Travel

ROTTERDAM RENAISSANCE

By Fused · On February 26, 2016

ROTTERDAM RENAISSANCE

Rotterdam’s renaissance is being celebrated this year as a city of change paying tribute to 75 years of post-war reconstruction. Emerging from the devastation of WWII the city has put architecture at its fore for the past 75 years rebuilding slowly to become a fine and modest metropolis boasting Michelin starred restaurants with plentiful culinary offers, a host of new buildings to be proud of, an ever-growing art scene and a wealth of inspired festivals and events.

Its near-neighbour (just 50 minutes on the train) Amsterdam may take most of the tourism but Rotterdam. renaissance is ready to steal the in-the-know, fashion loving, art exploring, hip-finding individuals that are looking for something a bit different from their city break. OK granted it isn’t as pretty but there are plenty of gems in Netherland’s second city that makes it a very exciting prospect to explore.

Here’s our reasons (and there are plenty) to make Rotterdam one of your must-visit cities.

ART & CULTURE

Theres an explosion of great events and gallery exhibitions to keep any art lover happy when visiting Rotterdam.

ART ROTTERDAM
Mid-February is the annual Art Rotterdam week where galleries (mainly European) take up residency in the city’s recently awarded UNESCO status Van Nellefabriek building. Designed and built in the 1920s, the Van Nellefabriek demonstrates an extremely accomplished industrial architecture of complex factory design and transportation infrastructure – and the perfect setting for this buyers event. With a mix of established and emerging galleries the large halls are carved up to include ‘Projections’ (video installations with notable work from Liz Magic Laser with ‘The Though Leader, 2015) and ‘Prospects & Concepts’ (new artists).

During the week a number of other events take place including Object; a contemporary design fair which takes place aboard the beautifully restored SS Rotterdam cruise liner. The Cruise Terminal at Wilhelminakade is taken over by the alternative Rotterdam Contemporary Art Fair which host 73 stands of art offerings across mediums.

KUNSTHAL
Kunsthal Rotterdam hosts a diverse program of exhibitions throughout its seven halls. As a piece of architecture it is a stand out space: Designed by dutch architect Rem Koolhaas visitors are sent up and down a set of slopes to navigate the building both inside and out (the building is on stilts to avoid flooding). Once inside exhibitions can take you from Soviet Design of the 20th Century through to fashion textiles and photography.

HEAD LIGHTS expo
Head Lights takes to the streets using seven of the city’s iconic buildings as its backdrop to light up their facades with faces. Using projections, lasers and animation the outdoor expo is part of a series of cultural Rotterdam Celebrates the City events marking the 75th anniversary of post-war reconstruction. Walking and cycling tours will be available for visitors to hear stories about the history.

MUSEUM BOIJMANS VAN BEUNINGEN
In the heart of the city Museum Boijmans combines its permanent collection with a number of temporary exhibitions and interventions. This season sees works by artists as diverse as Ugo Rondinone and Mike Nelson.

Rondinone’s ‘Vocabulary of Solitude‘ sees an installation of new and existing works that cover the colour spectrum and include 45 life-size passive clowns displayed in various positions. Each clown is named after an every-day activity: dream, sleep, yawn, read – and aim to show a person’s solitary day at home.

Mike Nelson was invited to respond to the museum’s Willem van der Vorm Gallery for their Sensory Spaces series of solo exhibitions. Nelson presents ‘Amnesiac Shrine’, an installation made up of a set of successive artworks where visitors enter a white wall maze to find small spaces to peer, finding another world within.

The museum also hosts a permanent collection of world-class masterpieces including works by Bosch, Bruegel, Van Eyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Magritte and Dalí.

BOBBING FOREST
Artist Jorge Bakker introduces ‘Bobbing Trees (from 16 March): Twenty floating buoys bearing trees weighing 10,000 kg each will be launched and floating upright in the Rijnhaven. The artwork draws attention to climate change, health in urban areas and raises public awareness of the importance of nature.

FOOD & DRINK

Don’t think that Amsterdam has it all sewn up with the dark, cosy bars – Rotterdam has its fair share too. Along Witte de Withstraat there are plenty of little bars to choose from. De Witte Aap (The White Ape) is a cosy, dark corner bar with a fine selection of Dutch and Belgian beers and its neighbours do a mean business in Bitterballen snacks.

New openings include NY Basement at the stunning New York Hotel. With a roaring 1920’s atmosphere the team serve up cocktails and a limited but gloriously tasty menu that includes striploin steaks and jumbo shrimp. If the menu is too limited then Hotel New York’s main restaurant is seafood-lover heaven.

Thoms serves up no-nonsense cuisine including high quality 100% Black Angus beef using a charcoal kiln that creates a unique smoky flavor. Everything is homemade with a focus on pure flavors and great food. The limited seasonal menu packs a punch offering a range of taste and a must for meat lovers.

If you can’t decide what to eat then a trip to the new Markthal will help with that. The vast covered market offers numerous culinary choices to sit and eat whilst watching shoppers pick up their groceries. From freshly made Sushi and tapas to gourmet burgers and fish & chips the stalls open 7 days a week but get incredibly busy over the weekend.

ARCHITECTURE

2016 sees Rotterdam celebrate its architecture with a showcase of what has been built over its reconstruction. The city’s mix of styles and designs offers much for visitors to explore from the entry point at the city’s new Centraal Station to the colossal vertical city, De Rotterdam by Rem Koolhass that dominates the skyline. The unique shape and design on the new Markthal, part market / part living space, and the iconic Pencil Tower and Cube Buildings of the 70s.

The International Architecture Biennale Rotterdam lands on 23 April-10 July 2016 and visitors are being encouraged to literally immerse themselves with a unique hotel concept. ‘Wake up in Architecture’ invites people to stay at the homes or studios of Dutch architects during the Biennale. The list of participating architects includes well-known names such as Francine Houben (Mecanoo, building of Birmingham’s Library) and Robert Winkel (Mei architects and planners).

The ‘Rotterdamse Dakendagen’ (Rotterdam Rooftop Days), (10 to 12 June 2016), are part of the Rotterdam Architecture Month. Discover Rotterdam from over 40 rooftops and enjoy a host of activities, including Friday socials, concerts, silent disco nights, sports activities and a special children’s programme.

PLACES TO STAY

For diversity of hotel stays Rotterdam punches well above its weight with a choice of hotels to keep the nostalgia lover, modernist or luxury seeker more than happy.

As well as a base for the annual Object Contemporary Design Fair the SS Rotterdam is also an active hotel. The cruise liner now stays anchored in the city and welcomes visitors to stay in a cabin, enjoy cocktails in the bar (pictured above), and dine in its 1960’s splendour. Beautifully renovated it has been enjoying static passengers since 2010. Room from approx £65 per night.

For those wanting a more modern, contemporary, minimalist setting then nHow, situated in the vertical city of De Rotterdam, offers views of the city, a central location and a truly international clientele. The rooms are stylish and low-lit but with floor-to-ceiling windows you can choose sunset or sunrise rooms depending on your preference. The cocktail bar / restaurant is great for an after-hours drink and as breakfast is rather thoughtfully served until noon at weekends your lazy lie-in won’t mean missing out. Room from approx £70 per night.

For a touch of pure class our choice is Hotel New York – with one of the best seafood restaurants we’ve eaten in this hotel is always buzzing. The original home to the Holland America Line the rooms include many original features that become focal points of its 72 unique rooms. Even if you are not staying here it is worth a visit for the NY Basement Bar, the hotel restaurant or just to enjoy a drink in the vibrant surroundings. Room from approx £130 per night.