ART ROTTERDAM: A HIVE OF CULTURE

Early February sees the Dutch port city of Rotterdam turn in to a hive of culture. The art set were in full force to take in a vibrant mix of contemporary arts, design, an art fair, installations, pop-ups and exhibitions. Venues open their doors to showcase the latest works from across the globe.

The wind and rain didn’t deter the art lovers flocking to get a hit of the annual fair. Multi coloured scarves, quirky spectacle frames and ‘interesting’ facial hair could only mean one thing; it’s Art Rotterdam week.

Kunsthal

KUNSTHAL
The winter season at the recemtly refurbed Kunsthal is a varied mix of genres, styles and approaches. Split over 7 galleries you’ll see street style photography from Dutch photographer Martijn van de Griendt, fashion and fabrics from the iconic designs of Marimekko, and an exhibition of the Second World War in 100 objects.
The centerpiece exhibition is SHOES; an extensive collection of women’s footwear from 1900 to the present. Shoes that are decorative, bejeweled, customised, one-offs and seemingly unwalkable are on display. Over 500 shoes battle for visitors’ attention including  creations from masters of the heel Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin to ‘star’ pieces including styles from Roger Vivier – inventor of the stiletto.

OBJECT
Giving designer makers the opportunity to showcase their works Object has taken over new apartments in the already iconic ‘De Rotterdam’ building (designed by Rotterdam-based architect Rem Koolhaas) at Wilhelmina Pier. Curator Anne van der Zwaag and the team chose works by designers to place in situ; mocking up rooms in the yet-to-be inhabited spaces.
The exhibition centerpiece is a bespoke installation by Dutch artist Krijn de Koning who painted a floor piece direct on to raw concrete in the multi-Million euro penthouse apartment on the 44th Floor.  Unfortunately as a commission the piece had to fight with the view of the city from the spectacular vista that presented itself from the space.

ART ROTTERDAM
Galleries from across Europe were in attendance to showcase works at the 15th Edition of the event. The fair has a stellar reputation with previously little known artists now selling for hundreds of thousands thanks to exposure there.
Housed in the magnificent post WWI Van Nellefabriek building (it used to be used as a coffee and tobacco factory) the event sprawled throughout the ground floor to host 114 galleries.
Alongside the more ‘conventional’ gallery section Art Rotterdam included a large space for ‘Projections’; a space for video presentations.
92 young artists were presented in the Prospects & Concepts gallery while more affordable works by up-and-coming artists were available in the ‘We Like Art’ gallery.

MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN
A spectacular museum to display works of art visitors are treated to wide, airy white-walled galleries and a labyrinth of small, intimate spaces. With an international collection from 1400 to the present, spanning the art spectrum, it is a unique space within the Netherlands. Hosting a calendar of events the current exhibition: ‘Brancusi, Rosso, Man Ray – Framing Sculpture, takes the works of these three influential artists’ sculptures and places them with photography. The stunningly presented exhibition showcases a group of forty sculptures and more than sixty photographs that the artists took of their sculptures affording a unique insight into their artistic practice.

WHERE TO EAT

HOTEL NEW YORK
You’d be mistaken for thinking it was peak time on a Saturday night rather than a wet and windy evening inside this Rotterdam institution. You’ll certainly require a reservation to eat here (even though it can serve 400 guests) and if you’re New Years resolution was to cut back on the carbs then forget it. Whether it’s a substantial seafood platter to share or a portion of Seawolf (quite possibly the ugliest of sea creatures) then it comes with potato; mashed, fried and baked.
The hotel restaurant is renowned for its seafood and Oyster Bar which you can smell it as soon as you walk through the entrance. The atmosphere is bustling and not unlike how you would imagine it to be as its former home of the head office of the Holland America Line departure hall.
The hotel is also home to Europe’s’ most renowned barber shop (http://newyorkbarbershop.nl/) having recently won the Best International Barbershop of the year award (October 2013). A place where gents can enjoy a Jack and Coke while having an Italian shave inside the vintage interior boutique.

Rodin

RODIN
Situated a few meters from the hip Witte de Withstraat area the friendly and relaxed restaurant serves up a perfectly select menu of well thought out dishes. Touching on the experimental (goats cheese creme brûlée) and serving up tradition (Dutch beef with a red wine sauce and superb jenga block fries) Rodin is a great destination to start your night.
Freshly prepped organic food with seasonal shifts to the menu means you’ll never get bored eating here.

WHERE TO STAY

NHOW HOTEL
Floor to ceiling glass means light floods through the rooms at the new 23 floor nhow. The large rooms give extensive views over the city and because it is so flat you can see far in to the distance.
A large free standing mirror dominates the room which also doubles as a TV while a glass cube in the corner contains the (very open) shower and bathroom.
Concrete has been left uncovered in the public spaces. Raw edges are covered with industrial materials and neon lighting adds colour and signage throughout the hotel.
Part of the new ‘De Rotterdam’ building it strikes a bold presence on the city’s skyline and as it’s brand spanking new there are a few edges to iron-out but for this area the hotel brings a much needed injection of eating and drinking establishments with a lively after-hours bar.

Now is definitely the year to visit the city with some of the biggest names in travel publishing (The New York Times and Rough Guides) putting Rotterdam in their top tens of places to go to this year. And if that isn’t enough Design Hotels announces it’s first member  (Mainport) in the city too.

Nhow

HOW TO GET THERE
We traveled to Rotterdam via Amsterdam on KLM Airlines from Birmingham International Airport.
The flight takes under 1 hour and the frequent trains from Schiphol to Rotterdam take under 30 minutes (on the fast train you’ll pay a small surcharge).
Parking at Birmingham Airport can be found here (http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/car-parking.aspx).
For a super-fast check in purchase the ‘Express Lane’ pass (http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/useful-information/facilities2/express-lane.aspx) for just £3 per person. With a separate security lane allowing passengers to pass more quickly through security you’ll be through to the departure lounge in a few minutes.

For more information on Rotterdam, where to go, things to see, shopping and art visit: rotterdam.info