When I told some of my Dutch friends that I am planning to visit Amsterdam, majority of them told me that I should be visiting Rotterdam instead of Amsterdam. Honestly after going through research, I couldn't really find much interesting things to do on Rotterdam.
[Me in front of the famous The Markthal (Market Hall)] We originally planned to stay in Rotterdam for at least two days but due to the 5pm lockdown, we decided to just focus on Amsterdam. With train it took us one hour plus to arrive to Rotterdam.
Rotterdam Central
Rotterdam Centraal railway station is the main railway station of the city Rotterdam in South Holland, Netherlands. The current station building, located at Station Square, was officially opened in March 2014.
Honestly my first impression of Rotterdam that it almost look like Kuala Lumpur (KL).
Even after taking few train rides, I'm still confused with their card system haha.
Rotterdam City
Rotterdam is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland, at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas channel leading into the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta at the North Sea. Its history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city rights by the Count of Holland. The Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area, with a population of approximately 2.7 million, is the 10th-largest in the European Union and the most populous in the country.
Ok about that Santa statue, I know what you're thinking, because we all thinking the same.
Santa Claus, popularly known as the Buttplug Gnome, is a 2001 statue by Paul McCarthy in the Eendrachtsplein square of Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Officially the work represents Santa Claus holding a Christmas tree in his hands but the artist has implied that it could also represent a buttplug, and that "...For me, the sculpture is also about the consumer community - as a commentary on material consumption in the Western world."
According to my historian friend, the near-complete destruction of the city centre in the World War II Rotterdam Blitz had resulted the Dutch government to demolish the remaining buildings, and building center up new varieties architectural landscape, including skyscrapers which slowly turning Rotterdam in a modern city.
Taco Bell -AND- Five Guys
While I was away in Amsterdam, Malaysians are raving that Taco Bell and Five Guys are FINALLY open in Malaysia. I haven't got the chance to try any of them yet as they both open while I was in self-isolation in preparation for the trip.
Well, I guess my first experience with both of them will be in The Netherland. Although I can't give full verdict since I had only vegetarian options (Malaysia you just wait!).
But Domagoj absolutely in love with Five Guys! He said apart of the cheap type cheese, the burger, the beef patty especially is absolutely amazing! He was really in love!
Cube House
While researching I see everyone said the Cube House is one of the must-visit-place in Rotterdam. Originally we thought of skipping it due to time consuming but we ended up going after all. Domagoj noticed the famous Erasmusbrug (English: "Erasmus Bridge") and planned to visit after the Cube House but we COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT IT!
Cube houses (Dutch: kubuswoningen) are a set of innovative houses built in Helmond and Rotterdam in the Netherlands, designed by architect Piet Blom and based on the concept of "living as an urban roof": high density housing with sufficient space on the ground level, since its main purpose is to optimise the space inside. Blom tilted the cube of a conventional house 45 degrees, and rested it upon a hexagon-shaped pylon. His design represents a village within a city, where each house represents a tree, and all the houses together, a forest. The central idea of the cube houses around the world is mainly optimizing the space, as a house, to a better distribution of the rooms inside.
Rain and snow (and hail?), what else can happened while in The Netherlands? HAHA!
As someone with (mild) claustrophobia, I don't think I can live here ^~^;
I mean it's cute and unique alright, but I don't really feel comfortable haha.
Het Schaakstukkenmuseum (The Chessmen Museum)
An unexpected find during our time at the Cube House is this chess museum!
The Chessmen Museum opened on May 1, 2006. It includes the own collection of founder Ridder Dijkshoorn, supplemented by a collection collected by Mr. MJ Glotzbach. In addition, there is always a changing exhibition.
Over the years, the permanent collection has grown. She has something for everyone: from antique chess games to popular movie characters and from folklore to abstract works of art. An impression of the different chess games
They have from usual. typical style what you can expect for a chess to cartoon types. They even have Domagoj all time favourite character (and game franchise) Sonic.
I must say this is really an amazing accidental find. I can really stay up here all day.
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