The Architectural Guide to Rotterdam (48) explains that the City Hall was built after the waters of the Coolsingel were exchanged for a road and the red light district in that area was demolished. (Prostitutes exchanged for civil servants--hmm. Now it is a popular spot for marriages.) A competition led to this neo-Renaissance design being selected. This area of Rotterdam survived the horrific 1940 bombing raids in World War II. The building is symmetrical with four wings of four stories with a central inner courtyard. The concrete tower, over the lobby, is 71 meters high. |
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