As the second biggest city of The Netherlands, and Europe’s largest sea port Rotterdam is an important city in The Netherlands and Europe. But next to the impressive port, what’s Rotterdam also famous for?
Feyenoord
Rotterdam is the only city in The Netherlands with 3 professional football clubs. Even the capital Amsterdam only has one, namely AFC Ajax. For this reason alone you could say that Rotterdam is the Football Capital of The Netherlands. Next to Sparta and Excelsior by far the most famous football club is Feyenoord.
Feyenoord is named after the neighbourhood of Feijenoord and is one of the most succesful clubs of the country. The club won the league title 15 times and 3 European titles. In 1970 Feyenoord also won the Intercontinental cup by beating Estudiantes de La Plata, the champion of South-America. Feyenoord’s supporters are nicknamed The Legion and are known as extremely loyal.
Modern architecture and hi-rise buildings
Rotterdam’s city centre was leveled by the German Luftwaffe in 1940 and a whole new city centre had to be built. This process took many years, but made room for a whole new approach with some very experimental and modern architecture. Because there is hardly an historic city centre to preserve, Rotterdam’s centre is filled with hi-rise buildings, unlike most other European cities.
Gabber Music
Rotterdam is the birthplace of Gabber music, a subgenre of house music that is which is characterised by fast beats (generally between 140 up to 190 bpm), distorted & heavier kickdrums, with dark themes and samples. It was created in the early nineties and became popular all over the world, with large scenes throughout Europe, The United States (mainly around New York and the Midwest) and Australia. Gabber has also been labeled the first purely homegrown youth culture of The Netherlands.
Erasmus
Desiderius Erasmus (28 October 1466 – 12 July 1536) is probably the most famous Rotterdammer that ever lived. Having numerous buildings and organisations named after him. The most iconic bridge of Rotterdam is named after Erasmus, the Erasmusbrug. Next to the bridge also the university, the academic medical center and formerly one of the subway lines was named after him. Even the European Union’s exchange programme for students is named after the Rotterdam philosopher.
Kapsalon
Kapsalon is a fast food dish created in 2003 in Rotterdam, consisting of a layer of french fries placed into a disposable metal take-away tray, topped with döner or gyro meat, covered with slices of Gouda cheese, and heated in an oven until the cheese melts. Then a layer of shredded iceberg lettuce is added, dressed with garlic sauce and sambal, a hot sauce from the former Dutch colony of Indonesia.