Orientation

The city divides itself naturally into sectors. The Centrum, south and east of the main railway station, is focused on the pedestrianized zone around the Lijnbaan and Van Oldenbarneveltstraat. This is where the city goes out to shop—all the major department stores and many exclusive boutiques are located here. Along the river are three old harbors, Delfshaven, Oude Haven, and Leuvehaven. Charming Delfshaven is so narrow it looks like a canal, and is lined with gabled houses dating back centuries, creating a classic Dutch scene. The Oude Haven, by contrast, is surrounded by modern buildings, some of which, like the Blaak Rail Station and Kijk-Kubus, are among Rotterdam's most iconic buildings. The formerly industrial Leuvehaven is now home to the Maritime Museum's collection of historic ships and cranes. To the south of the river, across the Erasmus Bridge, the Kop van Zuid and Entrepot districts are where famous architects such as Sir Norman Foster and Renzo Piano have been given free reign to design housing projects, theaters, and public buildings to complete the area's transformation into a modern and luxurious commercial and residential district. Museumpark is the cultural heart of the city, and home to four museums and bordered by a Sculpture Terrace.