<strong>Is this Europe's coolest city?: </strong>The Netherland's second largest city Rotterdam is experiencing a facelift with innovative crowd funding initiatives and striking new architecture -- including this three-year-old market hall. The covered market was designed by architects MVRDV. It was officially opened by Queen Maxima on 1 October 2014.
Is this Europe's coolest city?: The Netherland's second largest city Rotterdam is experiencing a facelift with innovative crowd funding initiatives and striking new architecture -- including this three-year-old market hall. The covered market was designed by architects MVRDV. It was officially opened by Queen Maxima on 1 October 2014.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>The world's biggest artwork: </strong>Spanning over 13,000 square yards on the ceiling of the Markthal, the Horn of Plenty by Arno Coenen is the world's largest artwork. It's a painting depicting fruit tumbling from a summer sky, grazing cows and flowers.
The world's biggest artwork: Spanning over 13,000 square yards on the ceiling of the Markthal, the Horn of Plenty by Arno Coenen is the world's largest artwork. It's a painting depicting fruit tumbling from a summer sky, grazing cows and flowers.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Urban regeneration: </strong>The Fenix Food Factory is a former warehouse now used as a meeting place and market for locally produced food and drink.
Urban regeneration: The Fenix Food Factory is a former warehouse now used as a meeting place and market for locally produced food and drink.
Iris van den Broek/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>The Netherlands's best new cocktail bar: </strong>Stirr was been named the country's best new cocktail bar in the 2016 Esquire awards. Stirr's mixologists are known for creating drinks tailored to any tastes with self-made liqueurs, bitters and syrups.
The Netherlands's best new cocktail bar: Stirr was been named the country's best new cocktail bar in the 2016 Esquire awards. Stirr's mixologists are known for creating drinks tailored to any tastes with self-made liqueurs, bitters and syrups.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Floating architecture: </strong>The innovative Floating Pavilion moored in Rijnhaven is used to host events. There's also plans for a floating farm.
Floating architecture: The innovative Floating Pavilion moored in Rijnhaven is used to host events. There's also plans for a floating farm.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Buzzing street life: </strong>Witte de Withstraat is the heart of Rotterdam's nightlife scene as well as home to a number of galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Buzzing street life: Witte de Withstraat is the heart of Rotterdam's nightlife scene as well as home to a number of galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Iris van den Broek/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Environmentally-savvy residents: </strong>Mark Slegers of Rotterzwam shows a harvest of oyster mushrooms in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Rotterzwam grows mushrooms in used coffee grinds gathered from cafes.
Environmentally-savvy residents: Mark Slegers of Rotterzwam shows a harvest of oyster mushrooms in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Rotterzwam grows mushrooms in used coffee grinds gathered from cafes.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Innovative buildings: </strong>The Witte Huis (in the background), an Art Nouveau-influenced highrise which now hosts a café, was completed in 1898, and is regarded as a proto-skyscraper.
Innovative buildings: The Witte Huis (in the background), an Art Nouveau-influenced highrise which now hosts a café, was completed in 1898, and is regarded as a proto-skyscraper.
Jan Bijl/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Innovative buildings: </strong>The World Port Center (the building on the left), designed by Foster + Partners, is one of the city's most celebrated skyscrapers.
Innovative buildings: The World Port Center (the building on the left), designed by Foster + Partners, is one of the city's most celebrated skyscrapers.
500Watt/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Citizens shaping urban change: </strong>Rotterdam has enlisted its citizens to help change the city in recent years. The Luchtsingel, a 390-meter-long wooden bridge, in Rotterdam is one of the crowd funded projects aiming to bring new life to a once rundown part of the city.
Citizens shaping urban change: Rotterdam has enlisted its citizens to help change the city in recent years. The Luchtsingel, a 390-meter-long wooden bridge, in Rotterdam is one of the crowd funded projects aiming to bring new life to a once rundown part of the city.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Museums galore: </strong>Het Nieuwe Instituut, one of the museums on the leafy Museum Park, is the place to go for design-related exhibitions, and hosts the Dutch state archive on architecture. The building also houses a library and a cafe.
Museums galore: Het Nieuwe Instituut, one of the museums on the leafy Museum Park, is the place to go for design-related exhibitions, and hosts the Dutch state archive on architecture. The building also houses a library and a cafe.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Functionalist architecture: </strong>Van Nelle Factory, designed by the functionalist architects Johannes Brinkmann and Leendert can der Vlugt, is a UNESCO-inscribed world heritage site.
Functionalist architecture: Van Nelle Factory, designed by the functionalist architects Johannes Brinkmann and Leendert can der Vlugt, is a UNESCO-inscribed world heritage site.
Rob Niemantsverdriet/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Rotterdam has a Cool District: </strong>The Cool District of Rotterdam is peppered with high street stores and restaurants. There are plans to make the boulevard that runs in front of Rotterdam's city hall even more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.
Rotterdam has a Cool District: The Cool District of Rotterdam is peppered with high street stores and restaurants. There are plans to make the boulevard that runs in front of Rotterdam's city hall even more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly.
Claire Droppert/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>International outdoor artworks: </strong>A sculpture outside of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The building houses an art and design collection that includes Dutch masters and works by Dali and Van Gogh.
International outdoor artworks: A sculpture outside of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The building houses an art and design collection that includes Dutch masters and works by Dali and Van Gogh.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>International outdoor artworks: </strong>After being loaned for display in Wuppertal, Germany, Auguste Rodin's "L'homme qui marche", a headless, armless sculpture of a walking man, returns to Rotterdam in March 2017.
International outdoor artworks: After being loaned for display in Wuppertal, Germany, Auguste Rodin's "L'homme qui marche", a headless, armless sculpture of a walking man, returns to Rotterdam in March 2017.
Iris van den Broek/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>City-grown vegetables: </strong>Uit Je Eigen Stad is a urban farm area regenerated from a former dockland in the city's suburb. Produce harvested at the farm is consumed in the city.
City-grown vegetables: Uit Je Eigen Stad is a urban farm area regenerated from a former dockland in the city's suburb. Produce harvested at the farm is consumed in the city.
Stuart Forster