One of my favourite experiences this year was being able to visit Rotterdam: the true cultural centre of the Netherlands and a city full of unforgettable food and sights.  We stayed at the famous tourist ‘cub houses’ close to the markets, which are perfect for foodies (like me).  Almost every day we visited Markthal for endless international cuisine and stroopwafles – the chicken baobao at Southern Spring is a must-have!  Even my dad, having recently visited the city, recommends the braised pork noodles and Shanghai dumplings from there.

During the afternoons we got to explore the endless greenery of the parks and the peculiarly shaped architecture both ancient and new.  You’ll find some gothic buildings on one street, and glass skyscrapers dotting the river on the next.  At night we enjoyed strolls past the bustling restaurants and bars as the city shone brightly in colourful lights all around us. 

On our second day, we took a quick tram and train to a digital artistry museum called ‘Remastered’ near the Maas River.  Electrifying LED screens depicted the most unusual characters and animations, paying homage to many famous Dutch artists such as Van Gogh and Mondrian.  We walked through waterfalls, interacted with a heat-sensory fish in a blue, underwater world and even digitalized our own hot air balloon drawings.  As an avid art lover, I found the museum to be a captivating and memorable experience. 

During our stay, we managed to visit other nearby towns such as Feijenoord and Noordereiland.  At Rosestraat (a short distance from Feijenoord), we were introduced to a sustainable herb farm where we picked fresh mint leaves and pressed them to make warm tea.  The owners were so kind, as were all the people we met in the Netherlands.  Of course, at every corner of every town, there were hundreds of bikes… cargo bikes for parents with babies, electric bikes for businessmen, tandem bikes for couples and vibrant graffiti bikes for the youth. 

Reluctantly, on the final night, we took a train to Amsterdam and trekked almost 45 minutes in the freezing cold for (unsurprisingly) more food.  We ‘limoncello-d’ and dined at a cosy Italian restaurant named ‘Di Luca’, where they served some of the best stone-baked pizza I’ve ever tasted.  The limoncello was even more delicious and after feeling more relaxed, we took a tipsy stroll around the area.  If ever you fancy some Italian in Amsterdam, Di Luca is the place!

Although Amsterdam is typically known as the bustling capital of the Netherlands, I much preferred the amazing four nights we got to spend in Rotterdam.  The beautiful city has breathtaking views and endless activities that kept us on our toes for the entirety of the trip.  The people were so warm and friendly too, making it a truly unforgettable experience! 

Indira Palle