New destination after a long time and my enthusiasm was so big. A few days ago, I visited Netherlands and Rotterdam in specific. I had heard so and so impressions about Rotterdam and I arrived there with a pinch of doubt that immediately gone away. What an interesting city to visit! What did I learn?
i) The second largest city in Netherlands after Amsterdam, the largest port of Europe and til recently the largest port in the world. ii) The name Rotterdam derives from the names Rotte(r) + dam, ie a dam in a small river, Rotte, which ends up to Niue Maya in the heart of the city. iii) Rotterdam, one of the most multicultural European cities except for the port, is world-renowned for the Erasmus University, named in honor of one of its famous former residents, Erasmus. Many of its sections are world-famous. iv) Rotterdam is one of the most bombarded cities during the Second World War. Few buildings remained, among them the historic Town Hall. v) Due to the war destruction, Rotterdam was almost rebuilt from the beginning. It is a source of architectural development and source of enormous architectural interest. From 1950s to 1970s, the city was rebuilt with an active architectural policy. The bold character and new style of the apartments, office buildings and leisure facilities have led to a more “viable” city center with a new horizon.
In Rotterdam, I liked the countless, well-designed, cycle paths. I was very happy to see almost all citizens on a bicycle. I was delighted by the fact that this is part of their everyday life, like their second nature. It is an extremely interesting city in terms of modern architecture. Buildings of different styles, with different materials and everything coexists. Exquisite lighting of shops, restaurants, bars. The predominance of neon lights is more than obvious and it suits perfectly to the city’s atmosphere. Rotterdammers are smiley and polite. Rotterdam has its own character and liveliness. Rotterdam has its own rhythm and energy. My visit to the Hague was a bit indifferent, except for the outstanding beach in Scheveningen. A vast beach is there to walk and enjoy it. There you will find the Kurhaus hotel and restaurant opened in 1886 and the Beelden aan Zee sculpture museum built in 1994. I said a lot. Through my lens … Rotterdam and Den Haag.