In the 70s of the 20th century, architects wanted to create hospitable residential areas with the participation of the residents and other users in response to the large-scale and a gray modernism of the architecture of the reconstruction after WWII.

In 2011, the municipality of Rotterdam organized the first city initiative, an administrative instrument to stimulate administrative innovation and citizen participation. The inhabitants of Rotterdam were called upon to submit projects that would bring about the enlivening of the city and improve the quality of life in the city. An amount of 4 million has been set aside from the city initiative to implement the project.

A visit to an tourist information centre that will give you more information about the city and warm welcome by our mayor. Your TourGuy will accompany you through the exhibition.

before the Second World War there was no Central Station, but there were four stations around the center. In 1957, the central station was opened at its current location. In 2004 a total renovation of the central station was started, in 2014 the current end result was delivered. The old station could no longer cope with the passenger influx.

The laurenskerk is the only remnant of the medieval center of Rotterdam. The laurenskerk is a cross between a hall church (all buildings equal in height) and a cruciform basilica (here the side towers are lower than the main tower). The church was built between 1449 and 1525.

The interior façade of the Markthal is covered with an 11,000 m² (two football fields) artwork by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, entitled Hoorn des Overvloeds. This title refers to the Cornucopia, a horn from Greek mythology that symbolizes abundance and saturation. The artwork shows greatly enlarged fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, flowers and insects. In the background you can also see the Laurenskerk with tower.

In the Middle Ages, one of the 10 city gates that Rotterdam had here. In the 30s, the city of Rotterdam grew rapidly and the gate stood in the way, as they wanted a better flow for the increasing traffic. It was decided to move the gate about 100 meters (a demolition of the gate met with a lot of resistance). During the bombardment in the Second World War, the gate was severely damaged, a year after the bombing the gate was demolished, because it could no longer be finished. Some ornamental works from the old gate were saved and incorporated into the walls of the buildings on the corner of the town hall square.

Not much of the historic center has remained intact during the Second World War, but the Oude Haven is fortunately one of those historic places that has been preserved. In the harbor are historic, charming old boats, while on the quays you will find a colourful mix of buildings.

The white house was built in 1889 and with a height of 43 meters the first skyscraper in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Currently, the meent is one of the hotspots in Rotterdam. There are many cafés, eateries and clothing shops. It is also a street where it is a bit about seeing and being seen.