Rotterdam
 

Mega port
Stretching 40 kms all the way to the North Sea, the Port of Rotterdam is a vital logistic link between the European hinterlands and the rest of the world. Right up the 1960s stevedores loading and unloading the holds of ocean going vessels were a common sight in the city centre – working to a fanfare of tugboat hooters. Then came the container revolution and the construction of mega-terminals close to the North Sea. Meanwhile, inner-city docklands have become a scene melding pavement cafés, innovative architecture and unique bridges. Appropriately the inspirational Erasmus Bridge completed in 1996 is the physical and metaphysical link between the Northern and Southern part of the city.

Art, culture and museums
Over the past twenty years, art and culture have boomed in the city. The offering in terms of organizations and activities ensures a non-stop, top of the range menu. Music, dance and theatre boast prestigious venues such as De Doelen, the Rotterdamse Schouwburg and the breathtaking Luxor Theatre - with a continuous supply of high quality art and culture by leading companies.

Rotterdam offers museums and galleries for most tastes and niches. From modern art to historical artefacts, from architecture to photography, from historic ships to exotic fauna. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen presents a unique collection of classical and contemporary art, from the early Middle Ages to contemporary modern works. The nearby Kunsthal Rotterdam puts on dozens of fascinating exhibitions every year and national institutions like the Netherlands Photo Museum or the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi) have chosen to establish themselves in Rotterdam. In 2009 and 2010, Rotterdam is also one of the four Holland Art Cities.

Shopping 7 days per week
Rotterdam is a Mecca for shopaholics, with a wide diversity of shopping areas. Feast your eyes in one of the chic shops in Van Oldenbarneveltstraat or visit the hip boutiques on Nieuwe Binnenweg, Witte de Withstraat and Pannekoekstraat. Even on Sunday, fanatical shoppers are welcome in Rotterdam: the shops in the centre are open 7 days per week.

Always something to do
Rotterdam is the festival city of the Netherlands, with both small and large-scale events. From the International Film Festival Rotterdam to the World Port Days, there is always something to do in the city. For Rotterdam the theme of 2009 is the youth, under the name Your World, with a wide variety of festivals and events.

Rotterdam is a lively metropolis all year round with countless cafes and restaurants representing every cuisine in the world. In the evenings and nights you can hang loose in hip clubs and trendy discotheques, such as the sustainable dance club Watt, which opened in 2008.

See a film

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