I have a strong bias for planning deeply wired into my DNA. Over years of traveling, I have slowly learned to lean a touch opposite my natural inclination and just to let things be when it comes to experiencing places away from home. I still research an enormous list of possibilities of what I might like to do, but I think I have settled into a good place in terms of having some good ideas, then approaching each day with a “what feels good today” mentality.

In the Netherlands last fall, I knew I would like to do a few days trips from my home base in Amsterdam, and I knew that Rotterdam was a place I did not want to miss. I knew there would be an interesting mix of old and new, of art, and of food and drink and that was enough to propel me onto an early morning train with a bag slung over my shoulder. Exiting the main train station, a modern looking marvel, I kicked off a day of wandering that fairly naturally and organically led me to Oudehaven, the historical part of the harbour in Rotterdam. Not really due to my planning DNA, but I think this occurred due to the salt water craving that still clings to me after so many years living next to the harbour in Halifax.

For a long time I have been drawn to interesting architecture. During my graduate studies, I fell in love with the study of architecture and incorporated some of that field into my masters thesis. I knew that the cube houses (Kijk-Kubus) were something I needed to see. Architect Piet Blom designed these houses more than 40 years ago and they are striking visually, even more so with their vibrant yellow colours brightening a typically overcast day.

Another of the features of Rotterdam that drew me here was the abundance of public art across the city. Whether in the city centre or in the outskirts I ended up exploring, the sculptures ranged across a number of styles including my favourite – “The Bospoldervos” a 30 foot tall fox by Florentijn Hofman (below, middle) that oversees a pedestrian crossing outside a school.

After all of the walking across the city, I needed to set aside some time to rest my feet and regain some energy. My first short break was for a late morning local beer at Bokaal Rotterdam, a lovely craft beer bar overlooking a public square that entertained me with people watching for about an hour.

After the morning beverage, I felt warm and toasty and ready for lunch. Luckily, the De Markethal Market was just around the corner with a variety of options to fill my belly for the afternoon of wandering ahead.

There was cheese! There were fresh fish dishes! There was a Dunkin’ Donuts (what?!?!). All under a mosaic arty arched ceiling with enormous panels of glass at each end letting in as much light as the building could squeeze out of a dreary day. I walked around a few times, had a coffee (not from Dunkin’!), tried some samples and then ended up settling on a cone of fries and mayo.

Back out onto the streets of Rotterdam, I lost myself in tangled back lanes, residential streets and industrial areas around the port to discover so much mural art. The vibrant colours added dimension to these neighbourhoods and the works themselves many times brought a childlike smile to my face. For me, this was a perfect way to while away an afternoon.

The one thing I planned on my day’s itinerary due to its location near the main train station was a stop at Biergarten Rotterdam. Made up of shipping containers, it bears a remarkable resemblance to the Stillwell Beergarden in Halifax that I love visiting on my return trips to my old stomping grounds.

A local hazy pale ale refreshed me after a day on my feet as I savoured an October beer outside as the time ticked down to my train back to Amsterdam.

From there I headed back to the train station. Standing on the platform waiting for my train to show up, I took this picture as I felt something like awe grow in me. Day trips and European train stations make my heart very happy – my visit to Rotterdam, while largely unplanned, was a rousing success for a day of my European adventures.