Rotterdam

For a splendid day out that the entire family is bound to enjoy, head to Rotterdam’s famous zoo: Diergaarde Blijdorp. The Zoo is situated in the district of Blijdorp, in Rotterdam Noord. Stroll across the African Savannah and stand face-to-face with the giraffes. Walk on the seabed in the indoor Oceanium and meet stingrays and sharks. Discover the Amazon in the largest butterfly paradise of Europe: Amazonica. Experience tropical temperatures, fragrant flowers, hundreds of colourful South American butterflies and greedy piranhas.

You’ll find an indoor market hall in various world-class cities, but the combination with luxury housing makes Rotterdam’s Market Hall (MVRDV & INBO, 2014) the first of its kind. The apartments are arched over the food market in a horseshoe configuration. The main hall houses the market itself, as well as shops, various restaurants including Jamie’s Italian (from Jamie Oliver) and a fourstorey car park situated below. Look up to enjoy the massive artwork sprawled across the ceiling: the ‘Horn of Plenty’ by Arno Coenen en Iris Roskam. Sample the delights at the Markthal. In the first indoor market hall in the Netherlands, you can find nearly 100 fresh produce stalls, about 15 food shops and diverse restaurants including Jamie’s Italian (from Jamie Oliver). If you look up you will see the biggest artwork in the Netherlands, the wall painting the Horn of Plenty.

Rotterdam Central Station (Team CS, 2014) is one of the most iconic architectural sites in Rotterdam. The roof over the tracks is covered in solar panels and the striking hall roof points towards the city centre. A number of historic elements from the former station building (1957) by Sybold van Ravesteyn have been re-used, like the original clock in the front façade and the letters spelling out ‘Centraal Station’. In the main hall you can find several shops, information about public transport and the Rotterdam Tourist Information. If you’re looking for original souvenirs, don’t miss shopping at ‘Love Rotterdam. Gifts, Food & More’. The square in front of the stations is a popular starting point for many walking and biking tours of Rotterdam's architecture.

At 185 metres high, the Euromast is the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands, and should you — against all odds — get bored of the stunning views, you can always seek thrills in the Space Tower attractions situated at the very top of the Euromast. Euroscoop, Rotterdam’s highest panorama elevator with glass floor, gives you a bird's eye view of the city.