Rotterdam is a major port city in the western Netherlands and the country's second-largest city. It sits on the Nieuwe Maas, and its harbor is among the reasons the city has grown into what it is today: it is the largest seaport in Europe.
What to expect
Visitors come for the city's modern architecture. Much of the centre was rebuilt after the Second World War, and the result is a skyline and streetscape that feel distinctly contemporary, quite unlike the canal-lined old towns many people associate with the Netherlands. Walking through the centre, you move between newer buildings and open public spaces, with the river never far away.
The harbor is the other defining feature. Because the port is so large, the water and the shipping traffic shape the character of the city, and many visitors find that watching the activity on the river is a memorable part of a trip.
Who it suits
- Visitors interested in modern architecture and urban design
- Those curious about how a major port shapes a city
- Travellers who want a contrast with the historic canal towns of the Netherlands
Rotterdam works well as a stop of its own or as part of a wider trip through the western Netherlands, with the rest of the country within easy reach.
