11. Rotterdam, Netherlands
The city center of Rotterdam, Europe’s largest seaport, was almost completely destroyed in WWII but is now known for its modern architecture. Some notable landmarks include the Markthal, which is both an office building and marketplace, with an unusual semicircular façade, and the Cube Houses. In addition, the Euromast tower, the Erasmus bridge, and many modern skyscrapers are features of the skyline.
Happiness: 15th
Historical Landmarks: 16th
Sports: 14th
Schools and Education: 29th
Governmental Stability: 6th
Crime: 26th
Healthcare: 12th
Affordability: 41st
Food: 19th
Innovation: 21st
Pollution: 7th
Climate: 32nd
Overall Average: 19.83
Happiness: According to the World Happiness Report, the Netherlands is the 5th happiest country in the world. Rotterdam was not specifically listed in the rankings but is likely to have a high level of happiness.
Historical Landmarks: Rotterdam has one UNESCO World Heritage site, Van Nellefabriek, considered to be an icon of 20th century industrial architecture.
Sports: Rotterdam is currently home to three football clubs in the Dutch league, those being Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam and Excelsior. Feyenoord is the most renowned Rotterdam team and is one of the top 3 traditionally best clubs in the Netherlands. Sparta Rotterdam is the oldest professional club in the country. The Dutch league is in the top 7 of European leagues.
Schools and Education: Rotterdam has one university, Erasmus University Rotterdam in the top 100 worldwide, ranked at 65.
Crime: In Rotterdam, crime is fairly low, with corruption and bribery deemed very low risk.
Affordability: Rotterdam has a cost of living index at 67.2, meaning it’s on the higher end of European cities.
Food: 9 restaurants in Rotterdam have at least 1 Michelin star, meaning the city has some esteemed dining experiences.
Pollution: A pollution index score of 24.51 means that Rotterdam is well above average in terms of clean air in their cities and minor pollution issues.
Climate: Rotterdam reaches the high 60s and low 70s (F) in summer months, while in the winter, it can be found in the mid 30s in Fahrenheit.
Personal Note: I got the chance to visit Rotterdam in the summer of 2022, and it differs heavily from what one may expect to be the traditional European city. With all of Europe’s diversity amongst its cities, one of the constants is the presence of very historical architecture, which is something that Rotterdam doesn’t share. Walking around the city was different than any other I’ve visited in Europe because every street and building was highly modern, sharing more in common with a North American city than a European one. Through this lack of still-standing history, Rotterdam offers a unique experience because the city has capitalized on its necessity for modern buildings by creating extremely creative and visually stimulating projects rather than the standard designs one would see elsewhere. Two of my favorite unique projects included the Cube Houses and the Markthal shopping center. Rotterdam is also amongst the least touristy cities I’ve visited considering it differs from what many travelers go to Europe to see, which can work in favor of moving to the location. I wouldn’t call Rotterdam a city with a massive amount to see, and it doesn’t have the charming aspect that much of Europe does. However, I was only a traveler rather than a prospective resident and spent a limited amount of time there, so I definitely believe that living in the city would offer a very pleasant experience considering it is built more so for the citizens and employees than any foreigners coming to visit.