Rotterdam Attractions

To the southeast of the railroad extends the 3km/2mile long Maasboulevard, which was completed in 1964. From the east end there is a fine view of Rotterdam. To the left is the new Willemsbrug, which crosses the Nieuwe Maas to the southern port installations.

From the Taxation Museum Parklaan continues to a park on the south side of Westzeedijk, attractively laid out with clumps of trees, green lawns and a number of small lakes. From the outlook terrace on the hill above Parkkade, on the river front, there are fine views of the Nieuwe Maas with its busy shipping traffic. The International Garden Show (Floriade) was held in the park in 1960.

Northwest of the Central Station is Blijdorp Zoo (Diergaarde), established in 1857. The large Riviera Hall complex contains freshwater and saltwater aquariums, tropical plants and birds. Most of the animals are in open enclosures designed to resemble their natural habitat. The new section called Asia (1990), for example, includes a swamp forest with two large aviaries for exotic birds, a Mongolian steppe, a bat cave, Chinese fauna and a Chinese garden.

From the Central Station (1957) take the wide street (Weena) which runs east to Hofplein; then turn right into the Coolsingel, and continue beyond Churchillplein into Schiedamsedijk, which passes the Maritime Museum and leads down to the harbor.

The Chabot Museum features the works of the Dutch painter and sculptor, Henk Chabot. The collection is housed in a 1938 white villa built by architect G.W. Bass and was originally a private residence.

South of Stationsplein is Schouwburgplein, in which are De Doelen, a concert hall and congress center rebuilt in 1966 after its destruction in 1940, with seating for 2,000 and excellent acoustics (exhibition hall), and the Schouwburg (Municipal Theater), opened in 1988.

On the southeast side of the Kralingse Plas stands a windmill known as De Ster, a snuff and spice mill of 1740 (restored); closed on Sunday. Farther north are two other windmills, the Prinsenmolen (1648) on the Bergse Voorplas and De Vier Winden (1776) on the banks of the Rotte.

Diamond Center Rotterdam is one of two diamond cutting workshops open to the public.

To the east of the Coolsingel, at Pannekoekstraat 55, is a special attraction for children, the Ontdekhoek ("Discovery Corner"), a "hands-on" museum of technology in which young people between 4 and 14 can gain an understanding of scientific principles by carrying out simple experiments for themselves.

A short distance away from the Ontdekhoek, is the National School Museum, which illustrates, in a series of six classrooms, teaching and learning methods from the time of Charlemagne to the present day.

The Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam was completed in 1996. It spans the River Maas and joins the north and south sections of the city. The bridge is a beautiful piece of architecture, particularly when lit up at night.

Europort, held in Rotterdam, is a huge annual international maritime exhibition. The event takes place in 10 halls that cover 40,000 m2 in space. Europort takes place in November.

The Havenmuseum is a "working" museum located in the harbour in the heart of Rotterdam. In the Leuvehaven many ships, derricks and a steam elevator are moored and still in

their original, ready-to-operate state and open to visitors.

The IMAX in Rotterdam (Club IMAX) offers a highly advanced projection system giving the incredible sensation of being a part of the film in this audio-visual theater.

In northeastern Rotterdam, beyond the district of Kralingen, lies a large lake, Kralingse Plas, set in the Kralingse Bos, a wooded area (220 hectares/550 acres) much favored by the people of Rotterdam at weekends. There are several restaurants and facilities for water sports.

To be found at KunstHAL in Rotterdam are a variety of constantly changing exhibitions on visual arts, design, photography, architecture and cultures originating in the Eastern world.

To the east of Stationsplein extends a modern shopping district. The main shopping street, 2km/1.25mi long, is the Lijnbaan, laid out in 1953 - the first pedestrian precinct in Europe - with tempting modern shops, covered promenades and displays of modern art.

The southern districts of Rotterdam on the left bank of the Maas can be reached either by way of the busy Willemsbrug, parallel to which is a railroad bridge, or through the Maas Tunnel. The Willemsbrug leads to the Noordereiland, a long island in the middle of the river. Here, at Maaskade 119, is the Mariniersmuseum, which illustrates the history of the Corps of Marines from its establishment in 1665 to the present day.

The Rotterdam Market of antiques, curios and general goods, can be found in and around Mariniersweg.

East of the Grote Kerk, beyond the railroad, is the Nieuwe Markt, in which stands the Municipal Library (the "Pencil"), which has a fine collection of works on Erasmus.

Near the south end of the Coolsingel, to the left, is a white building, the 17th century Schielandshuis (entrance at Korte Hoogstraat 31). Originally the headquarters of the Dikes Administration, it was badly damaged by fire in 1864 but is now restored to its former splendor. Since 1986 it has housed the town's Historical Museum (local history, art and culture).

The Sunday Market in Rotterdam has numerous stands with books, art, antiques, and more.

At the far end of Willemskade is the Veerhaven, with a monument to Pieter Caland, the engineer who constructed the Nieuwe Waterweg. Beyond this, by way of Westplein, is Parklaan; No. 14 is the Taxation Museum (Belastingmuseum), with collections illustrating the taxation system of the Netherlands and the history of smuggling.

Running south from the Blaak is Leuvehaven, on the site of Rotterdam's first dock, with the gigantic piece of sculpture by the Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine, "The Destroyed City" (1953). This monumental work, with Cubist and Surrealist features, gives powerful expression to an extraordinary intensity of despair.

The Thermen Holiday Sauna and Beauty Center in Rotterdam offers saunas with various themes, swimming pools, and cooling facilities all in a tranquil setting. In the summer the resort is enhanced by the outdoor gardens and sunbeds.

To the south of the Kralingse Plas is the Rotterdam Toy Museum, with a collection of rare dolls, dolls' houses and mechanical toys from 1700 to 1940.

South of Kralingse Plas in Rotterdam (near the Maasboulevard), can be found the Trompenburg Arboretum, in the grounds of Trompenburg, an old country house (1820). In addition to beeches, oaks and rhododendrons there are thousands of trees and shrubs from all over the world.

Tropicana in Rotterdam is an aquatic center with all kinds of fun water based activities for all ages, including slides, sauna, spa facilities, and more.

Immediately south of Stationsplein (Station Square) is Kruisplein, and from the south end of this square the Westersingel continues south, passing the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum. At the end of the Westersingel turn right into Westzeedijk, which leads to the historic old Delfshaven quarter, 3km/2mi west.

In Rotterdam, to the south of the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum is the Westzeedijk, which runs from the Leuvehaven to the Schiehaven. In this area are a number of smaller docks including the Parkhaven, the St Jacobshaven, the Schiehaven and the Coolhaven.

In Rotterdam, east of the Cube Houses, beyond the railroad, are Geldersestraat and Geldersekade. On Wijnhaven is the Witte Huis (White House), a 46m/150ft high ten-story office block, the first high-rise building in Europe (1900).

On the west side of Stationsplein in Rotterdam is the massive Groothandelsgebouw (Wholesale Trade Building; 1953), which houses a staff of 6,000.