Fly from Nice to Rotterdam

Rotterdam's beauty lies in its urban design. But don't worry: you don't need a subscription to Architectural Digest to appreciate it. Cube-shaped houses, a bridge in the shape of a swan, an arch that’s home to apartments and an immense market, a restaurant perched high atop a tower: the city’s most extraordinary creations will fascinate and charm you, be you layman or expert.
But you know, Rotterdam isn’t all ultra-modern buildings. In Delfshaven, Old Rotterdam, the only quarter that escaped Nazi and Ally bombs, you’ll find picturesque streets dotted with traditional houses and canals that are the perfect place for a romantic afternoon. Rotterdam also lets you get up close and personal with the giants of the sea that drop anchor in its port. It will enthral you with a wealth of varied cultural offerings, blending classical ballet with contemporary choreography, masterpiece paintings with photography and street art. And how about a bit of nature to finish things off? Head out of the city and discover the Dutch countryside, with its charming polders and windmills.

• Be amazed by the Kijk-Kubus. These 3-level cube-shaped houses were designed by Piet Blom in the 1980s. There are around 40 of them, all inhabited except one, which is open to the public.
• Climb to the top of the Euromast. On clear days you can see all the way to Antwerp from the top of this panoramic tower! A first stop at a restaurant 100 metres up, a second for the observation platform at 185 metres, and then you have a choice to make: abseil, zip-line, or go back down the way you came?
• Have a wander around Hofbogen, an old 2 km long railway overpass that's been turned into a shopping arcade. International brands and vintage boutiques, trendy cafés and microbreweries can all be found under the arches.
• Treat yourself to a cruise on the Meuse with the company Spido and see massive ships in Europe's largest port, Erasmusbrug (the largest bascule bridge in Europe), as well as the vintage Hotel New York and the Montevideo tower, its new-age neighbour.
• Do your shopping under the grand arch of Markthal. This ultra-modern building is home to an authentic market with dozens of stalls and a few small restaurants, as well as private apartments. It’s as much a treat for your eyes as for your palate!
• Take in the collections of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam’s fine art museum. Paintings ranging from the 17th century to today by Magritte, Dali, Picasso, even Monet. Don't miss the famous The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel.
• Fill an evening with grace and beauty with a classic or modern ballet at the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. This theatre (which opened in 1988) play host to various shows nearly every evening, and the artistic quality is always excellent. It sets the bar high!
• Indulge a bit. Choose from chip stands, any of the countless terraces on Witte de Withstraat street (the best place in the city to indulge!), the bridge of the SS Rotterdam, or Aloha, a former swimming area-turned-restaurant and bar.
• Take a river boat to get to Kinderdijk village, around 20 km from Rotterdam. With its canals and windmills that look like a real-life postcard, it’s one of the most beautiful places in Holland.
• Visit neighbouring areas around Rotterdam: the charming Gouda, Delft, capital of porcelain, and lovely La Haye, home to Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer and The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, two of Holland’s most renowned masterpieces.