Rotterdam architecture: Mostly Modern
Rotterdam is one of the major cultural centers of Netherlands and architecture features among the major aspects of Rotterdam culture. The architecture of Rotterdam has undergone a significant change during the early decades of the 20th century. Alongside the old buildings and structures, a large number of modern edifices began to be established.
Much of Rotterdam's old structures suffered damage and destruction during the Second World War. The post war period depicted further change in architectural patterns of Rotterdam as more and more modern buildings and structures were built. Old architectural designs were replaced by modern 20th century architectural styles.
Fine Examples
Today, Rotterdam architecture is dominated by cube houses, high rises, modern structures and some of the tallest buildings of Europe. Modern structures and 20th century buildings in Rotterdam are concentrated near the city center. Examples of these include the Cube houses, Kunsthal, Erasmus Bridge, Groothandelsgebouw and the Luxor Theater. Among the old buildings are Huis Sonneveld and Van Nelle Factory.
Other examples of architecture in Rotterdam include the following:
- Museum Het Schielandshuis (history museum)
- Witte Huis (White House of Rotterdam, built in 1898. The tallest office building in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Survived bombings during the World War II)
- Euromast Tower (328 foot observation tower)
- Museum De Dubbelde Palmboom ( art gallery)
- Kijk-Kubus ( museum house)
- World Port Center
- Toren OP Zuid
With a number of modern styles and patterns, the architecture of Rotterdam holds a significant position in the architectural heritage of Netherlands.
