Rotterdam: Where Dutch Quaint Meets Bold Modernity

Once, Rotterdam was quaint and cozy like Amsterdam—but then it was leveled by the Nazis in World War II.
Rotterdam: Where Dutch Quaint Meets Bold Modernity
If Rotterdam has a single bold icon representing its modern approach to architecture, it’s Piet Blom’s funky cubed houses. Cameron Hewitt, Rick Steves’ Europe
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When traveling in the Netherlands – with its canals, windmills, and tulip fields—it all seems so cute and sweet; you may find yourself exclaiming, “Everything’s just so…Dutch!” But for another side of the Netherlands, visit the no-nonsense “second city” of Rotterdam.

Mighty Rotterdam has a gleaming skyline and Europe’s largest port. Locals say that while the money is spent in Amsterdam, it’s made in Rotterdam. They boast that shirts in Rotterdam are sold with the sleeves already rolled up.

Rick Steves
Rick Steves
Author
Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This article was adapted from his new book, For the Love of Europe. You can email Rick at [email protected] and follow his blog on Facebook. ©2022 Rick Steves. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.