Rotterdam

Brief information

Almost none of Rotterdam’s historic buildings remain in the city center: after the bombing on May 14, 1940, the decision was made not to rebuild it. As a result, the city, known as one of the leading centers of contemporary architecture, is defined by a sharp divide between the old trading port and the urban landscape that emerged after the destruction. The port’s history began with a simple dam on the River Rotte, beside a settlement first mentioned in documents in 1283. Rotterdam later grew into Europe’s largest harbor; the Nieuwe Waterweg canal, opened to large ocean-going ships in 1872, gave them a direct route to the sea. Today, the port still connects the city to sea and river routes, while its past stands alongside architecture created after the war.

What to notice right away

The Witte Huis, or White House, stands out among modern buildings as a surviving landmark from the port boom of the late 19th century. It was built to house the offices of American companies; at 45 meters tall, it became the tallest building in Europe. This fact links Rotterdam’s business district to the era when the new sea canal turned its harbor into a global port.

The Maas Tunnel runs beneath the Nieuwe Maas and connects the two banks with a road tunnel and a separate passage for cyclists and pedestrians. The pedestrian and cycle passage has entrance pavilions and escalators leading down. Its design shows how the city’s links cross the river underground rather than over a bridge.

The Erasmus Bridge became a new symbol of the city: a stylized image of it was used in the logo of the World Esperanto Congress in 2008. Near the White House, it helps reveal two distinct eras in the port city’s history: the 19th-century European business center and postwar Rotterdam, filled with contemporary architecture.