13 reasons why Rotterdam may be Europe’s new capital of cool

By Stuart Forster, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 7:16 PM EDT, Mon June 12, 2017
<strong>Is this Europe's coolest city?: </strong>The Netherland's second largest city Rotterdam is experiencing a facelift with innovative crowd funding initiatives and striking new architecture -- including this three-year-old market hall. The covered market was designed by architects MVRDV. It was officially opened by Queen Maxima on 1 October 2014.
Is this Europe's coolest city?: The Netherland's second largest city Rotterdam is experiencing a facelift with innovative crowd funding initiatives and striking new architecture -- including this three-year-old market hall. The covered market was designed by architects MVRDV. It was officially opened by Queen Maxima on 1 October 2014.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>The world's biggest artwork: </strong>Spanning over 13,000 square yards on the ceiling of the Markthal, the Horn of Plenty by Arno Coenen is the world's largest artwork. It's a painting depicting fruit tumbling from a summer sky, grazing cows and flowers.
The world's biggest artwork: Spanning over 13,000 square yards on the ceiling of the Markthal, the Horn of Plenty by Arno Coenen is the world's largest artwork. It's a painting depicting fruit tumbling from a summer sky, grazing cows and flowers.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Urban regeneration: </strong>The Fenix Food Factory is a former warehouse now used as a meeting place and market for locally produced food and drink.
Urban regeneration: The Fenix Food Factory is a former warehouse now used as a meeting place and market for locally produced food and drink.
Iris van den Broek/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>The Netherlands's best new cocktail bar: </strong>Stirr was been named the country's best new cocktail bar in the 2016 Esquire awards. Stirr's mixologists are known for creating drinks tailored to any tastes with self-made liqueurs, bitters and syrups.
The Netherlands's best new cocktail bar: Stirr was been named the country's best new cocktail bar in the 2016 Esquire awards. Stirr's mixologists are known for creating drinks tailored to any tastes with self-made liqueurs, bitters and syrups.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Floating architecture: </strong>The innovative Floating Pavilion moored in Rijnhaven is used to host events. There's also plans for a floating farm.
Floating architecture: The innovative Floating Pavilion moored in Rijnhaven is used to host events. There's also plans for a floating farm.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Buzzing street life: </strong>Witte de Withstraat is the heart of Rotterdam's nightlife scene as well as home to a number of galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Buzzing street life: Witte de Withstraat is the heart of Rotterdam's nightlife scene as well as home to a number of galleries, cafes and restaurants.
Iris van den Broek/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Environmentally-savvy residents: </strong>Mark Slegers of Rotterzwam shows a harvest of oyster mushrooms in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Rotterzwam grows mushrooms in used coffee grinds gathered from cafes.
Environmentally-savvy residents: Mark Slegers of Rotterzwam shows a harvest of oyster mushrooms in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Rotterzwam grows mushrooms in used coffee grinds gathered from cafes.
By Stuart Forster
<strong>Innovative buildings: </strong>The Witte Huis (in the background), an Art Nouveau-influenced highrise which now hosts a café, was completed in 1898, and is regarded as a proto-skyscraper.
Innovative buildings: The Witte Huis (in the background), an Art Nouveau-influenced highrise which now hosts a café, was completed in 1898, and is regarded as a proto-skyscraper.
Jan Bijl/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Innovative buildings: </strong>The World Port Center (the building on the left), designed by Foster + Partners, is one of the city's most celebrated skyscrapers.
Innovative buildings: The World Port Center (the building on the left), designed by Foster + Partners, is one of the city's most celebrated skyscrapers.
500Watt/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Citizens shaping urban change: </strong>Rotterdam has enlisted its citizens to help change the city in recent years. The Luchtsingel, a 390-meter-long wooden bridge, in Rotterdam is one of the crowd funded projects aiming to bring new life to a once rundown part of the city.
Citizens shaping urban change: Rotterdam has enlisted its citizens to help change the city in recent years. The Luchtsingel, a 390-meter-long wooden bridge, in Rotterdam is one of the crowd funded projects aiming to bring new life to a once rundown part of the city.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Museums galore: </strong>Het Nieuwe Instituut, one of the museums on the leafy Museum Park, is the place to go for design-related exhibitions, and hosts the Dutch state archive on architecture. The building also houses a library and a cafe.
Museums galore: Het Nieuwe Instituut, one of the museums on the leafy Museum Park, is the place to go for design-related exhibitions, and hosts the Dutch state archive on architecture. The building also houses a library and a cafe.
Ossip van Duivenbode/Rotterdam Partners
<strong>Functionalist architecture: </strong>Van Nelle Factory, designed by the functionalist architects Johannes Brinkmann and Leendert can der Vlugt, is a UNESCO-inscribed world heritage site.
Functionalist architecture: Van Nelle Factory, designed by the functionalist architects Johannes Brinkmann and Leendert can der Vlugt, is a UNESCO-inscribed world heritage site.
Rob Niemantsverdriet/Rotterdam Partners