All about freezing the moment
Unlike many Dutch cities, Rotterdam is not known for old-world charm — most of the city was destroyed during WWII.
It's now a hub for cutting-edge architecture: Cube Houses, Erasmus Bridge, and Markthal are iconic.
The skyline is often compared to that of a modern American city.
The Port of Rotterdam is the biggest in Europe, vital to global shipping and trade.
You can take a harbor tour to understand the scale — it’s truly massive.
Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot – the world's first publicly accessible art storage facility.
International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) and North Sea Jazz Festival bring global crowds.
Tons of galleries, street art, and experimental spaces.
Rotterdam is a melting pot: Surinamese, Indonesian, Turkish, Moroccan, and Dutch cuisines all mix.
Trendy food markets like Fenix Food Factory and high-end restaurants with Michelin stars.
The city is bicycle-friendly but a bit more spacious and car-integrated than Amsterdam.
Green architecture and urban renewal projects are everywhere — it's a "test lab" for sustainability.
Tourists expecting Amsterdam-style canals and gabled houses might be disappointed.
It's more modern and industrial in look and feel.
Like most of the Netherlands, the weather is often gray, rainy, and windy — especially in the fall and winter.
The city is more spread out compared to Amsterdam or Utrecht, so walking isn’t always practical — bikes or public transport help a lot.
Rotterdam’s nightlife scene is lively but more underground or scattered than in other cities.
It doesn’t always have the same 24/7 vibe as Amsterdam.
Some people find Rotterdam’s modernity a bit cold or impersonal, especially in the city center.
But that’s often balanced by its creative neighborhoods like Katendrecht, Delfshaven, and Oude Noorden.
