A gray paved area with green grass and birch trees, a person stands near a glass wall looking out over the city. Lush tree lines frame a park where people sit on the grass. Tall modern buildings rise in the background.
Netherlands

Rotterdam: A City Full of Fantastic Architectural Experiments

The urban contrasts of Rotterdam.
Rotterdam, Netherlands, July 2022

There’s so much to say about Rotterdam. About the Markthal, with its futuristic design and colorful ceiling mural. Apartments are built around and even on top of the hall, each with at least one window looking down into the bustling marketplace below. Imagine watching the daily hustle from your living room.

Or about the Cube Houses, those tilted yellow cubes set at a 45-degree angle, designed to resemble trees—gray trunks at the base with entrances and stairwells, and above them, “treetops” unfolding into three-story homes.

Or about "De Pot", the bowl-shaped depot of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, with its striking mirrored facade. Inside, 151,000 objects are stored across seven floors—not in traditional exhibitions, but in open-view storage. Large windows reveal shelves filled with art, and visitors can watch conservators at work. On the day of my visit, I saw famous paintings—from the back. Thankfully, from the front as well. And from the rooftop garden, 40 meters high, the view over Rotterdam’s skyline is spectacular.

Rotterdam is a city that doesn’t cling to the past. After being almost entirely rebuilt after the war, it chose progress over nostalgia. While other Dutch cities are known for canals and gabled houses, Rotterdam experiments, shifts, tilts, and reflects. The results aren’t always beautiful—but they’re always fascinating.

Map of Rotterdam
A calm canal with boats, lined by houses and trees on both sides, reflecting the clouds on the water.
A windmill with large blades stands by the edge of a calm body of water, surrounded by modern buildings and trees.
The Kralingse Mill in Rotterdam blends old and new. This historic windmill stands proudly among modern buildings, a reminder of the city's rich past.
A picturesque canal with boats, surrounded by historic buildings, trees, and a serene walkway on the left side.
View of a cityscape with modern buildings along the river, a small boat crosses the water, and the sky is cloudy.
The image shows several yellow cube houses with slanted roofs, alongside a modern high-rise building.
Colorful, cubic buildings with yellow roofs dominate the scene, and a woman is walking by in the foreground.
A roof with yellow and gray surfaces, angled and varied in design. Slim windows and trees in the foreground.
A terrace with tables and chairs, where people are dining and sitting. Bold modern buildings in the background.
Colorful houses with trapezoidal roofs are reflected in the water, surrounded by a lively restaurant area under orange umbrellas.
Rotterdam’s Cube Houses: A bold experiment in urban living. Designed by architect Piet Blom, these tilted homes challenge the idea of traditional housing.
Bright clouds over a cityscape featuring a modern bridge. Skyscrapers line the riverbank, reflecting in the water.
The Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam’s modern icon. Nicknamed ‘The Swan,’ this cable-stayed bridge connects the northern and southern parts of the city in striking fashion.
A modern glass building by the water, with poles in the calm water and a bridge, complemented by urban buildings in the background.
Black boats are moored in the water, with a historic building featuring a tower and clock in the background.
The White House in Rotterdam, once Europe’s tallest office building. Built in 1898, this Art Nouveau landmark towers over the historic Old Harbor and its classic ships.
A historic building with a green clock tower peak, surrounded by modern skyscrapers and landscaped squares.
The former Holland America Line headquarters, where thousands once departed for a new life in America. Today, it’s a landmark hotel in Rotterdam’s dynamic Kop van Zuid district.
A modern, arch-shaped building with a glass facade, surrounded by trees and people gathering in the plaza.
Rotterdam’s Markthal: A food market, residential complex, and architectural icon in one. Inside, a massive mural known as the ‘Horn of Plenty’ towers over the bustling stalls.
A colorful vaulted ceiling over a busy market hall. People are moving on escalators between shops and stalls.
Colorful murals of fruits and vegetables in a curved indoor space, featuring reflective surfaces and square windows.
The ‘Horn of Plenty’ inside Rotterdam’s Markthal. One of the world’s largest artworks, this vibrant mural turns the ceiling into a dazzling explosion of color and detail.
A lively dining scene with decorative flowers, tables, and guests enjoying food and engaging in conversation.
The ‘Horn of Plenty’ inside Rotterdam’s Markthal. One of the world’s largest artworks, this vibrant mural turns the ceiling into a dazzling explosion of color and detail.
A large ship is docked at a harbor. In the background, modern buildings and trees are visible. The sky is clear and blue.
SS Rotterdam: Once a grand ocean liner, now a floating hotel and museum. This historic ship remains docked in its home city, offering a glimpse into maritime luxury of the past.
A group of people sits on a tour boat, with a large ship in the background under a clear blue sky.
A red ship named Vessel 11 is docked along a canal, surrounded by modern buildings and lush greenery.
A red ship lantern stands next to an old red ship by a water canal, surrounded by modern buildings and blooming roses.
A red ship with a tall tower rests in a calm waterway, surrounded by modern buildings and urban life.
Once a guiding beacon at sea, this retired lightship now serves as a unique floating venue in Rotterdam's Wijnhaven, blending maritime heritage with modern city life.
Two people sit at the waterfront as a large crane looms overhead, lifting a flag with modern buildings in the background.
Lush tree lines frame a park where people sit on the grass. Tall modern buildings rise in the background.
The modern high-rises of Rotterdam, including the Zalmhaven Tower, contrast with the green oasis of Het Park, where city life slows down.
A modern, mirrored building facade reflects the surrounding landscape and people on a walkway, with green trees visible.
In the heart of Rotterdam, the city is reflected in the innovative facade of the Boijmans Van Beuningen depot.
View through large windows of modern architecture and green trees in an urban setting.
A wooden exhibition board with stickers and labels hangs behind glass in a modern gallery space.
Two large framed artworks hang in front of transparent walls. A person walks between the exhibits, surrounded by neutral decor.
A person in a black dress and boots looks at artworks in a gallery. Several paintings are displayed on glass partitions.
Two people are admiring paintings displayed on glass walls in a modern exhibition space with a minimalist design.
Two people are viewing a lit shelf filled with various items through a window.
Two people are looking at a large wall display filled with colorful, organically arranged objects and materials in a modern space.
A large, illuminated display with various ceramic objects and dishes in different colors and shapes behind a glass wall.
Reflective glass walls surround a terrace with people, plants, and benches. The sky is partly cloudy.
A paved path leads between tall mirrored walls and trees, with a city skyline in the background.
A gray paved area with green grass and birch trees, a person stands near a glass wall looking out over the city.
A visitor enjoys the view from the roof garden of the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam.