Euromast

The Euromast is Rotterdam's tower, an observation platform and restaurant that rises beside the Nieuwe Maas in the Museumpark district. It stands 185 metres tall in its present form, and it is one of the best places to understand the layout of the city and its port. Built for the Floriade horticultural exhibition of 1960, it was originally a concrete shaft about a hundred metres high, designed by the architect Hugh Maaskant, and it opened to the public as a symbol of Rotterdam's reconstruction after the devastation of the Second World War. A later extension raised it to its current height.

The extra height came in 1970 with the addition of a steel mast, called the Euroscoop, which sits on top of the concrete tower and carries a glass-walled cabin that rotates slowly as it rises and descends. The old tower had a platform, a restaurant and a brasserie, and the new structure gave a still higher view. From the highest viewpoint, the panorama extends across the whole of the city, the harbour with its container terminals, the bridges over the Maas and, on a clear day, the coast and the neighbouring cities. It is particularly impressive at sunset, when the lights of the port begin to glow.

The experience is varied. A lift takes visitors to the lower platform, where there is an outdoor terrace with views over the park and the river, and from there the rotating cabin goes to the top. Some parts of the tower have glass floors, which lets visitors look straight down, and for those who want an adrenaline rush, there are activities such as abseiling from the structure, offered at certain times. Restaurants at different levels serve meals, and the brasserie offers a place for lunch with a view.

The tower is located in the Museumpark, close to the Kunsthal, the Natural History Museum and the Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot, which means it is easy to link with a day of cultural visits. The Maas below is one of the busiest waterways in the world, and ships of all sizes pass by. The surrounding district of Het Park has pleasant streets with Victorian villas.

The Euromast suits families, couples and anyone who wants an overview of Rotterdam. Choose a clear day, and consider going near sunset. Check opening times and ticket prices online, and book ahead for peak times. The wind at the top can be strong, so bring a jacket.