Rotterdam - Friday afternoon

 “If it isn’t Dutch…it isn’t much”

Rotterdam

In the center of Rotterdam, the Marketplace (nickname: the UFO). Lots of food vendors, etc. Condos on the outsides all around. The ceilings inside are covered with these giant murals. Spectacular. 

These Cube Houses are pretty famous and obviously unique. Today they are about 70% occupied by students who pay approx 750€ /mo each (most have 4 students living in each) for rent. There are 3 floors, 4 flights of very narrow circular stairs and, as far as I can tell, no closet space! Below was a demo called the Art Cube, named for the murals on the first floor. 

 

There was 1 bedroom, 1 bath and a very tiny kitchen. There are angled walls everywhere and doesn’t look like much mass-produced furniture, blinds, etc would work here. It didn’t look like you’d be able to stand upright in the whole bathroom…but there was a shower and a clothes drying rack in the corner. 

The third floor was up the little ladder. I guess there’s plenty of room if you just have a couple of stools and don’t have any clothes or other stuff! Pretty spectacular views though. 

This bridge is called De Hef (or, the lift).  Jeff Bezos had his billion-dollar yacht built and needed to sail through this passage. He asked Rotterdam to remove the top of the bridge so his yacht could get through. Unimpressed, Rotterdam declined, so Bezos had to pay a little extra to have the mast dismantled and reconstructed after passing. 🥲

Of course! (We now have a Starbucks Rotterdam mug in our collection). 

Then a selfie and a postcard-like photo with the bridge in the background. (Scroggs stayed back this afternoon.)

Tomorrow: the Windmills!