Rotterdam has 7 main stations, Rotterdam Centraal (with Intercity, Sneltrain, Stoptrain, Nachtnet, Sprinter and Thalys lines), Alexander, Blaak, Lombardijen, Noord, Stadion and Zuid. Trains between Ebbsfleet and Rotterdam run around 17 times a week.
Eurostar
trains between Ebbsfleet International and Rotterdam have average journey times of 3 hours, 31 minutes; the route passes throuh Lille and Brussels. Travel to the Netherlands via high speed rail is an easier and more comfortable means of fast travel. The best time to visit is late spring or early summer, as the architecture is one of the reasons for Rotterdam's popularity, and this time of year will best show it.
Rotterdam is known as ‘Manhattan on the Maas’ due to its striking and contemporary architecture, and is home to the largest harbour in Europe. It is also a commercial city with over 580000 inhabitants. The Maas River runs straight through the city and the Erasmus bridge is now world famous. During the evening, Rotterdam has a selection of local venues from traditional bars to exclusive modern clubs, the largest being Now&Wow, which has recently opened in Maasthaven.
The city was first occupied by the French during the 18th and 19th centuries; it was extensively rebuilt after being damaged by Nazi invasion in WW2.
Points of Interest
The Destroyed City
The monument was designed by Russian sculptor Ossip Zadkine and has Cubist and Surrealist influences.
Show-Cube
Example of modern architecture- some of the houses are open to the public.
Schielandshuis
The town's historical museum which was originally the Dikes Headquarters.
Blijdorp Zoo
Over 150 years old, Rotterdam Zoo is one of Europe's most historical zoological gardens.
Euromast
The 185 metre tower has a space-ride simulator and Panorama Restaurant. It is inside Heuvel Park.
Attractions
Shopping in Rotterdam Markets: Stamp, Coin and Book Market, Market of Antiques, Sunday Market, Antiques Fair. World Harbour Days with shopping and themed entertainment
Thermen Holiday Sauna and Beauty Centre
Rondje Rotterdam - a two hour walk around the city.
Diamond Centre with SAP cutting workshops
The Discovery Corner interactive museum of technology
Maasboulevard
Kralingse Plas with restaurants and water sport facilities
La Rochelle Main Attractions - La Rochelle Main Attractions
Hotel De Ville
The Hotel de Ville is a 14th century gothic style must-see attraction. Within the tour you will see many Henry II staircases and the marble desk of Jean Guiton. The ancient building houses many of La Rochelle?s pieces of history.... La Rochelle, France
Musee Des Modeles Reduits
This is a one-of-a-kind museum that features 8000 square feet of exhibits that are presented in such manners as moving model trains, computer animated naval battles, and historic scenes. During a certain time of the year they allow the children to ride the train, the museum is great and has fun for all ages.... La Rochelle, France
Parc Charruyer
The Parc Charruyer is a park that was designed somewhere between 1887 and 1890. The park was built from the legacy of mademoiselle Adele Charruyer. The park encompasses a beautiful 98 acres and has a walkway that is about 2 kilometers long. Starting in 1945 they added a small animal zoo. You can take a nice stroll along the path and see rare plants, little waterways, and ducks for the children to feed.... La Rochelle, France
The Aquarium
The aquarium is one of the most popular tourist attractions in La Rochelle. This exhibit takes visitors on a two hour long journey into the depths of the seas. They have exhibits for the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic, and the tropics. The presentation is amazing, it is held in a tank of water which contains about 3 million liters. Visitors are influenced to dive into the action of about 12000 living underwater species and learn about them.... La Rochelle, France
Tour Saint Nicolas, de la Lanterne and de la Chaine
These are three defensive towers within the city of La Rochelle that were used to guard the harbor. This tower is must see because it dates back to medieval times. The tower requires visitors to climb many stairs, it is important to wear comfortable shoes and be prepared.... La Rochelle, France
