In this small pub you can find all kinds of people, a reason for me to go there. The vibe is just really nice, even though it can be very crowded inside. This pub is open till late, so you might see the sun come up when you were just going to have one drink!

Since smoking isn’t allowed inside anymore, De Witte Aap has built a permanent terrace with heaters on the pavement right in front of the pub. A very smart thing to do I think. Smokers happy, the pub is extended and it always looks as if there are lots of people there.

Every month the pub offers an artist to show his or her art here. So you could come home a bit drunk and an art collector.

The Lonely Planet has voted ‘De Witte Aap’ the best pub in the world in 2010. Lets see what they do the coming years…

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De Witte Aap | Art & culture, Bars | Beer € 2.30
Witte de withstraat 78 | Center | +31104149565
Sun – Thu 13:00 – 04:00, Fri – Sat 13:00 – 05:00

An old and beautiful place right in the centre of Rotterdam holds one part of the Museum Rotterdam. “Het Schielandhuis” has a permanent and just renewed exhibition ‘City of the people of Rotterdam’ on the first floor. Here you’ll be guided through the history of Rotterdam up ’till today.

In the basement there is a restaurant, a museum shop, but also the ‘Atlas van Stolk’. This part of the museum has a great collection of historical drawings of the Rotterdam wood collector Abraham van Stolk. The best of his collections is shown here and changes three times a year. The attic and the ground floor are reserved for all kinds of contemporary exhibitions.

Het Schielandhuis is my favorite museum, not only in Rotterdam but in the whole country. The exhibitions are always very innovative, creative and original. During my uni years I worked here, so as a trusted source I can tell you that the staff here is great.

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Schielandhuis | Art & culture | Entrance adults € 5.00
Korte Hoogstraat 31 | Center | +31102176767
Tue – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

The Netherlands Architecture Institute just reopened after a year of renovations. The museum has great new permanent exhibitions: ‘Dutchville’ where you can experience every side of the city and ’Treasury’ shows about 100 masterpieces from the NAI collection.

From April 20th two exhibitions (Making City and Smart Cities) of the 5th International Architecture Biennalle Rotterdam (IABR) are on show at The NAI, of which one (Making City) is the main exhibition of the IABR.

The NAI expanded with a new cafe, where you can get lunch, a good coffee or stay for something stronger. There’s a big sunny terrace which is great to relax. Coming with kids? They can play, build and create at a space above the Cafe called the ‘Hands-on Deck,’ while you enjoy your beer/wine .

Oh and don’t forget to visit the bookshop!

On the 19th of April the International Architecture Biennalle Rotterdam (IABR) opens at the NAI. From that date on  you can see the exhibitions ‘Making City’ and ‘Smart Cities’.

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NAI | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping | Adults € 8.00
Museumpark 25 | Center | +31104401200
Tue – Sat 10:00 – 17:00

I entered so many times a really large door at Gouvernestraat 2 in the years that Nighttown’s (later known as WATT) office was located there. Not many people know why this door is so hugh, but the 2.37 meters high, 230 kilos weighing and 62 shoe sizing (European size) Rigardus Rijnhout lived here.

He was born in 1922 in Rotterdam. He must have had a terrible life cause of his size and all the complications that came with it. Rigardus died at the age of 36. 

We know Rigaldus as “De Reus van Rotterdam” (The Giant of Rotterdam). On June 6th 2011 a life-size bronze statue of Rigardus Rijnhout by artist Herman Lamers was unveiled in the parc next to his old house. Parc West Kruiskade 26. Now it’s the place where people go to get themselves a picture with The Giant of Rotterdam. It will make you feel small!

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The Giant of Rotterdam | Art & culture
Parc next door West Kruiskade 26 | Center
Various

Sculpture International Rotterdam takes care of the art in the public space. Look around if you come from Central Station and walk towards the centre, cross West Kruiskade towards the Westersingel. Along this canal (find the art piece in the canal too!) which is partly a promenade, you will find sculptures from famous artists such as Moore, Rodin and Sapiro amongst many others.

Look for Paul McCarthy’s ‘Santa Claus’ at Eendrachtsplein. For several years it was located at a museum’s courtyard. I guess you can imagine why it offended people in the beginning. Locals call this sculpture Gnome Buttplug.

I don’t like David Bade’s sculpture ‘Anita’ which stands in the middle of West Blaak but I like the amazingly designed skate park. Why not check it out and have a look at the skaters, boarders, bikers look for the shoetree at the Blaak infront of the shop LEFT:).

If you decide to continue your way on the Westersingel towards West Zeedijk. At the corner of Museum park you’ll see a large Picasso sculpture. My favourite sculpture is Guiseppe Penone´s Elevazione, a bronze tree that slowly elevates by nature. Or Cascade by Joep van Lieshout, at the Coolsingel/Blaak infront of the Maritime museum.

A free map is also available via the tourist office!

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Art in the public space | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Westersingel 50 | Center
24 hours daily

Rotterdam used to have a lot of cinemas and most of them slowly disappeared from the surface. Some only to remain by name like Off-Corso or Thalia. Youngsters visit them now and they probably don’t even know what the venues were before the spaces were turned into a club.

The surviving theatres Lantaren Venster (LV) and Cinerama are still the two left standing with an alternative program besides the commercial Pathe.

Whereas LV has a more alternative program (Spanish movies, Italian oldies, gay minded films and retrospectives), Cinerama also show movies with a commercial edge, e.g. the movie hit Slum Dog Millionaire or even Harry Potter.

