Delfshaven

When you think of Rotterdam, you do not automatically think of picturesque Grachten which criss-cross the city in front of splendid merchants' houses and restored warehouses. The same applies to the smoky Bruine Café or the old Dutch pub. But watch out: there is one exception! The historic Delfshaven district, which was incorporated by the then city fathers in 1886, is a picturesque neighbourhood full of old buildings. The former outer harbour of the Maas metropolis lies only a few miles south-west... of the main station.
The old port facilities, which at one time provided the important economic link with Delft, the nearby commercial centre, were largely spared the devastation of World War II. The majority of buildings were used as large-scale warehouses and were not the target of the devastating bomb attacks by the German Luftwaffe. Most of the buildings have now been converted into expensive housing. Delfshaven thus combines exclusivity and history for locals and tourists. more