The Futuristic City You Need to Visit Now

Annik Boulva

Europe’s largest port, the name of Rotterdam doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, unlike its better-known sister city to the north. Situated on the banks of the Nieuwe Maas, a branch between the Rhine and Maas river deltas, the city’s port, also known as the ‘gateway to Europe’, is easily accessible by big container ships, making it a hub of logistics and infrastructure.

This second city, more than half of it destroyed in the Second World War, has now emerged as one of the most architecturally intriguing cities on the continent, owing this mostly to the fact that there were fewer historical buildings left to preserve–thus creating a blank slate, ripe for architectural experimentation and a living example of how future cities can be conceptualized, designed and built.

Throw out all the old tropes of windmills, tulips, clogs, and cheese, for Rotterdam is design-oriented, stylish, modern, and cool. Here are a few things to see and do in this lovely port city.

Architecture

Piet Blom’s Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen)

A popular attraction for selfie-seekers and design aficionados alike, these distinctive yellow cubes were dreamed up by architect Piet Blom in the 1970s. Some of the residents give tours of their homes; one of the larger cubes even houses a hostel. Head to the nearby Markthal (more on this later) for lunch, or a gawk at its massive proportions.

Luchtsingel Pedestrian Bridge

Another intriguing example of how architecture can transform a city, the entirely crowdfunded pedestrian bridges of the Luchtsingel (‘air canal’ in Dutch) connect lesser-accessible areas of Rotterdam to the city centre. Each person or family who donated can find their names decorating the bridge. This semi-permanent structure links to other public works like a roof garden, the new Pompenburg park, and Station Hoflein, which hosts cultural events.

Erasmus Bridge & De Rotterdam
Built in 1996, this cabled bridge connects Rotterdam’s south with the city centre—another top spot for photos. You’ll also notice De Rotterdam, one of the newest building projects on the skyline, designed by hometown architect Rem Koolhaas, who also won architecture’s crowning Pritzer Prize in 2000.