelly

Rotterdam ©Gerrit Stam

Windmill ©Sanket Gupta

Euromast ©Javier Esteban

Rotterdam ©Desert Morocco Adventure

Rotterdam ©Paul Huisman

Delfshaven ©Sanket Gupta

De Hef ©Jeff van Roosmalen

Het Park ©Sander Dechering

Rotterdam ©Chay Kelly

Rotterdam Central Station ©Lark Ascending