Diergaarde Blijdorp

A beautiful giraffe from Diergaarde Blijdorp. The zoo takes part in the European population management programme for reticulated giraffes. It is currently home to 10 giraffes.

Tag: Zoo tag
Date: Feb 25

Cube Houses

The Cube Houses in the center of Rotterdam is part of the city's unique architectural heritage. Architect Piet Blom designed the innovative buildings with cubes angled at a 45-degrees, giving them the iconic looks that made them so famous. The initial plan in 1977 indicated 55 houses, but in the end, 38 cubes were completed by 1984. The unique structure was built on Overblaak Street above the Blaak metro station and a pedestrian bridge.

A souvenir of my trip to Rotterdam.
Date: Feb 18

Radjik & Maxi

Asian elephants Radjik & Maxi. A souvenir from my trip to Rotterdam and my visit to Diergaarde Blijdorp.
Date: Feb 18

Rotterdam Skyline

A view taken from the Euromast, an observation tower in Rotterdam .One of Holland’s most famous bridges, the Erasmus Bridge spans the River Nieuwe Maas and forms an important connection between the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam.

Date: Feb 19

The Markthal

The Markthal is a residential and office building with a market hall underneath, located in Rotterdam. Besides the large market hall, the complex houses 228 apartments, 4,600 m2 retail space, 1,600 m2 horeca and an underground 4-storey parking garage with a capacity of over 1200 cars. The inside of the building is adorned with an 11.000 m2 artwork by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, named Hoorn des Overvloeds. The artwork shows strongly enlarged fruits, vegetables, seeds, fish, flowers and insects.

Date: Feb 19

Maxi

Maxi, born on Oct 9, 2022, Son of Faya and Fahim with a weight of 80kg at birth.
Date: Feb 18

Elephants

The elephants from Blijdorp, Zoo Rotterdam. They currently have 4 generations with 5 elephants: Irma, Banka, Faya, Radjik and Maxi.

Date: Feb 18

Cube Houses

The Cube Houses  in Rotterdam are one of the city’s most iconic attractions. Designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom, this residential development stands apart as its homes are literally cubes, tilted over by 45 degrees. The Cube Houses were designed asymmetrically to resemble an abstract forest, each triangular roof representing a treetop. The residences were constructed on concrete pillars with wooden framing. Standing at three-floors tall, their ground floor is the entrance, the first floor contains an open kitchen and living room, the second floor houses a bathroom and two bedrooms, and in some cases the top floor is used as small rooftop gardens.  The Cube Houses are centrally located next to the Rotterdam Blaak railway station, with the Oude Haven’s thriving restaurants and cafés right on the doorstep.

RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: Sept 5

Erasmusbrug

Erasmusbrug is a combined cable-stayed and bascule bridge. Its construction began in 1986 and was completed in 1996. It crosses the Nieuwe Maas in the centre of Rotterdam, connecting the north and south parts of this city. It's the second largest in the Netherlands and Rotterdam's most important landmark.

RR: 10 Countries RR (20)
Date: Jan 30

Market Hall

Located in the historic Laurenskwartier in the heart of Rotterdam, the Markthal is formed by the construction of privately-developed apartments arranged into a large arch, strategically allowing a private initiative to create a public space. The result is a covered square which features a central market hall during the day and, after closing hours, a lively series of restaurants on its lower levels. The building has a total floor area of 95,000 square meters, with 228 apartments and 1,200 below-ground parking spaces. But the building’s most striking feature is its central market hall, which provides a home for 96 fresh food stalls and shop units, ranging from Rotterdam based businesses and market vendors to established local heroes. They offer a diverse range of products: from fresh fish to game, from cappuccino to cheese, from local favourites to exotic cuisine, and from bargains to exclusive slow food.

RR: January Alternative RR
Date: Jan 6

Van Nellefabriek

The former Van Nelle Factory on the Schie in Rotterdam, is considered a prime example of the International Style based upon constructivist architecture. It has been a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014, described the plant as an icon of Dutch modernism. The building was erected around 1920 as a coffee, tea and tobacco factory and had a huge impact on the development of modern architecture in Europe. The architects wanted to realise light, air and space in the building and that is what they did in the Spaanse Polder in Rotterdam. The Van Nellefabriek was far ahead of its time in terms of the materials used and its shape.

Unesco: Van Nellefabriek
RR: 10 Countries RR
Date: Aug 20

Rotterdam

Some beautiful views of The Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe.