Rotterdam (Netherlands)

Rotterdam was smashed during the World War II and unlike other big cities in Europe (Warsaw would be a good example), Dutch people decided not to restore city to the initial outlook. Instead, in typical Dutch manner, they decided to transform Rotterdam in playground of modern architecture. Frankly speaking, not always experimenting is good but after all, someone has to try, isn’t it?

Briefly about places where architects actually succeeded, - Cubic Houses is a good example, - start you journey from Cooolsingel and go to the direction of the Cubics, - you will see that actually they look like a mountain range with Pencil House pointing as a top on the range and the arch at Blaak Metro station just making the sense of mountains stronger.

Another monument worth visiting – famous Erasmus bridge. One advice – go to the other side from the center at night especially when it is drizzling and there is a dim light in the evening, - lights of Erasmus look really surrealistic at that time and the whole bridge look like a column supporting skies. You can go from there to Hotel New York sitting in the kind of island in the middle of Maas. Once this hotel was the last stop of the immigrants on their way to the New World, i.e. America. The whole ground floor is actually cozy restaurant usually packed with people, upper-middle class. If you are rich enough that is place to eat but even if you are traveling on a shoestring, - go there for a coffee – they have a enough space there for this too, nice place to read recent newspapers and magazines. Take your time!

From other modern wonders worth mentioning is also Euromast, - TV tower with nice café on the top, Weena street just in front of Central Station (5 minutes will be enough to see it all) and Showburgplein near Pather cinema. This square is very strange and weird – stupid lights (as for me), irrelevant floow from all possible materials (that one does not appreciate sliding in winter on rubber, no heels allowed for girls if they want to stay alive on metal floor with holes in it). Well, but some modern artists will find it attractive, - decision is up to you! What I personally like about Showburgplein is lights in the evening – more darkness and lights just enough to find your way but it is very interesting and very Dutch the way lightening is arrange there.

If you are kind of person looking to see it all in traditional way – go to Spido terminal just near the Erasmus bridge and take a ride to the Rotterdam port – apart from the splendid view of Rotterdam skyline you could see world’s biggest port. Well, a small part of it eventually. But if you are up for something totally different, go for an industrial tour around the port – it is especially advisable if you want to get couple of all-but-different snapshots from Rotterdam instead of buying traditional postcards (by the way, such photos represent spirit of industrial center of the Netherlands much better than romantic views of Erasmus bridge on sale in tourism information center).

If you are hunger, go to Old Harbor just behind the Cubic Houses, - excellent choice in 2 dozens of restaurants and pizza places, you can find something to grab even for 5-6 euro. There is one Mexican restaurant there, bloody expensive but it serves excellent Margarita tequila, if you are traveling with the a group of friends, order a jar – will be cheaper. Old Harbor is very cool retreat from busy Rotterdam center and just in center as a paradox. Couple of old buildings survived from the War, many boots and ships anchored in the Harbor, sometimes their owners are busy with them just when you are enjoying your dinner, dirty water but so natural for closed harbor, - I was there myself numerous times in 2002 and could still claim it is the best place in Rotterdam to eat out.

Another famous place in Rotterdam – café Dudok, quite centrally located around the corner of the main post office. The whole building of 4 floors is one café serving delicious food, well, fairly expensive. If you are up for hote cousine eating out (nothing on the plate but costs as the whole cow) then go to Dudok and order there – no problem. For those more for actual food than for stylish place – you can order there hamburgers – Dudok hamburger is worth its price! BUT why I am talking about Dudok is of course because of apple pie. Dudok has Netherlands-wide famous apple pie, they “export” it to other café across the country. Order it warm – perfect!

But Rotterdam despite its lack of many historical places has one well-hidden pearl. It is Delfshaven quite away from city center. Go to Euromast and them cross the channel on the first bridge there and go straight from there – you will find channel filled with yachts and boots with buildings from middle centuries. Cafes and small restaurants – enchanting atmosphere! And there is a windmill at the other end of the Delfts harbor – crippled leaning houses full of lights from windows and cafes, small bridges decorated with red lights, no crowds of tourists of all, - it is hard to believe there that you are actually in Rotterdam! Highly recommended to go there in the evening after exhausting touring in the modern city.

If you up for the party – Rotterdam has it all. Hollywood disco with its 7 or something like this dance floors is a good choice. However, security there (as actually in all places in Rotterdam) is very racist and you could be denied entrance if you are non-white with the excuse of “too many people” or that “you have wrong shoes” or “you are not a regular visitor (!!!! How idiotic is this?)”. Well, but at Cream R&B club just around the corner from Hollywood white could here the same excuses and could be denied entrance (interesting form of democracy – screwed democracy I would say). Both Hollywood and Cream are just near Weena (parallel street to it). Another place that has cool music and atmosphere is Crazy Pianos in front of Unilever headquarters at Weena street. But here sport shoes are for sure not allowed! And of course trendy Rotterdam Baja Beach club – with body shot (well, when a girl seduce you to take a drink from a chemical tube and to leak cream from her body and all this with movements that can make you happy). Order body shot (around 15 euro) to your friends – Baja has both male and female “shooting” staff so, all sexes could enjoy – and it is so cool to make it for someone who is not aware of this Baja peculiarity – fun guaranteed! All these clubs are quite expensive to enter and if you do not want to get bankrupt, go to Irish pub on Lijnbaan – there is student club in front of Irish pub, free entrance for youth and very cool atmosphere, - always packed with a crowd from Erasmus University. Although small dance floor they have a lot of space to mingle with people, to sip booz and chat with friends. Music is modern and quite cool. In general nice atmosphere of student modern pub without this snobbish stylish flavor of Hollywood and Baja.
In any case, there are many more places to see in Rotterdam. I have not touched in my posting museums or likewise institutions, and it is for sure impossible to cover all architectural objects in Rotterdam. In general, you need to see it – everyone can find what he/she likes but you need to know where to look. Otherwise you will disgust this city with stupid lines of shops in the center and ridiculous gray concrete buildings all over the place. You need investigate this city, not visit it. Enjoy!