what a fantastic way to see Rotterdam which I found to be even more interesting having been on a…read moretour with Rotterdam ByCycle - we had a brilliant tour leader by the name of Iris - she was fantastic and really gave us such a great introduction to Rotterdam and it's architecture, and much much more - a fabulous way to learn more about this great place and a really nice way to spend a few hours! Try it - you'll be so pleased you did!!

Stadhuis Rotterdam is the Town Hall of Rotterdam, the building is a historic landmark of the city,…read moreas one of the few buildings to survive the bombings during World War Two, with the Clock Tower being an iconic point of Coolsingel. It is recognised as a Rijksmonument in The Netherlands. Stadhuis was built between 1914 and 1920 with the foundation being laid in the company of Queen Wilhelmina. The mix of the greenery at the back and the grand architecture is a stunning mix, the interior also reminds me of the Houses of Parliament of London, with the huge grand halls fit for royalty. It does close at 5 pm, which I think is a little early, especially during the summer months. Early Birds will be pleased to know they open from 8:30 in the morning. 4* - A stunning grand building and a remarkable Town Hall for one of my favouite cities in Europe. It is well worth a visit just to see the contrast between old and new, especially with so few remaining of the former in the city due to tragedies related to the war.

Is it a happy Santa Claus holding a bell and a Christmas tree or is it a naughty Santa holding…read moresomething unmentionable?? Interesting to visit this Santa Claus by Paul McCarthy with our tour guide Nidas from Free Walking Tour Rotterdam. Had I just walked by this oversized Santa, might not have known how controversial this giant statue has been. Once the inspiration was revealed, the statue was rejected by many local businesses and it was moved from location to location. Read the other reviews to learn more about what Santa holds in his right hand. Maybe that's why he is smiling??

The Low Countries seems to house their fair share of interesting statues…read more.. The city of Rotterdam commissioned sculptor Paul McCarthy (not the Beatles member) to create a piece of public art for a square near the orchestra building. Created in 2001, the sculpture is supposed to depict Santa Claus holding a bell in one hand and a Christmas tree in the other. The locals, or rather, anyone with an imagination, thought otherwise. Reception was obviously mixed, with some finding it offensive while other people thought it symbolized Western consumerism around Christmastime gone wrong. It was eventually rejected from its original site due to the controversy and for several years moved about the city until it found a permanent place in the Eendrachtsplein. The statue was only a 15 minute walk from Rotterdam Centraal station so I visited the statue on my way back to the station. If the city can design a food hall with a mural of fruits in the ceiling and cube houses as residential spaces, surely it has room for one more unusual object?

The Erasmus Bridge is a beautiful cable-stayed and bascule bridge. The bridge is named after the…read morephilosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam. The bridge is asymmetrical. The light blue cable stayed section leans back which makes it look like a swan, hence the nickname "The Swan." The other span has a 292 foot bascule bridge. It is the largest panel of its type in the world, which makes sense as Rotterdam is one of the busiest ports in the world. The traffic back and forth under the bridge was mesmerizing. Beautiful to see from so many angles especially as we left the Port of Rotterdam.

The Erasmusbrug, also known as "The Swan," is a combined cable-stayed and bascule bridge. Completed…read morein 1996, this bridge connects the city's northern and southern districts, offering stunning views. It was a must to walk across.

The Willemsbrug (Williams Bridge) is a bridge near the Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge) in Rotterdam…read more It is painted a bright red which sharply contrasts the light blue painted Erasmus Bridge. The Willemsbrug is a cable-stayed bridge. Be careful as there are bike lanes and car lanes as well as pedestrian lanes. The river views from the bridge are beautiful.