Rotterdam Things to Do Tips by sachara Top 5 Page for this destination

Schielandshuis Museums Review

The Schielandshuis is the only remaining building from the 17th-century in the centre of Rotterdam. It is built between 1662 and 1665. This city palace housed about one and half century the regional government. In 1864 the Schielandshuis is almost totally destroyed by a fire. After a few years and an ugly restoration the building opened its doors again, housing the municipality archives and as museum Boymans. In the 20th century the collections grew abundantly, so in 1938 Museum Boymans moved to its actual building museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

The Schielandhuis survived the bombing of 1940 in WWII, but was in very bad shape. First decades later the local government decided to restore the building in its old glorious style of the 17th century. So in 1986 the historical Museum of Rotterdam could open its doors.

In the museum the history of Rotterdam is brought to life. The people of Rotterdam and their city play the central part in permanent and temporary exhibitions.

Opening hours: from 11.00am till 5 .00 pm
Closed at mondays, 1th January, 30th April & 25th December

Address: Korte Hoogstraat 31, 3011 GK Rotterdam

Directions: Metro: Beurs
Tram: line 1, 8 , 20 & 23 to Beurs

Phone: +31 10 2176767

Russian Orthodox Church Street Scenes, Sights, and Art Review

During one of our walks, coming from the Witte de With straat and heading to the river Maas and Erasmusbridge I suddenly saw a church like I knew from Eastern Europe and Russia. In the cosmopolitan Harbour city Rotterdam it didn't really surprise me.

On the sign besides the entrance we red that the small white church with golden dome is a Russian Orhtodox church. It is designed by a dutch architect and built rather recently in 2002-2004. We took the chance to visit this by Russians frequented church.

Directions: At the corner of the Schiedamse Vest and Vasteland, not far north from the Erasmus bridge

Millenium Tower or Empire State Building Street Scenes, Sights, and Art Review

Opposite the Central Station stands the 132 m high Millenium Tower with 32 floors. The rather new building has the shape of a rocket. Some people say the resemblance with the Empire State Building in New York City is striking.

The 12 first floors are used by the luxury five-star hotel Westin, the other floors up are used as offices. A bridge connects the building with the Doelen and the conference halls at the southside.

I stayed in the Westin hotel two times myself, a special offer for the weekends. The views from the rooms at the city are great.

Address: Weena 686, Rotterdam, 3012 CN

Directions: The Millenium Tower is located just opposite the Central Station. Arriving in Rotterdam by train you can't miss it.

The Dutch Photo Museum Museums Review

The Dutch Photo Museum has the intention to show the diversity of all forms of photography in the broadest sense of the word, not only as an artistic form of expression, but also as a medium of social expression and commentary.

The Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photo Museum) covers various types of photography, like artistic, documentary and amateur photography with subjects as nature, landscape, architecture, fashion and sports. The musem shows also the varied forms of expression and distribution, like books, magazines, newspapers, projection, internet and the digital highway. There is also attention for the various use of photgraphy by other disciplines, like in arts, journalism, television and film.

The Museum houses not only a museum, but also the Dutch Photo Archives and a restoration workshop. I visited the museum for the first time work related, just after it was moved from Amsterdam to Rotterdam and has opened its doors in 1994.

Opening hours:
11am till 5pm, closed at mondays.

Address: Wilhelminakade 332

Directions: End 2007 I found out that the museum has moved from the Witte de Withstraat 63 to the Las Palmas building at the Kop van Zuid close to the well-known Hotel New York. I haven't visit the place over there yet.
Metro: Wilhelminaplein

Other Contact: nfo@nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

Phone: +31 010 2030420

Website: http://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

De Boompjes, boulevard along the river Street Scenes, Sights, and Art Review

Along the waterfront of the Maas is a spacious walking boulevard. In the past about one century ago it was still a quay for the huge sea ships. From the Boompjes the view at the river, the Erasmus bridge and the noorder Eiland is great.

Along a part of the the Boompjes are steps, which can be used for the audience looking at performances and concerts at the river with it's skyline as background. Half way the boulevard is a pavillion with a wall of glass at the riverside with stunning views, while taking a drink or meal. Along the boulevard you walk between the flags of all kind of nationalities.

