Rotterdam. Architectural Guide

Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and prides itself on being its architecture capital. The first thing that most visitors notice is the many high-rises, which give the city its billing as 'Manhattan on the Maas'. But there is much more to Rotterdam than glossy prestige projects. World-famous for its harbour, which is currently the biggest in Europe, Rotterdam is a very dynamic metropolis: experimental, slightly rough around the edges, and studded with hidden gems. This architecture guide presents more than 150 selected buildings in Rotterdam, ranging from the few remaining from the Golden Age to modern classics and contemporary projects. It covers famous highlights, but also lesser-known interventions, such as small infill and self-build projects. The buildings are arranged in six tours through different areas of the city - ideal for discovering by bike. In addition to an introduction to the historical development of the city, the guide also includes a chapter on the most momentous event in the history of Rotterdam: the bombing of the city centre during the Second World War and its subsequent reconstruction. An interview with renowned Rotterdam-based architect Kees Christiaanse provides an insider's view on recent developments.

Anneke Bokern is an architecture writer and architecture tour organiser. Born in Frankfurt, Germany, she holds a Master's degree in Art History from Freie Universität Berlin. She moved to the Netherlands in 2000 and started working as a freelance architecture and design journalist for German and international media. Her articles have appeared in DETAIL, Bauwelt, db, werk, bauen und wohnen, Topos, Garten und Landschaft, Design Report, Mark Magazine, Frame Magazine and DAMn°, among others. She has contributed to many architecture books and travel guides and has served on the jury for Dutch and international architecture awards. In 2004, Anneke decided to share her knowledge about Dutch building culture with visitor groups from abroad. She founded architour, a company for guided tours on Dutch architecture. Together with her architour partner Paul Vlok, she organises tours in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other Dutch cities, led by local architects. She is also a co-founder of the international Guiding Architects Network. Although based in Amsterdam, Anneke loves Rotterdam for its modernist architecture, hidden gems, rough edges, and metropolitan ambitions.