Until the middle of the nineteenth century, Rotterdam was a modest town in the shadow of Dordrecht, Delft and Schiedam. The dam in the river Rotte, from which the city took its name was built around 1270. The railway links with Amsterdam, Utrecht and Antwerp and the opening of Nieuwe Waterweg shipping canal in 1872 were crucial to Rotterdam’s development into a major port city. Thousands of immigrants from the rural hinterland were drawn to the city by the prospect of work.
Nazi bombing during the early stages of the second World War devastated the city. When the rubble was cleared city architects began a reconstruction plan based around traffic, green spaces and high rise housing. In the 1980’s whilst a similar thing was happening in the East London docklands, Rotterdam transformed obsolete industrial and dockland areas into modern residential districts, and the centre of the city shifted towards the banks of the river.
I spent 5 days photographing the Dutch city last year, here are a few of my favourite images:

Wijnhaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Detail of Architecture, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Cube Houses – ‘Blaakse Bos’, Oudehaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Cube Houses – ‘Blaakse Bos’, Oudehaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Red Apple, Wijnhaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Willems Bridge & Nieuwe Maas River, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge and ‘De Rotterdam’, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Red Apple, Wijnhaven ,Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Markthal, Westnieuwland, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Interior of Markthal, Westnieuwland, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Cube Houses – ‘Blaakse Bos’, Oudehaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge and ‘De Rotterdam’, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

‘De Rotterdam’, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

‘De Rotterdam’, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge, Wilhelminakade, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The Luxor Theatre, Kop van Zuid, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Pauluskerk, Kruisplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior detail of Calypso Building, Kruisplein, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Rotterdam Central Station & Delftse Poort, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of W200 Building, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Rotterdam Central Station at dusk, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Delftse Poort at night, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Exterior of Rotterdam Central Station at night, Rotterdam, Netherlands

The White House & Old Harbour at dawn, Wijnhaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Wijnhaven, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam Centraal Station, Rotterdam, Netherlands
That was interesting to read and look at, although just on my phone. Gmail had sent it into a “social ” folder that I had never looked in before and just noticed. Rotterdam looks an attractive and architecturally most interesting city to visit. Lots of most attractive images here that I really like. Weren’t you tempted to pick one to frame for the flat? Good to read some of its history too? M
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Thanks mum, yes its well worth a visit..
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