Rotterdam my City — De Bijenkorf (Rotterdam, The Netherlands)

A nighttime view of one of the entrances to De Bijenkorf in Rotterdam.

The story of De Bijenkorf — literally, The Beehive — began in 1870, when Simon Philip Goudsmit opened a small haberdashery on Amsterdam’s Nieuwendijk. It was a modest shop selling ribbons and sewing supplies, but it quickly grew into a department store that would come to define Dutch urban elegance. After Goudsmit’s death, his widow and family expanded the business, adding more departments and transforming it into a place where shopping itself became an experience.

Over the following decades, De Bijenkorf became a national institution — a symbol of craftsmanship, design and cosmopolitan style. Its stores were not just retail spaces, but architectural landmarks. In Rotterdam, the postwar store was designed by Marcel Breuer, one of the great modernists of the twentieth century. The branch in The Hague, built in 1926 by Piet Kramer, remains a showpiece of the Amsterdam School style, its façade full of rhythm and sculptural detail.

The company’s history also mirrors the country’s struggles and recoveries. During the Second World War, the Jewish-founded firm was seized by the occupying authorities; many employees suffered persecution. After liberation, the rightful owners rebuilt, and De Bijenkorf resumed its place at the heart of Dutch life — now as a symbol of resilience as much as refinement.

Today, De Bijenkorf is part of the international Selfridges Group, yet it retains its distinctly Dutch character. Its flagship store still stands proudly on Amsterdam’s Dam Square, while other branches serve major cities like Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Eindhoven, Amstelveen and Maastricht. Inside, the polished marble floors, designer brands and carefully staged displays continue to blend commerce with culture.

From a tiny haberdashery to a national emblem of luxury, De Bijenkorf has been buzzing for over 150 years — a beehive where history, design and daily life meet under one elegant roof.

Rotterdam my City — De Hef — A Bridge for Life Itself

The Koningshavenbrug (better known as “De Hef”) - Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Across the northern edge of Rotterdam’s old harbor rises De Hef, the city’s iconic railway lift bridge — a monument of steel and symmetry. Built in 1927 to replace an older swing bridge destroyed in a ship collision, it was a marvel of its time: a vertical-lift bridge whose entire central span could rise to let ships pass beneath. For decades, trains thundered over it, carrying goods and passengers between north and south, its motion symbolizing the city’s pulse of progress.

When Rotterdam rebuilt after the Second World War, De Hef remained — scarred but standing, a survivor among ruins. It was finally decommissioned in 1993, after the construction of the rail tunnel that made it redundant. Yet public outcry saved it from demolition, and it became a protected monument, a silent figure in the skyline.

Then came a new dream. The Belgian architect Luc Deleu imagined giving De Hef an entirely different destiny — no longer a bridge for trains, but a bridge for life itself. In his visionary plan, the structure would become a civic platform suspended above the city: a place where every key event in human life — birth, marriage, death — would be officially declared. The bridge, with its 360-degree view over Rotterdam, would become a stage for existence, a place where the city could literally rise to mark its most intimate moments.

The plan was never realized, but its spirit endures. De Hef still towers over the water — a relic of movement, a monument to imagination, and a reminder that even in a city defined by rebuilding, some structures continue to lift not trains, but the human story itself.

Rotterdam's Old Harbor

Rotterdam’s Old Harbor (Oude Haven).

At the edge of the modern city, the Oude Haven still feels like Rotterdam’s heartbeat. Historic barges float quietly in the water, their polished wood and ropes recalling the time when this was a working port, filled with the smell of tar and salt.

Beside them rises Het Witte Huis, once Europe’s first skyscraper — elegant, white, and proud, a survivor of the old city that was lost in 1940. Behind it, the Willemsbrug ties the past to the present, its steel lines echoing the masts below.

Far in the distance, you can just make out De Hef, the old railway lift bridge — a reminder that Rotterdam’s story has always been about transport.

Today the Oude Haven is a place to linger: cafés along the quay, reflections on the water, and the sense that here, in this small harbor, the whole spirit of Rotterdam still comes home.

Erasmus Bridge, Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

The Erasmus Bridge, a striking feat of modern engineering and design, stands as an iconic symbol of Rotterdam's dynamic spirit and forward-thinking ethos. Spanning the majestic waters of the Nieuwe Maas River, this architectural marvel links the northern and southern halves of the city, serving not only as a vital transportation artery but also as a captivating landmark that defines Rotterdam's skyline.

Named after the renowned Dutch philosopher Desiderius Erasmus, the bridge embodies the city's commitment to innovation and progress while honoring its rich cultural heritage. Designed by the esteemed architect Ben van Berkel, the Erasmus Bridge's sleek and elegant profile has earned it the affectionate nickname "The Swan" among locals, owing to its graceful, sweeping curves.

Inaugurated in 1996, the Erasmus Bridge has since become a beloved emblem of Rotterdam, attracting visitors from around the world who come to admire its distinctive silhouette and panoramic views of the city's bustling harbor.