NO NEED explaining Rotterdam when when you see the city and its modern sky line. It does not resemble any other Dutch municipality, although it has typical Dutch features.
The Old Harbour, for example, in the city centre still reminds ofbygone days. Centuries ago, daring navigators set off fromthis Rotterdam harbour, and the folk back home soon became accustomed to visitors from other countries streaming to theircity. Today, out of the about 600,000 people living inRotterdam, over 250,000 come from many countries abroad. Rotterdam has welcomed them willingly.

Besides their hospitality, Rotterdammers have a reputation for actually doing the job at hand. When their city was bombed in 1940, they responded by erecting some of the most inventive and exciting architecture the country has to offer.

Rotterdam never fails to surprise. The historical boats in the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) are moored against the backdrop of the so-called "cube houses"; quaint, box shaped apartments, balancing on one corner atop concrete stalks. They are just a couple of examples of daring architecture, which is not only found on the right bank of the river Meuse, but also on the left bank on the so-called Kop van Zuid. The London based architect Sir Norman Forster made the Master plan for this large urban project.
The historic district of Delfshaven is quite a different aspect of Rotterdam. The 17th-century warehouses now make restaurants and boutiques. The Pilgrim Fathers began their journey in Delfshaven and spent the night before they left in the church, which is still there. The Rotterdam port stretches from the very heart of the city to the port mouth, 25 miles away. This means that ships have unhindered access to the North Sea.Shipping companies are pleased to know that there are no time wasting locks or bridges in the way. Such easy accessibility for deep draft container ships, bulk carriers and ocean liners makes Rotterdam the gateway to Europe.