This large and modern port city has risen phoenixlike from the ashes of World War II. In 1940 the Germans bombed the city to force a fast surrender of the Netherlands. Most demolition was actually done in the process or rebuilding the city to modern standards. Only three large buildings in the center have survived miraculously: the city hall, the St. Laurence church and the White House.

Today Rotterdams the most modern city in the Netherlands, with the high rising towers of company buildings in the center. Some people think it became a playground for architects trying their theories and thus making Rotterdam one giant wind tunnel, but you can really feel things are happening here if you are interested in architecture. However, don't expect this to be the place for a decent night out. Though Rotown has decent, though small acts and is well-known internationally, Nighttown is the place to be for dance and house, and De Doelen is a wonderful venue for classical music, ttheatre is sorely missed. Not even the city theatre and the Luxor theatre can compensate, as the programming there is uninspired and only aimed at the Dutch.

Symbol of Rotterdam is the Euromast Space Tower, 605-ft-/184-m-tall that had to be extended several times to keep its leading position as highest building of the Meuse city. From this tower with its revolving sit-down elevator you have an excellent over the city and the surrounding industrial harbour landscape. The harbour is one of the busiest in the world is a draw in itself and still the largest one if you count by pure volume.

A city like this cant do without Museums. A collection of painting, sculpture and design worth seeing is displayed at the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum. Half a day in Rotterdam is really sufficient for most, but you can also spend several days if you want to see it all. The Dutch institutes of photography and of architecture are located right near the center, and there are lots of galleries. In February theres always the Film festival and every other year theres a photo biennale. The Kunsthal, designed by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas, has changing exhibitions on all sorts of expressions of art and culture.

The people, though claiming to be one of the friendliest of Holland, are actually fairly prejudiced towards foreigners - a fact clearly demonstrated by the 2004 city laws to forbid people from poorer families to settle in the city. This law came to be, when all other recources were depleted to stop poverty from becoming ever more popular. It is therefore no surprise Rotterdam was also the home of the ultra right wing politician Pim Fortuyn, who became the first victim ever of political assassination in The Netherlands when he was killed on May 6th, 2002. There is a statue you can visit, which still regularly has flowers put underneath it.

Do come to Rotterdam - for the architecture, the museums, the music or just some shopping, but buy a return ticket. There is a reason why the average tourist only spend $15 and three hours in town...

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