From the water you have a view at the three highrise buildings with apartments behind the boulevard.

Directions: Between the Oude Haven and Leuvehaven along the river Nieuwe Maas.
Metro:Leuvehaven
Tram: line 20

City beach ´Strand aan de Maas´ Street Scenes, Sights, and Art Review

For going to the beach it is not neccesary to go the the North Sea Coast. Also in the cityventre of Rotterdam you can go to the citybeach and enjoy the sun, the sand and the cityskyline at the same time at the sunbeds or in the huge cushions. The view from here at the Erasmusbridge is really striking.

There is a pavillion and a big terrace, a very relaxed place at a sunny day to have a drink or snack. I had here a delicious lunch. In the evening there is swinging music or salsa dancing.

Directions: From end may till september, at the river Maas close to the Erasmus bridge.

Website: http://www.strandaandemaas.nl

The Park

The Park is a large city park, which is situated west of the citycentre, on the banks of the Nieuwe Maas. The Park is designed in 1870 by JD and LP Zocher in English landscape style on two former huge country estates.

The Park has partly still the atmosphere of the former aristocratic owners with large lawns, water parties and stately trees. I visited the Park at a warm and sunny sunday. A lot of families were picnicking in the shade of the trees and kids were playing. At the lawns people were sunbathing.

At the south side close to the river is the so called Bult ( bump) made by the mud coming from the dredging of the Katendrechtse harbour. Of one of the estates at the north side 'Landgoed De Heuvel' the mansion in empire style is still there. Nowadays it's restaurant Zocher. In front of the mansion is still a french ornamented garden.

Directions: The Park is situated between the Dijkzigt hospital and the Nieuwe Maas.

Norwegian Church

At the northern edge of the Park stands a Norwegian wooden church for sailormen, called Norsk Sjomannkirke. The church was built in 1914. It arrived from Norway in the Netherlands as a prefab package. The church is property of the Norwegian Seamen Community (The Norske Sjömannskirke), that has been established since July 1904.

The design was a contest, won by M. Poulsen and A. Arneberg. The beautiful wooden complex represents the typical Norwegian architecture. With its square plan it refers to the medieval Norwegian stav churches. At the roof is a small clocktower. The colorful paintings and woodcarvings are made according to the Norwegian folklore. The parsonage, also made of wood is connected with the church by a lower middle part.

Originally the church stood on the corner of the park. In 1938 due to the construction of the Maastunnel the church had to be moved to the actual ocation. It must have been quite spectacular, because the building was moved in one piece.

Duing my visit in summer 2006 the church was scaffolded.

Address: Droogleever Fortuynplein 2-6

Directions: In the north westcorner of the Park, not far from the Euromast

Phone: +31 10 4365923

Zadkine, monument 'the destroyed city' Street Scenes, Sights, and Art Review

When Ossip Zadkine saw the bombed and devastated city of Rotterdam on his way to a friend in 1946, these impressions inspirated him to design the monument ’the devastated city’. The local people of of Rotterdam called the sculpture also 'Jan Gat (meaning John Hole).

The monument was erected in 1953 close to the Leuvehaven at Plein 1940. With this monument Rotterdam commemorates the Second World War and the destruction of the old city centre.

The first book I saw of Rotterdam as kid had the sculpture of Zadkine at its frontpage and I can remember that the expression of the tortured figure impressed me. It took decades before I saw it with my own eyes, now surrounded by high bank buildings.

Directions: North of the Leuvehaven, just besides the Maritime Museum.

Euromast landmark Euromast Review

The Euromast was built in 1960 on the occasion of the Floriade, a large horticultural event. Ten years later the Space Tower was added at the top, using the highest crane of the world of 145m .

For a long time the Euromast was the landmark and symbol of Rotterdam. I can remember that the first time I visited Rotterdam as a kid, I could see the Euromast from very far. Nowadays there are many other high buildings in the skyline of Rotterdam.

The view from the top of the Euromast at the height of 185 meter is spectacular. Especially at clear days you can look very far. There is a restaurant and a visitors platform.

Address: Parkhaven 20

Directions: In the Park not for from the Nieuwe Maas and the Maastunnel.
Metro: Euromast
Tram: line 8

Phone: +31 10 2411788

Website: http://www.euromast.com