Relaxing

The Kralingsche bos is a forest on the border of Kralingen and Prins Alexanderpolder and is the biggest in Rotterdam. The trees are formed around a lake: the Kralingsche plas.

To people who jog around this lake say “I did a lap around the plas”. There a two laps, one where you really run along the lake and one where you go around the forest (yet they still call it the “bigger lap around the plas”).

When I skate I go for the bigger lap. When I go for just a walk I take the one next to the lake and then top it off with a visit to “De Tuin van de vier windstreken” (check the Tuin van de Vier Windstreken article). And now that I’ve started running, as of now this is also the place for me to practice for the 10 km!

In summer I come here to sit and have a picnic or BBQ on the side of the lake, joint by lots of people enjoying the nice spring/summer evenings.

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!

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.

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.

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.