Erasmus Bridge crosses the Nieuwe Mass River. This combination cable-stayed and bascule bridge was completed in 1996. The modern bridge was named after Desiderius Erasmus, a Renaissance humanist and Catholic priest. Erasmus was born in Rotterdam in 1446 and is considered one of the greatest scholars of the northern Renaissance.

Erasmus Bridge is Rotterdam's most iconic landmark and is featured in the city's logo. The bridge is 802 meters (2,631 feet) long. The cable-stayed portion has a 139-meter (456-foot) asymmetrical bent pylon with an eye-catching horizontal base. This striking feature has earned it "The Swan" nickname.

The south portion of the bridge has an 89-meter (292-foot) long bascule bridge to allow large ships to pass under the bridge.

The bridge has been featured in films and events. It was in Jackie Chan's 1998 film Who Am I?. Several planes dramatically flew under the bridge during the 2005 Red Bull Air Race.

The White House (Witte Huis) stands as a historic architectural marvel in Rotterdam. Erected in 1898, this edifice is a testament to the Art Nouveau style and holds the distinction of being a National Heritage Site. Rising to a height of 43 meters (141 feet) with an impressive 10 floors, it holds the distinction of being Europe's inaugural high-rise building. Recognized as a National Monument, its design was orchestrated by the visionary architect Willem Molenbroek.

This pioneering 10-story structure defied norms of its time, boasting an unprecedented elevation in Europe. Its location at Wijnhaven 3, merely 1 meter above sea level, raised doubts about the soft Rotterdam soil's ability to bear its weight. Addressing these concerns, 1000 piles were meticulously driven into the ground prior to commencing construction, ensuring the building's stability. Fabricated from a blend of iron, steel, and concrete, the White House incorporates two robust interior walls that enhance its structural integrity.

Notably, unlike contemporary buildings, the architects refrained from employing wood extensively due to fire-related apprehensions. The White House emerged as one of the rare structures in central Rotterdam to withstand the ravages of World War II's German bombing campaigns.

In the virtual realm, the White House assumes a role in the video game Battlefield V. Specifically, it becomes a pivotal element during the Battle of Rotterdam, a crucial chapter within the broader Battle of the Netherlands in May 1940. Within the game, the White House takes center stage on the "Rotterdam" map, set just prior to the catastrophic Rotterdam Blitz.

Why You Should Visit:
Way more impressive in reality than in the photos, and worth the stop to have a drink while appreciating the little channel & old boat-houses around.
Great for photographs – especially taken from across the Old Harbour, for a reflection in the water.

Tip:
You can also sit and enjoy the view of Witte Huis at one of the several nice cafés out front in the Old Harbour.

Few buildings capture Rotterdam’s spirit of creativity quite like the Cube Houses, the city’s most playful architectural experiment. Designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom, these yellow cubes seem to balance on their tips, tilted 45 degrees as if defying gravity. Blom’s goal was to create an “urban forest”, where each cube represents a tree and together they form a sculptural canopy above the streets below.

Built in the 1980s as part of a larger urban renewal project, the Cube Houses were conceived in collaboration with city planners who wanted to bring life and imagination back to Rotterdam. Each Cube House rises three stories high. The lower level contains a kitchen and living room, the middle floor holds two bedrooms and a bathroom, and the top level often serves as a small garden, workspace, or viewing area.

The complex also functions as a pedestrian bridge across a busy intersection, maintaining a car-free environment. Around the cubes, visitors will find a lively community of cafés, restaurants, small offices, studios, and even a playground.

Those curious about what life is like inside one of these tilted wonders can visit the Show Cube Museum, which offers a peek into their design and history. And for the truly adventurous, a few of the cubes have been converted into overnight accommodations—perfect for anyone eager to experience Rotterdam from a slightly different angle.

The Market Hall is a multi-use complex that combines apartments, offices, retail spaces, and one of Rotterdam’s most popular markets, all under a single monumental arch. Opened in 2014, the building is celebrated for its dramatic horseshoe-shaped arch and its massive glass facades composed of smaller window panels. A 34-metre high steel cable structure supports these glass walls, making it Europe’s largest cable-supported glass façade. Beneath it lies an extensive underground parking garage that adds to its functional design.

