On 14 May 1940 the German Luftwaffe destroyed the entire center of Rotterdam in a bombing raid that lasted barely 15 minutes. What the bombs didn’t destroy the subsequent fire did.

From Wikipedia

The number of causalities was relatively low as advanced warning gave citizens time to flee, however 85,000 buildings were destroyed and the Dutch quickly surrendered to the Nazi Army. Very few of the city’s historic buildings remained, and as Rotterdam gradually rebuilt city administrators and architects used modern ideas of urban planning and architecture rather than reconstructing the past. 

Contrast between pre and post war buildings.

By 1962 Rotterdam had rebuilt enough to become the world’s largest port, a title it held until 2004. Today, it is still the largest port in Europe and continues to push boundaries with its architectural design, urban planning and green construction. 

A visit to Rotterdam is a great contrast to the historic architecture found in most other tourist destinations in the Netherlands, and your introduction begins the moment you step off the train into the 2014 train station.

You can still shop the 1953 Lijnbaan, the first car-free shopping street in Europe (check out the pop-up urinals!). Like many modern cities, Rotterdam is struggling with keeping housing affordable so residents can live in the city center and keep shopping streets like these viable. 

One dramatic answer to the housing shortage is the Markthal, which has over 200 apartments surrounding an indoor food court/market that connects to the city’s traditional outdoor market. 

Additional housing is also being added by expanding upwards from buildings that survived the bombing or were built shortly after. This new construction is often in complete contrast to the existing structures.

One of the more unique housing options is the 1970’s cube houses, designed to look like an urban forest.

You can stay overnight in a hostel here, but even a short visit should make time to explore the museum to view a cube from the inside. Super cool architectural experience, down to the amazing collection of miniature modernist furniture.

Coolest McDonalds ever?

Our photos are of a half-day trip from Amsterdam exploring the area around Central Station, but there is plenty more to see including boat tours of the harbor and viewing the floating cow farm that is one response to farming in a country that is primarily below sea level.

We took a great architecture walk with Walk Rotterdam. https://walkrotterdam.com/