A woman stands on a rooftop garden in Rotterdam, surrounded by greenery and modern city buildings. A panoramic view of Rotterdam featuring modern skyscrapers, lush green parks, and visitors relaxing on the grass.
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 picturesque canal in Rotterdam lined with trees and historic boats, reflecting charming architecture under a cloudy sky.
A windmill named De Distilleerketel in Rotterdam beside a calm waterway, with residential buildings and greenery nearby.
The Distilling Kettle Mill in Rotterdam’s Delfshaven district has stood here since 1727. Originally used for grinding malt for local distilleries, it was rebuilt in 1986 after wartime destruction. Today, it operates as a working mill and museum.
Boats docked along a peaceful canal in Rotterdam, with historic buildings and lush greenery lining the waterfront.
A panoramic view of Rotterdam's skyline with modern skyscrapers along the river, a boat navigating the water under a cloudy sky.
Cube houses in Rotterdam, featuring unique angled roofs and vibrant yellow accents, alongside a modern skyscraper in the background.
A vibrant view of Rotterdam's iconic cube houses featuring yellow accents and a bustling street with people and bicycles.
Cubic houses in Rotterdam: The striking architectural structure features angular yellow and gray surfaces.
Rotterdam’s Cube Houses: A bold experiment in urban living. Designed by architect Piet Blom, these tilted homes challenge the idea of traditional housing.
A bustling outdoor café in Rotterdam, featuring unique cube-shaped architecture and diners enjoying their meals under large umbrellas.
Cubic houses in Rotterdam with yellow roofs reflect in the water, featuring a bustling café scene with 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.
Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam: Modern architecture connects with clouds and water, flanked by skyscrapers along the shore.
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 view of Rotterdam's riverfront showcasing modern architecture, the Erasmus Bridge, and city skyline under a cloudy sky.
Witte Huis in Rotterdam: A historic building in the background with sailboats in the foreground, calm water reflects the scene.
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.
Hotel New York in Rotterdam: Historic building with a distinctive tower, modern skyscrapers in the background, and green trees.
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.
Market Hall in Rotterdam: Modern architecture with a curved glass front, surrounded by trees and people enjoying the outdoors.
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.
Interior of Rotterdam’s Markthal showcasing colorful ceiling art and bustling market stalls, with escalators and visitors.
A vibrant ceiling mural in the Markthal, Rotterdam, featuring colorful fruits, vegetables, and abstract patterns.
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 vibrant food market in Rotterdam featuring colorful decor, people dining, and a variety of food and drinks on display.
The SS Rotterdam is a large white cruise ship docked in the harbor of Rotterdam, surrounded by modern buildings along the waterfront.
A group of people on a boat enjoying views of the SS Rotterdam, a former ocean liner turned floating hotel.
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 decommissioned fire ship named Vessel 11 moored in a Rotterdam canal, surrounded by modern buildings and greenery.
A decommissioned fire ship in Rotterdam, displayed near waterfront tables and blooming flowers, surrounded by modern skyscrapers.
A decommissioned fire ship docked in Rotterdam, displaying its vibrant red color alongside modern buildings and calm waters.
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.
A historic crane in Rotterdam stands tall beside harbor boats, with two people enjoying the view on a sunny day.
A panoramic view of Rotterdam featuring modern skyscrapers, lush green parks, and visitors relaxing on the grass.
The modern high-rises of Rotterdam, including the Zalmhaven Tower, contrast with the green oasis of Het Park, where city life slows down.
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam: Reflective facade displaying city views, surrounded by greenery and people.
The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam is the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility. Opened in 2021, its mirrored façade reflects the city skyline, while inside, 151,000 artworks are stored and displayed.
A modern interior view of Rotterdam skyline through large windows, featuring green trees and iconic buildings.
A display at Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot in Rotterdam featuring an exhibition board with stickers and notes.
An art gallery in Rotterdam featuring transparent display panels showcasing framed artworks, with a visitor exploring the space.
A woman in a black dress and combat boots observes various artworks in a contemporary gallery in Rotterdam.
Visitors admire artwork at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, featuring framed paintings in a modern exhibition space.
Two visitors gaze through a large window at an exhibit inside Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, showcasing various artifacts.
Two visitors observe a colorful installation in a gallery at Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam.
A display of various ceramic and glass artifacts inside Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
A reflective exterior view of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, featuring greenery and people gathering on the patio.
A reflective glass wall surrounded by greenery with a city skyline in the background, viewed from a rooftop in Rotterdam.
A woman stands on a rooftop garden in Rotterdam, surrounded by greenery and modern city buildings.
A visitor enjoys the view from the roof garden of the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum in Rotterdam.