The Surprising Charm of Rotterdam

I spent a lot of time shuttling back and forth between Amsterdam and Rotterdam in my quest to get the temporary visa that brought me back to Turkey.

It wasn’t what I wanted to be doing. I had to wake up at 6am to get to Rotterdam in time to go to the Turkish Consulate, and I expected that most of my time there would be spent in a state of stress.

But then I made a discovery.

Rotterdam is actually, in its own way, a very charming city.

It’s not beautiful like Amsterdam. Much of the city was bombed in World War II, so the city doesn’t feel so old-Europe. Instead of recreating the destroyed city in its former image, skyscrapers and modern buildings were constructed. The city is as bike-friendly as Amsterdam, the people are as kind. Instead of canals, the city is situated on the largest port in Europe.

Rotterdam is filled with exceptional cafes and museums. I spent half a day exploring every nook and cranny of the Boijmans Museum, a truly fabulous institution that has the requisite Old Dutch Paintings (including Bruegel’s Tower of Babel) but also an extensive collection of surrealist art, contemporary exhibitions, and design. The museum also has a beautiful park behind it, which was lovely even on the gray day that I was there.

There is a tourist information building near the Beurs metro stop, which was a lifesaver for me. I wasn’t expecting to spend time in Rotterdam beyond my Turkish Consulate errands, so I hadn’t really researched the city at all—not only did the incredibly nice women at the desk give me some sightseeing tips, but they also helped me find a copy shop when I needed to print some paperwork for my visa!

My aimless day wandering through Rotterdam ended up being one of the nicest, most relaxing days I had during my deportation debacle. If you are in The Netherlands, I highly recommend taking some time to explore this city!