As the largest port in Europe, Rotterdam is one of the most important drivers of the Dutch economy. While throughput operations and industry shift towards the sea, the inner city is blossoming as never before. Rotterdam continues to surprise everyone with its new architecture, festivals, sporting events, daring art and culture, trendsetting nightlife and increasing numbers of unique stores.

City on the water
The River Maas, to which Rotterdam owes its existence, is an attraction in itself. Spido’s futuristic boats provide tours through the port. Other ships offer culinary delights, parties or a high-speed river crossing. On the wharves along the water, more and more restaurants are springing up.

Spending the night
Rotterdam offers a wide range of hotels, varying from simple to very luxurious. Business people, conference-goers, tourists, lovers of architecture, film freaks, art connoisseurs, newly-weds – Rotterdam has just the room for anyone wanting to spend the night in the city.

Easily accessible attractions
Rotterdam is an open and hospitable city, easily accessible by water, rail, road and air. Many people visit Blijdorp Zoo, one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands, partly to see the spectacular shark tunnel in the covered Oceanium. The Euromast, which offers unparalleled views from a height of 185 metres, is also very popular.

Art and culture
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen possesses a unique collection of classical and contemporary art, including works by surrealists such as Salvador Dalí. In 2006, this multifaceted museum will highlight Rembrandt. With two exhibitions, the museum will again be attracting plenty of international attention. The nearby Kunsthal puts on dozens of fascinating exhibitions every year and national institutions like the Netherlands Photo Museum or the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAi) have chosen to establish themselves in Rotterdam. In 2006, the three institutions will be staging a major exhibition based on the theme ‘China’.

Architecture
There is an enormous amount to see in Rotterdam when it comes to architecture and urban development. Rotterdam attracts huge international interest as a city of architecture. This is not only because of the impressive skyline, which just continues to grow. Within a couple of square kilometres in the city centre you can get a complete overview of what the twentieth century produced in the way of modern architecture. Every summer, well-attended architecture events are held, such as the ‘Day of Architecture’. Several large-scale activities are planned for the Year of Architecture, in 2007.

Festival city
The summer brings such events as the Summer Carnival, the FFWD Heineken Dance Parade and the World Port Days, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. In 2006, the highly renowned ‘North Sea Jazz Festival’ will be added to the list. This is the first time the music festival is to be held in Rotterdam and it is expected to attract a great deal of international interest. Another big event in 2006 is the Volvo Ocean Race. The Veerhaven in the centre of Rotterdam will serve as eighth stopover in this extremely exciting sporting event, which fanatics refer to as the most extreme team sport event in the world.

Rotterdam Welcome Card
Discover just how hospitable the most dynamic city in the Netherlands is. The Rotterdam Welcome Card offers over € 100,- of benefits and discounts at the best attractions, museums, clubs, restaurants, theatres and shops in Rotterdam!

VVV Rotterdam Store
Since 2 January 2006, the VVV (Tourist Information) has had a new shop in Rotterdam. A trendy ambiance and wide range of services make the Store unique. At the VVV Rotterdam Store, the focus is on information and customer-friendliness. There are a number of ‘Internet posts’, so that you can check out everything Rotterdam has to offer. At a comfortable reading table, you can browse through the papers. The wide range of brochures will soon give you a good idea of the many possibilities Rotterdam has to offer.

For more information on Rotterdam, check www.rotterdam.info.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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