Rotterdam, Port city in South Holland, Netherlands
This port city in South Holland spreads across both banks of the Nieuwe Maas and displays a skyline shaped by modern high-rises. The harbor extends over roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) and ranks as the largest seaport in Europe.
A German air raid in May 1940 destroyed the medieval center completely, prompting a radical reconstruction. The rebuilding turned the city into a laboratory for modern architecture and urban planning experiments.
The city has become a center for contemporary art, where museums, galleries and studios open their doors and visitors often encounter experimental installations and performances. It attracts creative people from all over the world, evident in the many studio buildings and improvised exhibition spaces inside former industrial halls.
The metro network connects all districts via five lines and runs from roughly half past five in the morning until midnight. Water taxis offer another way to cross the river and reach different neighborhoods.
A floating farm in the Merwe4Haven harbor produces dairy products on a three-story building that sits directly on the water and houses around 40 cows. The animals are kept, fed and milked there, while visitors can watch the operation from outside.
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