Rotterdam sights

White House

The White House on the banks of the Old Harbor in Rotterdam S.J. de waard
One of the must-see sites in Rotterdam is the White House, the most beautiful building in the city, which looks like it came out of a fairy tale book. The structure was built in the late 19th century and was planned to house offices. The instability of the swampy ground on which the White House was built forced its foundations to be built on piles, and some critics were certain that the palace, despite all its splendor, would not last on such a foundation for several years. But the amazing Art Nouveau house endured all the hardships of the war and somehow miraculously survived, surviving to this day in perfect condition.

St. Lawrence Church

St. Lawrence Church is the only medieval building in Rotterdam
The church once belonged to the Protestant congregation, and it's the only building in Rotterdam that survives from the Middle Ages. The church originally bore the name of St. Elizabeth, the patroness of the poor. During World War II, the temple building was substantially destroyed by two bombs, but managed to survive. Restored later, the temple became a cathedral and took the name of the city's patron saint, St. Lawrence. The non-standard approach to the use of the inner space of the shrine is surprising - for example, there is a café, exhibitions are held here, and the flames of candles are replaced by numerous electric lights.

Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum and exhibition of restored ships moored at Hanhil Quay
Rotterdam, as one of the largest port cities in Europe, by definition should have a museum related to the sea. And indeed you do not have to look far to find out what to visit in Rotterdam to learn more about its maritime history. The Maritime Museum is the oldest museum in Rotterdam and one of the top five maritime museums in the world. It has more than half a million valuable exhibits, including models of old ships, construction projects, equipment, nautical atlases, maps, etc.

Boijmans van Beuningen Museum

The history of one of the largest museums in Rotterdam began in the mid-19th century, when the lawyer and collector Boymans bequeathed his art collection to Rotterdam. The museum itself was only founded in the early 19th century and opened its doors to visitors in 1935. Later, the museum's exposition was complemented by the collection of another art lover - the entrepreneur Boehningen. It is these two collections that make up the main core of the museum's exposition. Today, the gallery contains a variety of art objects from the early Middle Ages to the present day.

Delfshaven

The old port district of Delfshaven in Rotterdam
This district is one of the best attractions in Rotterdam and justifiably so, since it still preserves the spirit of pre-war antiquity - most of its buildings survived the military bombing and by some miracle survived. Just by being here, you can imagine how looked like Rotterdam 200-300 years ago. In the antique shops you can buy valuable art, and in the cozy restaurants and pubs - relax and have lunch. You can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the streets of Delphshaven - visit an old brewery, get in touch with antiquity by visiting the deck of the ship Delft, or visit the Church of the Pilgrim Fathers.

Rotterdam city hall

The city hall, which for a century was the seat of the city government, was badly damaged during World War II, and the remnants of the building were eventually restored to its former appearance. In the 90s the town hall building was declared a state monument, it is distinguished by its unusual decor with an abundance of images and sculptures. On the second floor of the Town Hall there is a hall for various magnificent receptions and ceremonies; weddings are often celebrated there.