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Bookmark & shareUtopian style and a postmodern attitude shape this bustling shipping nexus.
The Netherlands' second-largest city, Europe's busiest port and a showcase for modern architecture, Rotterdam is far more than Amsterdam's smaller cousin. The nightlife is good, the cultural mix gives it a spark and there are some excellent museums.
You won't find the classic Dutch medieval centre in Rotterdam - it was swept away along with the other rubble and detritus of WWII. In its place is an architectural aesthetic that's unique in Europe, a progressive perpetual-motion approach to construction that's clearly a result of the city's postwar, 'anything goes' philosophy.
It has a crackling energy, with superb nightlife, a multicultural community, a gritty arts scene, a clutch of excellent museums as well as a long-standing rivalry with Amsterdam, reflected in most aspects of culture. When local football team, Feyenoord, meets Ajax of Amsterdam, the fur always flies.
Fast Facts
Population
605,000
Currency
Name: Euro
Code: EUR
Symbol: €
Electrical Plugs
220-240V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Dutch, Frisian
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +1
Country Dialing Code
+31
Weights & Measures
Metric
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