Rotterdam Modern Architecture
Ideal: Ideal for modern architecture, urban design, photography, and a different Netherlands beyond Amsterdam.
The city center was destroyed in a single afternoon bombardment on 14 May 1940; Rotterdam chose to rebuild modern from scratch rather than imitate the old and became the Netherlands' most experimental architecture lab. Piet Blom's 1984 Cube Houses are 38 cubes tilted 45 degrees — one is open to visitors and shows what life is like on slanted walls. The 2014 Markthal's arch is covered by an 11,000 m² fruit-and-vegetable mural. The swan-like Erasmus Bridge opened in 1996.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1984
- Architect
- Piet Blom
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why does Rotterdam look so modern?
The city centre was almost entirely destroyed by bombing in 1940. Unlike other Dutch cities, Rotterdam chose to rebuild from scratch with contemporary architecture rather than recreate its historic fabric.
What is it like to live in the cube houses?
Piet Blom's 1984 houses are tilted 45 degrees; no wall is vertical, so standard furniture does not fit and a lot of floor area is unusable. One cube is open to visitors as a show house.
Why was the Markthal built in that shape?
EU food regulations required fresh-produce stalls to be enclosed. The solution was to build apartments over the market in an arch, with an 11,000 m² artwork covering the whole inner surface.
Why go?
- To see the Netherlands' modern, innovative urban architecture
- For a different route with Cube Houses, the port, and contemporary buildings
- To experience a more dynamic modern city atmosphere outside Amsterdam
Travel tip
Mix walking with tram/metro — architectural highlights are spread across the city.