Inside, visitors are greeted by a space of vivid artwork covering the interior arch. Created by Dutch artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, Horn of Plenty depicts giant fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers, and insects in dazzling colour. The digital artwork was so enormous that the artists had to borrow computing power from Pixar Studios. This spectacular mural has earned the Market Hall nicknames such as “The Largest Artwork in the World” and “The Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam”.

During the building’s construction, archaeologists unearthed the remains of a 10th-century farmstead, including a house with two stoves and several fireplaces. A small exhibition beside the central staircases displays these finds, offering visitors a glimpse of Rotterdam’s early settlement history.

Today, the Market Hall stands as the largest indoor market in the Netherlands. It hosts more than 100 produce stalls, 15 food shops, and eight restaurants. Shoppers can browse local cheeses, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, poultry, flowers, and plants. For those eager to sample their purchases, plenty of indoor seating areas are available—making the Market Hall both a culinary destination and a modern architectural icon.

The Destroyed City is a bronze memorial sculpture in Rotterdam. It commemorates the German bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940, which destroyed the medieval center of the city. Unveiled in 1953, it was designated as a Dutch National Monument in 2010. It is the largest sculpture by the Russian-born French sculptor Ossip Zadkine, his best-known work.

The 6.5 meters (21 feet) tall sculpture portrays a human figure by a tree stump. The figure raises its hands, head thrown back as if crying in grief, with a hole in its chest. This absence of a heart symbolizes Rotterdam's center destruction. Zadkine called it "A cry against tyranny's brutality". It's likened to Picasso's Guernica art. The sculpture stands on a 2 meters (6.5 feet) high granite plinth.

Created from 1951-1953 in Paris by Susse Frères foundry, the bronze sculpture was a gift to the city with its location chosen by Zadkine. The donor's identity was revealed in 1978. The modern piece sparked controversy, notably with Jan Tillema, Rotterdam's Director of Public Works, branding it a "demonic scourge." Despite objections, the gift was accepted, and Tillema designed the plinth. The statue's installation, including the plinth, incurred a cost of 24,500 guilders.

On May 15, 1953, Gerard van Walsum, the mayor of Rotterdam, unveiled it on Plein 1940, where it remains by the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. It was shifted 60 meters (200 feet) in 1975 and restored in 2007 after temporary removal for construction in 2005.

Witte de Withstraat Street, spanning approximately 320 meters, was named after Witte Cornelisz de With, a 17th-century Dutch naval officer. During the 1990s, its transformation into an "Art Axis" — a designated cultural and artistic district linking the Park Museum and the Maritime Museum — helped reshape its identity as one of the city’s cultural and nightlife centres.

Here, you'll find Rotterdam Bazar, a lively restaurant offering international dishes; Vivu, which serves delicious Vietnamese cuisine; and Oliva, known for its Italian fare. For a casual bite, Bagel Bakery is the perfect stop for a bagel and a quick coffee. The highly regarded burger spot Ter Marsch & Co serves some of the Netherlands’ best hamburgers. For a different vibe, the Nieuw Rotterdams Café, housed in a grand former newspaper building, offers a stylish setting for cocktails or dinner.

The shopping scene is as diverse as the food offerings. You'll discover independent boutiques like Betsy Palmer, a well-known shoe shop, and RSI The Attraction, which specializes in adventure gear such as skateboards, snowboards, and kites.

Artists and gallery-goers will feel right at home here, too. Kunstinstituut Melly hosts international exhibitions and educational programs. Other galleries in the area include Ecce Gallery and van Eijk Gallery, which features modern art, ceramics, and sculpture. Around the side streets, you’ll also encounter murals and street-art installations.

In earlier decades, the street had a rougher reputation, once home to less savory cafés and illegal gambling houses in the 1970s. However, its revival has helped shape Witte de Withstraat Street into a hub for art, design, and nightlife energy.