Rotterdam Rumble: Rain, Ramen, and Seriously Weird Art
okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm coffee. 2924348 and 1276448936 - don’t ask. it’s a thing. i landed in rotterdam yesterday and honestly? it’s… intense. the weather is just… there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 1006 pressure, 88 humidity, feels like -1.24 - that’s not good. it’s like stepping into a perpetually damp, slightly melancholic hug.
first off, the architecture. it’s not pretty in a ‘classic’ way. it’s… brutalist. like, intentionally unsettling. lots of concrete, sharp angles, and a general vibe of ‘we’re not trying to impress you.’ which, honestly, i kinda dig. i spent a ridiculous amount of time just staring at the cube houses - they’re like giant, slightly wonky lego blocks. it’s a trip.
found a tiny ramen shop down a side street - ‘shoyu’s’ - and it was a godsend. seriously, the broth was like liquid velvet. someone told me that the owner, a guy named hans, used to be a competitive speed-cuber. wild, right? i also overheard a drunk advice session at the bar next door about a missing vintage bicycle. apparently, it was a ‘rainbow’ one. check out some local eats here: https://www.yelp.com/search?keyword=ramen&location=Rotterdam%2C+Netherlands
spent the afternoon wandering through the markthal. it’s basically a giant, indoor food market. think disney world, but with more cheese. and more weird art. there’s this one installation - a giant, pulsating jellyfish made of recycled plastic - it’s… unsettling. in a good way. i’m not entirely sure.
seriously, the art here is… experimental. like, aggressively so. i saw a guy spray-painting a portrait of a pigeon wearing a tiny hat. it was… a thing. i heard that the city council is trying to encourage more ‘outsider art’ - basically, anything that makes you go ‘huh?’ which, honestly, is a good thing. if you’re into that kind of stuff, check out the street art scene: https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionGroupGuide-a-p-Rotterdam_South_Holland_Province-Netherlands.html
met a couple of locals - they were obsessed with the canals. apparently, they’re the lifeblood of the city. if you get bored, amsterdam is just a short drive away. they also warned me about the ‘red light district’ - said it’s ‘intense’ and ‘best viewed from a distance.’ fair enough.
packing: my trusty camera (obviously), a ridiculously oversized raincoat, a notebook full of scribbled thoughts, and enough ibuprofen to tranquilize a small elephant. i’m also trying to find a decent coffee shop - the local brew is… questionable. i need my fix. seriously, the coffee here is like dishwater. i’m considering smuggling in my own beans.
overall verdict? rotterdam is weird. it’s gritty. it’s beautiful in a strange, unsettling way. it’s definitely not for everyone. but if you’re looking for something a little different, something that will challenge your perceptions, then you should give it a shot. just… bring a raincoat. and maybe some earplugs.
check out some more local spots: https://www.rotterdam.nl/