Visit to Rotterdam

Be aware the old city center had the heck bombed out of it in WWII and was rebuilt in the 50's-70's.

I thought Delftshaven (Delft's Harbor) was interesting with old buildings, the harbor from where the Pilgrim's left and the Oude Kerk which is also known as the Pilgrim Father's church.

There are the Cube Houses on the Old Harbor which are interesting if you are in to architecture.

Are you doing day trips to other locations? Asking because to me Haarlem and Den Haag are more interesting - Haarlem for the old city center vibe and Den Haag for the Mauritshuis Museum which is awesome if you are in to art.

Don’t miss seeing Kinderdijk! Take a short ride on riverboat to view these 19 windmills in their original locations. It is one of The Netherlands’ highlights.

Oh Rotterdam! Big squeal! Silly me skipped this irreverent city my first three or four trips to the Netherlands but I now count it one of my favorite places for the modern Dutchness of it! I did it as a day trip from Haarlem on the train but Amsterdam is just as easy. Leave the 16th century quaintness Holland behind. Rotterdams train station will thrust you into the bosom of the city like a giant modern protractor shaped angle complete with radiating tram lines running out its apex. Lookup and around you. Welcome to a modernist take on what a city should be complete with gravity defying skyscrapers like giant jenga puzzles or legos on steroids. Get lost on the way to Markthal, an incredible mix living building re-thinking how we live, work and shop in a colorful wrap of beautiful flowers. It’s just around the corner from the cube houses. Now steer your way to the Erasmus bridge, known as the Swan, hopefully skirting your way past the historic longshoreman and maritime equipment outside the maritime museum. Crack a smile at the public art displays like the dog sculpture complete with dog poo or the giant cat flipping you off in 40 feet of mural audacity and I’m not sure what to make of the one of the seven dwarfs sporting a dildo. Is that you, Happy? Now take some outrageous instagram pictures in the 1600plus mirrors of the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, if you must. Still got go in your Gogo boots? You’ve got me beat but maybe visit the floating farm where cows live content lives making milk and cheese on huge floating, self contained farms. Feeling George Jetson yet? I was when I visited February 2020 before the doors slammed shut on the world. When I get close to that corner of Europe again, I will seek out Rotterdam for more than a day trip. It surprised me unexpectedly. I’ve found a good website for more information at en.Rotterdam.info .

I did make a stop in Den Hague on the way back to Haarlem (it’s on the train line as is Delft) to see M C Escher which I’d recommend if you’re a fan. I hope you enjoy Rotterdam too. Sometimes it’s nice to see something that isn’t old or dead in Europe..

I am with thenosbigs 100%. There are charming, quaint villages all over the Netherlands (all over Europe, in fact). I certainly wouldn't advise you to skip seeing some of them.

But there's only one Rotterdam. I can't count how many times I said "wow" to myself or laughed to myself, or just stood and admired it all. It's filled with fascinating architecture and public art (thenosbigs didn't even mention the "butt plug"). How many cities do you know that have a neighborhood called the "Cool District"? And as you walk around, you can imagine that you're standing in a city that once looked a lot like Amsterdam (and the same would have happened to Amsterdam had the Dutch not surrendered to the Nazis after the bombing of Rotterdam).

Assuming you arrive by train (the station opened in 2014 and is the first bit of fascinating architecture you'll see), there is a TI kiosk in the station where you can pick up a map with a self-guided walking tour. If I recall correctly, there are a few options depending on how long and how far you want to walk. There are sections you can skip or detours you can add. And I am sure many guidebooks can provide the same thing.

I only had a few hours in Rotterdam. I followed the self-guided tour map to the Erasmus Bridge, stopping to visit the Grote Kerk (one of the few surviving structures), the central library, the cube houses, and the Markthal. I walked back through Museumpark. I visited the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, which is closed for renovation, but there are other museums you might look into if time allows.

Have to recommend a boat cruise thru the harbor- HUGE and amazing even if you think you don't care- the sea is so important to Dutch history and you can see so much from the small boat. it's a short ride ( an hour?) but surprising ( so yea, I have only had a couple of harbor tours before)
Also had the best rijsttafel ever in Rotterdam- name escapes me.

thenosbigs describes it well. If you like modern architecture Rotterdam is an interesting place to visit. For modernism the Chabot museum with it art collection can be of interest and offers tours also to De Van Nellefabriek, a factory on the UNESCO world heritage list. You can see Rotterdam in miniature in Miniworld Rotterdam, a short walk from Rotterdam Centraal railway station. The ss Rottterdam, a former ocean liner of the Holland America Line offer guided tours.

"the modern Dutchness of it!" Well put!

Rotterdam is the only place in the Netherlands I've ever seen civil unrest. Summer 2021 cars on fire and streets feeling a bit sketchy in the warm evening as the local youth became a bit unsprung. Apparently there is a bit of trend of setting cars on fire in the Netherlands, with Rotterdam leading the way. Hmmm ... no idea what's up with that.

Rotterdam is a neat contrast to what's typically Dutch, I'd visit again :)

We recently tour a dinner cruise on the Rotterdam "Pancake Boat." Nice experience.
https://rotterdam.pannenkoekenboot.nl/en/