Art, culture, and family events in Rotterdam.
Like many of Europe's cities destroyed during World War II, Rotterdam has climbed back from its days of occupation and bombing to become one of the more modern places to visit on the continent. Its architecture, symbolized by the 600-ft tall Euromast Space Tower, is modern and eclectic. Its culture is often on the cutting edge, and its social problems are symptomatic of an economy strong enough to draw immigrants from all over the world, but not quite strong enough to provide for their expectations.
The city's sense of itself and its culture can in some ways be exemplified by the founding of the School of the Arts, Codarts (Conservatoire of Dance and Arts). This University of Professional Arts Organization is the reorganization of the Rotterdam Conservatorium and the Rotterdam Dance Academy, with its own journal called Codarts, and it promises to be a venue of art experimentation building on the already well-known work of its member organizations.
Another of the city's premier dance organizations is the Dance Works Rotterdam. Based on some of the ideas of New York's dance choreographer, Merce Cunningham, this repertory dance company presents works based on a theory of pure dance using unique combinations of music and movement.
More well known than Rotterdam's dance culture is that part of the city most people will willingly dance through - its Zoo. The Rotterdam Zoo, the Diergaarde Blijdorp, is both popular for its exhibits and for the conservation and educational program it sponsors. The Oceanium waterworld is the newest part of the zoo and, by all accounts, the most visited.
A number of museums show the maritime history of Rotterdam. The Maritime Museum Roterdam, the Mariners Museum, DeDubbele Palmboom - all attest to the importance of the city from the Middle Ages in shipping and commerce.
Art museums are also centers of attraction for visitors to Rotterdam. Especially the world class Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum attract art lovers to what is one of the most important collections of European art in the world. Its exhibits comprise some of the most recognized names in painting and drawing - Titian, Tintoretto, Bosch, Bruegel, Van Eyck and, of course, Rembrandt. From Marcel Duchamp to Man Ray and Claes Oldenburg, the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum provides enough for art lovers - and those just learning - to enjoy and study and appreciate European culture and art.
The International Film Festival Rotterdam presents cinema from around the world every January. Started in 1972 and surviving the many vicissitudes of keeping a film festival alive, it is part of a full treasure of films shown around the city on a regular basis.
Rotterdam is built on the Maas River and much of the life and culture of the town can be seen on the banks of this waterway. Its importance for commerce is paralleled with the festivals and concerts that bring the people of Rotterdam out to its shores.
The city has had a recent troubled political history. Immigration of workers from Suriname, Turkey, and from Morocco has not only helped build the city's economy but has led to a political backlash that is still playing itself out. The art and culture of Rotterdam is not separate from these social and political conflicts but, like all art, it takes this dynamic as one of its points of inspiration. Life is fast paced and cosmopolitan. For the tourist it offers an exciting stay in a first class city.
