Rotterdam Rumble: Concrete, Rain, and Seriously Weird Vibes

okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 3204541 and 1070859064… honestly, those numbers just keep swirling around in my head like a bad synth line. i landed in Rotterdam yesterday, and it’s… intense. like, aggressively intense. the air smells like saltwater and something vaguely industrial, which is… a thing.

I checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 972 pressure, 97 humidity. feels like stepping into a perpetually damp, slightly unsettling dream. the architecture is insane - all brutalist concrete and these weird, angled buildings that make you feel like you’re perpetually off-balance. it’s not pretty, not in a conventional way, but it’s something. i just spent three hours wandering around the Markthal, which is basically a giant, covered food hall. it’s… a lot. i got a herring - don’t ask.

I’m a touring session drummer, so my priority is finding decent rehearsal spaces. the local boards are saying there’s a pretty sweet spot down by the Maas, but it’s always booked solid. someone told me that the ‘De Waag’ building has a hidden basement they sometimes rent out, but it’s a rumor, mostly. i’m leaning towards just setting up in a park and hoping nobody notices.

Speaking of locals, if you get bored, Amsterdam is just a short drive away. the people here are… interesting. they’re all wearing these oversized hoodies and staring intently at their phones. i overheard a group of them arguing about the merits of different types of cheese - seriously. it was a whole thing.

“Don’t trust the pigeons,” a guy in a bright orange raincoat said to me, clutching a half-eaten stroopwafel. “They’re watching. Always watching.”

I’m trying to capture the vibe with my camera, but it’s hard to translate this feeling into a photograph. it’s like trying to bottle a thunderstorm. i’m aiming for gritty, raw, a little bit unsettling. i’m using a Leica M10, a 35mm lens, and a whole lot of film. i’m also trying to avoid eye contact with anyone who asks me for directions.

I found this amazing vintage clothing shop near the Centraal Station - ‘De Vintage Kleren’. it’s a chaotic mess of 70s dresses, worn leather jackets, and ridiculously oversized sunglasses. i scored a killer denim jacket for €50. it’s probably covered in someone else’s history, which is kind of cool. check it out: https://www.vintagekleren.nl/.

I heard that the Cube Houses are worth a visit, but honestly, they just look like giant, tilted boxes. i’m more interested in the smaller, less-touristy spots. i’m trying to find the hidden corners of the city, the places where the locals actually hang out. i stumbled across this tiny cafe called ‘De Bakkerswinkel’ - it’s run by an old woman who makes the best apple pie i’ve ever tasted. seriously, it’s life-changing.

“The harbor is a good place to watch the rain,” an older woman told me, sipping a bitter coffee. “It washes everything clean. And sometimes, you see things you shouldn’t.”

I’m also trying to avoid the tourist traps. i’m not here for the tulips or the windmills. i’m here for the grit, the grime, the weirdness. i’m here for the feeling of being completely lost and utterly captivated. i’m checking out some local street art too - there’s a whole scene happening down in the Delfshaven area. https://www.rotterdamstreetart.com/.

I’m seriously considering grabbing a beer at ‘De Drie Fleschjes’ - it’s a legendary pub with a seriously dark history. someone told me it’s haunted. i’m not sure i’m brave enough, but i’m definitely curious.

I need to find a decent coffee shop. i’m currently fueled by instant and desperation. i’m looking for something with proper beans, a skilled barista, and a complete lack of pretension. i’m checking out ‘Coffee X’ - apparently, they roast their own beans. https://www.coffee-x.nl/.

Okay, I’m officially out of energy. time for another coffee and a serious dose of Rotterdam weirdness. wish me luck.