By David Porter, Roaming Boomers Travel Services
Rotterdam’s modern architecture immediately caught our attention when Carol and I arrived in the city. We had never been to Rotterdam before, and to be honest, we didn’t know much about it. But right away, we noticed how its skyline stood apart from the charming, historic cities we’d just explored in Belgium.
Little did we realize that Rotterdam’s contemporary look was born out of tragedy: the city was almost completely obliterated during World War II. As we began to explore, we quickly discovered that Rotterdam’s story is one of remarkable resilience and reinvention.
Rotterdam’s Story: From Ruin to Reinvention
Rotterdam city center in ruins after the May 1940 bombing. Photo: U.S. Defense Visual Information Center, via Wikimedia Commons.
Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city, is a living testament to resilience and reinvention. Its transformation began abruptly on May 14, 1940, when the German Luftwaffe bombed the city center, killing over a thousand people and leaving 85,000 homeless. The destruction was so complete that postwar planners saw an opportunity-a blank canvas on which to build something entirely new.
Even before the war, Rotterdam had ambitions to modernize. The devastation simply accelerated those plans, and the city seized the chance to embrace bold, modernist architecture, drawing inspiration from cities like Chicago. Today, Rotterdam stands apart from other Dutch cities, its audacious skyline a symbol of its determination to keep moving forward.
Exploring Rotterdam: Architecture, Art, and the River
ROTTERDAM TODAY
Our day in Rotterdam, part of Tauck’s “Holland & Belgium in Spring” river cruise, gave us a front-row seat to this ongoing transformation. The city is a playground for architecture lovers, with landmarks that have become icons in their own right:
- Erasmus Bridge (“The Swan”): This harp-shaped, cable-stayed bridge is a feat of engineering and a symbol of Rotterdam’s modern identity.
- Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen): Designed by Piet Blom, these quirky, tilted yellow cubes trick the eye and invite curiosity. For a small fee, you can tour a show house and see what it’s like to live at a 45-degree angle.
- Markthal: A horseshoe-shaped food market and apartment block, its ceiling covered with vibrant murals. Here, you can sample Dutch cheeses or international treats while gazing up at one of the world’s largest artworks.
- Van Nelle Factory: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this 1920s industrial complex is a masterpiece of early modernism and now houses creative businesses.
- Witte Huis: The city’s original “high-rise,” this art nouveau landmark survived the 1940 blitz and stands as a rare link to Rotterdam’s past.
But Rotterdam’s appeal isn’t just in its buildings. The city pulses with creativity-street art, pop-up galleries, and innovative museums like the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility.
Inside Rotterdam’s Markthal-a feast for the senses with its soaring, mural-covered ceiling and vibrant food market. Photo: David Porter.
Reflections from the River
Sunset over Rotterdam as we departed on our Tauck river cruise. Photo: David Porter.
As our Tauck river cruise departed Rotterdam, Carol and I stood on deck and watched the city’s skyline glow against a fiery sunset. The modern towers and iconic bridges were silhouetted in orange and blue, a vivid reminder of how far this city has come from its darkest days. Rotterdam doesn’t hide its scars-it celebrates what it has become because of them. The city’s willingness to experiment, rebuild, and embrace the future is inspiring. For us, that sunset was more than just a beautiful farewell; it was a symbol of Rotterdam’s enduring optimism and the spirit of reinvention that defines this remarkable city.
See More from Our Journey:
This experience was part of our recent Tauck river cruise through Belgium and Holland.
To see all of our daily highlights, reflections, and photos, visit our full cruise landing page here.
For more information or to book a Tauck river cruise, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
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This article was written with the aid of Perplexity AI, Grok, or ChatGPT. Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an independent affiliate of Cadence and a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
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