Life
Rotterdam city life
Rotterdam is a busy and effervescent, continually evolving urban centre, that can be best described as a multifaceted city. Skyscrapers are just as characteristic of the landscape as the buildings in the old quarters are. Each district has its own distinct character and visitors are easily fascinated by the diversity within. Feast your eyes on the impressive 802-meter Erasmus Bridge, or the huge and busy Port of Rotterdam. You have the chance to visit the oldest fish market in the Netherlands, with diverse seafood and fusion cuisine.
There are many places to visit, such as museums or the zoo, numerous restaurants to dine in and all sorts of festivals to attend. Rotterdam is a vibrant place and there are a lot of places that students can enjoy and have fun in.
Rotterdam features museums devoted to architecture, photography, modern art and much more, such as Kunsthal Museum, the Henk Chabot Museum, the Maritime Museum, or the Netherlands architecture institute. Take in the impressive skyline of Rotterdam from the highest tower in the Netherlands – Euromast. Admire the the cubic houses of Rotterdam, another wonder of Dutch architecture.
Just like most Dutch cities, Rotterdam is a bike-friendly city, offering you an easy inexpensive way of traveling between the university campus and any place in the city.
International atmosphere in Rotterdam
The second largest urban area after Amsterdam, Rotterdam is a cosmopolitan city, where foreigners make up almost half of the population. It is multi ethnically diverse, integrating various communities, with Muslims of Moroccan and Turkish origin constituting a significant minority but smaller groups, such as Chinese also being present. Descendants of immigrants from the Dutch Antilles and Suriname contribute to the cultural mosaic of the city. Just like most cities in the Netherlands, English is widely spoken in Rotterdam, so you will easily blend in and communicate with the locals and the other incoming internationals.
Weather Rotterdam
Due to its position on the coastline, Rotterdam is a relatively windy place. However, the weather there is somewhat milder than inland. Average highs during the summer reach 22°C (71°F), while average lows approach the temperature of 1°C (34°F) during winter.