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!!

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.

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?

Miniworld is a nice place to visit with family or friends. We each used our RotterdamPas membership…read moreand so its free admission for us. Otherwise, admission is currently 14.70 Euro per person. You'll get to see miniature models of Rotterdam's landscape, such as the Erasmusbrug bridge, Euromast, Stadhuis (City Hall building), Rotterdam Centraal Station, and etc. You can spend about 30+ minutes here to browse the entire exhibits. They are also constructing a miniature version of Great Britain in the lower level, but it will probably take a few more years to complete. Overall, it's a cool tourist attraction to check out while in Rotterdam. It's also a five minutes walk from Rotterdam Central Station.

One of the most fun things we did in Rotterdam. Admission (~10,0) euros is reasonable, and free…read morelockers once you get your 2 euro coin back. Stepping inside, you are steeped in a vast, complex mini world highlighting Rotterdam and many neighborhoods and smaller local cities to the area. At a scale of 1min. = 1hr., it's really cool to watch the day lighting transition to evening lighting (pinks), and finally end with night. All the little lights in mini world light up, and you feel like you are watching a tiny world exist. Highly recommend!

This is where you go for culture. Not only is it dotted with several museums, but there's also a…read morelovely garden with tons of different paths, fountains, and places to rest and relax.

We bought the museum park for access to all museums in this park cost 27€. For one entry would be…read more14€. Pretty awesome