Diverse destination for global travellers
The multitude of cultures, the mix of styles and the vibrant festival calendar make Rotterdam an irresistible place for adventurous travellers. For those who appreciate the authentic, down-to-earth and unpolished. Who are curious about ‘the other’ and enjoy being surprised and amazed.
As a port city and the gateway to Europe, Rotterdam is connected to the world. A city with international allure but without airs and graces. Rotterdam is a city for everyone. A place where freedom is paramount and diversity is celebrated and embraced. The destination of choice for the adventurous traveller who does not want to feel like a tourist on holiday but likes to mingle with the locals.
Rotterdam is what you would call a super-diverse city. More than half of all its inhabitants have a migrant background. More than 170 nationalities live together harmoniously. A melting pot! Rotterdammers like to share their cultural heritage with each other and with visitors, by celebrating life together, for example. Festivals, therefore, play an important role in Rotterdam: there are more than 150 a year, and all cultures are represented in the busy festival calendar. These vary from the Arab Film Festival, Chinese New Year and São João Festival to big events like the International Film Festival Rotterdam, the Rotterdam Marathon and Rotterdam Unlimited, which fills the streets with music and a colourful, dancing crowd during the Summer Carnival street parade.
Cacophony of styles
Rotterdam is not only diverse in terms of its inhabitants but the city is also known for its pioneering architecture and its cacophony of building styles. This has everything to do with its history. In 1940, the city was bombed and then rebuilt in a radical way. The people of Rotterdam opted for renewal instead of repair. Architects were given every opportunity to experiment and innovate and still are today. The result? A city full of exciting contrasts and a skyline that will delight the architecture lovers among your clients. From the Cube Houses, the first gallery flat, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Van Nelle Factory and Sonneveld House to the new Rotterdam Central Station, the Markthal and De Rotterdam. The people of Rotterdam continue to boldly build a city where creative ideas are encouraged. The latest icon is the spectacular Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: a photogenic spherical shape with a facade of mirrors.
Social initiatives
It is not all sparkling reflections in the City on the Maas. Certainly not. There are rough edges too. This combination may have put Rotterdam on the map as a city with the cool factor, but the urban challenges are nevertheless substantial. After all, how do you keep it affordable for everyone? How do you maintain connectivity? Rotterdam strives in many ways to be a city for everyone regardless of age, origin, gender or income. Through gatherings (festivals), but also by encouraging initiatives with a social impact. Like Holy Beans (Heilige Boontjes), a coffee shop where ex-prisoners and young people with problems gain work experience. The Swapshop, where you can hand in worn clothes and swap them for ‘new’ ones. Lunchroom Fröbel, where people with mental disorders serve the customers. And Rotterdamse Munt, a public picking garden full of herbs and flowers.
The rise of Rotterdam-Zuid
Zuid has been gaining popularity in recent years. This district lagged behind the rest for a long time but is increasingly coming into the spotlight, such as during the Eurovision Song Contest. As a result, Zuid is increasingly recognised for what it is: an exciting, rough, experimental and innovative piece of the city that, with its young inhabitants, lively street culture and a multitude of practice and studio spaces, hosts a wealth of art and culture.
Katendrecht, a story in itself
The FENIX Museum of Migration will soon open on Katendrecht. The museum will be housed in a historic warehouse, from where millions of people boarded passenger ships in the early nineteenth century, heading for a new life in America. The building is undergoing extensive renovation and will have a spectacular viewing platform, designed by MAD Architects. The platform – the Tornado – will offer views over the Nieuwe Maas River, Rotterdam-Zuid and the Rotterdam skyline. A dinner or overnight stay in the nostalgic Hotel New York – the former headquarters of the Holland America Line – ties in with this beautifully. As does a visit to or guided tour of the ss Rotterdam, located at the tip of Katendrecht, where your clients can even stay overnight. The promenade deck is a wonderful place to relax with a drink in the summer!
Accommodation
Hotel New York and the ss Rotterdam are extraordinary places to spend the night as they tell a piece of Rotterdam’s remarkable history. For travellers who want to experience the diverse Rotterdam of today and sample the life of the locals, a hotel in one of the districts is interesting. Like design hotel Hotel Supernova in West – speaking of rough edges. The posh boutique hotel The Slaak in Kralingen or the nearby and affordable The Social Club (formerly Student Hotel), where one can mingle with students. For travellers looking for a truly multicultural experience, try the Hotel Bazar in the heart of the vibrant Witte de Withstraat.