Cinerama at the WestBlaak upgraded their venue recently so it can hold more movie loving visitors. Some halls have bigger chairs and offer more legroom.

Both have nice cafés to hang around before and after the movie, and frequented by a mixed and interesting crowd.

These locations are also part of the annual International Filmfestival Rotterdam at the end of January and other events or are for rent.

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Cinema Cinerama | Art & culture, Cinemas, Coffee & tea, Relaxing | Ticket € 9.00
WestBlaak 18 | Center | +31104115300
From 12:00 daily

There was a Brazilian atmosphere in Rotterdam August 2010. The whole month was cramped with exhibitions, lectures and what not about the social and cultural life in Brazil.

A left over from that month are the murals which were made by 10 Brazilian graffiti artists for a big Graffiti exhibition called R.U.A. They were invited by Caramundo, a non-profit organisation with projects in Latin America.

The murals are around the city center and for some it can be a challenge to find them. There are now about 7 murals left, the one on the NAi building has been removed and Boomgaardhof 73 made room for an interesting building. I sincerely hope that the rest will remain and be maintained as it gives the city colour and flair to otherwise empty and ugly walls waiting to be vandalized by boring nametags of wanna be graffiti ‘artists’.The weather does have a toll to the murals as some start to look worn out already and chipping off…

One of my favorites is the Guernica inspired mural made by Speto close to central station. Another favorite is the woman on a schoolbuilding almost across this one.Find them all by yourself or with the aid of this map on the Rua website and note the elaborate details on some of the murals..

This is a great way to discover the center of Rotterdam on a first time visit.

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Colourful Murals | Art & culture | Free
Delftsehof | Center
24 hours daily

When people visit Rotterdam, they will automatically visit an area known as the Oude Haven (Old harbour) due to the Cube houses. It’s between Haringvliet and the Wijnhaven.

In a way it’s a shame that a lot of the old Rotterdam was wiped away during WWII and on the other hand we wouldn’t have these contrast-rich areas like these harbours.

The Old harbour is a peek into the past as it’s the oldest harbour in Rotterdam with historic boats. I like the houseboats and the small wharf Koningspoort where people repair their historic boats. Definitely worth a visit.

While the Oude Haven is lined with lots of cafés and terraces, the Haringvliet which dates from 1590 is a more tranquil area.

The Wijnhaven is divided into the past and present. Het Witte Huis (White House), once the highest building in Europe, still stands firmly accompanied with a row of nice old houses. A lot of slim tall buildings with the new Red Apple building dominates this small piece of land on the other side of the Verlengde Willemsbrug. The Red Apple looks crooked and with a reason. The red lines are thinner towards the top as the view gets wider for the happy few. The name has a connection with the past; apples were transported by boat here. There’s still an apple tree near the building. Try and find it for yourself.

There are plans for another tall building with the emphasis on slim and high. Construction work is never ending with an everchanging skyline.

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Cityharbours Oude Haven | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Spaansekade | Center
24 hours daily

Do as the locals do, catch some fresh air and feel the wind through your hair!

Follow the river Nieuwe Maas that separates Rotterdam in North and South. Connected by two bridges, the red Willems bridge and the white Erasmus bridge. I love this river, with it’s high and low tides, big cargo and cruise ships passing by. It gives the city it’s space and energy, like a pulsing artery. Living at the Kop van Zuid makes me like to walk the bridges whilst enjoying a breeze from the river and the ever changing skyline.

Follow my footsteps from North to South and back…

Cross the river via the Willems bridge. Next to this bridge used to be an Iron train bridge. A tunnel for the train replaced this bridge in the mid ’80′s and the only remaining part is the Hef bridge which was saved from demolition to become a monument. Turn right after the Verlengde Koninginne bridge, onto the Stieltjesstraat. Keep following the river, pass Villa Zebra and trendy Suite hotel Pincoff where they serve good coffee.

Pass under the Poortgebouw (Gatebuilding). You reach Laan op Zuid, with the tallest office building of NL, the Maas Tower. For a good view climb the stairs of the white platform. Cross the river via the Erasmus bridge.

Turn right, look out for the miniature train bridge on a pillar with the Willems bridge ahead. If you are in the right position you can imagine how the iron train bridge would have looked like besides it.

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Maas Bridges | Art & culture, Relaxing
Boompjes 750 | Center
Daily

Where I live I’m surrounded by bridges, water and the bustle of ships passing by. It’s called the Noordereiland (Northern island) in the Nieuwe Maasriver and connected by the Willemsbridge and Koninginnebridge.

The name derives from Noorderhaven (harbour) which is now called Koningshaven. When they dug this harbour, the island got separated from former island Feijenoord. This name should ring a bell with football lovers whereas the name is written as Feyenoord.

The island has become an Art project called MS Noordereiland, initiated by artist Joe Cillen who also lives here. The concept is that the island is in fact a motorship ready to take off one day and sail away with all its inhabitants. If you walk around on the island you will see many objects which refers to parts of a ship. We even have our own flag.

When you cross the Willemsbridge to the island, the left part looks new. The right part is more authentic and was spared by the bombing (in this case so called “friendly fire”)during WWII. Have a walk and see the houses on Maaskade 85, 113 and the Hulstkamp building. Try and find all the paintings in ornamented frames on several buildings and other art during an event like Expeditie Noordereiland or at gallery Ben Wind.

Eventhough most of the shops have gone, there are plenty of cafés to rest and wonder where the journey will lead to when the MS Noordereiland really starts moving. Or swim your way around it during Rondje Noordereiland in summer.

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The Noordereiland | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Maaskade | Zuid
24 hours daily