Rotterdam, Netherlands1 daySummer
Rotterdam Modern Architecture
Rebuilt city of Cube Houses, Markthal, and Erasmus Bridge.
Ideal: Ideal for modern architecture, urban design, photography, and a different Netherlands beyond Amsterdam.
The city center was destroyed in a single afternoon bombardment on 14 May 1940; Rotterdam chose to rebuild modern from scratch rather than imitate the old and became the Netherlands' most experimental architecture lab. Piet Blom's 1984 Cube Houses are 38 cubes tilted 45 degrees — one is open to visitors and shows what life is like on slanted walls. The 2014 Markthal's arch is covered by an 11,000 m² fruit-and-vegetable mural. The swan-like Erasmus Bridge opened in 1996.
Why go?
- To see the Netherlands' modern, innovative urban architecture
- For a different route with Cube Houses, the port, and contemporary buildings
- To experience a more dynamic modern city atmosphere outside Amsterdam
Travel tip
Mix walking with tram/metro — architectural highlights are spread across the city.
