Within the Dutch context, the city is quite unique in how openly it embraces high-rise construction. While cities such as Amsterdam and Utrecht are more constrained by historic architecture and skyline preservation, Rotterdam has had greater freedom for modern development since the middle of the twentieth century.
The Wilhelminapier area (part of Kop van Zuid) is one of the city’s main high-rise districts, and additional projects are still being planned there. Major transformations are also taking place around Feyenoord and throughout large parts of Rotterdam-Zuid.However, development is not limited to the southern part of the city. High-rise projects are also emerging around Rotterdam Centraal, in the Coolhaven and Maritime District areas, along the River Maas, and within former port and industrial zones that are gradually being transformed into modern urban neighborhoods. The Maashaven area is also undergoing significant redevelopment, with extensive port facilities steadily being converted into new residential districts focused on housing, public space, and better use of the waterfront.
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| Source: eu-space.europa.eu |
As a result, Rotterdam may represent the closest European example of a city attempting to address limited space in a manner similar to some North American and Asian cities—through greater density and vertical development.
In my opinion, Rotterdam also has some similarities to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It’s not because of the skyscrapers or the fact that both are coastal cities, but rather because of things like the changeable weather. Sometimes the weather in Rotterdam can change in an instant, much like it does in Melbourne. And in its own way, Rotterdam’s position relative to Amsterdam is similar to Melbourne’s position relative to Sydney.