This summer, InterContinental continues to craft extraordinary travel moments through its deep understanding of destination culture and attentive service in Greater China. Under the theme “Blossom the Incredible”, the brand invited renowned model, actor and television host Ms. Li Ai as InterContinental’s cultural tastemaker to curate a sensory experience that blends taste, culture and emotion—bringing “Incredible Occasions” to life throughout every journey.

Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second largest city, is a bold and vibrant metropolis where innovation, resilience, and creativity converge. Famous for its daring architecture, the largest port in Europe and dynamic cultural scene, Rotterdam stands apart from the more traditional Dutch charm of Amsterdam.

Its modern identity, however, is shaped by tragedy and rebirth. During World War II, German bombings in May 1940 destroyed the medieval centre, leaving only fragments of the old city. Instead of rebuilding the past, Rotterdam boldly embraced the future, commissioning avant-garde architects and urban planners to redesign the city.

Today, this spirit of reinvention has made Rotterdam a playground of contemporary architecture, sustainable design, and experimental culture. This year, its museums and galleries are buzzing with fresh openings, ambitious ideas, and a few playful surprises that make the city feel like one giant, creative experiment. It’s not just a port city, it’s a laboratory of the future.

Rotterdam’s art scene clusters in and around Museumpark, a swathe of green near the centre, where you can hop between several major venues on foot: Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, Het Nieuwe Instituut and the Kunsthal.

Depot Boijmans

Though the main Boijmans museum is closed for renovation, its futuristic Depot introduces art lovers to a world usually cordoned off—the museum’s entire collection, laid bare. This mirrored bowl, rising forty metres into the skyline, openly defies the typical presentation of art.

No curated tours, no guided narratives—just raw, limitless access to 151,000 works cradled by steel and light, with restoration labs humming below. From precious Bruegel and Rubens to obscure sketches, this vault of creativity is an invitation to discovery. A rooftop forest crowns the experience, offering 75 trees, fresh air, and a surreal vantage point over the city while eating at Renilde Restaurant.

Nieuwe Instituut

Just across from the Depot, the Het Nieuwe Instituut is Netherlands’ national museum for architecture, design and digital culture. 2025’s program asks if architecture can create an emotional experience with the work of architect Ma Yansong and the global practice MAD Architects. They push the boundaries of contemporary architecture by reimagining the relationship between people, nature and the built environment.

The exhibition takes you on a journey through Ma Yansong’s ideas and working methods: from his critique of modernism and globalisation to his bold, fluid designs – from homes and artistic installations to large-scale cultural and commercial complexes. It’s particularly relevant to Rotterdam as he designed the distinctive “Tornado” staircase in the new Fenix Museum.

Kunsthal Rotterdam

At another end of the park, celebrating architecture as performance, this gallery by Rem Koolhaas is a stage for 25 exhibitions per year—simultaneously. The Kunsthal’s identity is its churn: blockbuster photography one month, fashion, design, or sculpture the next.

CUTE is an exhibition that shows how cuteness has both conquered and deregulated our world. Over fifty artists and collectives from all over the world explore the power of cute – as well as its flip side. Themes are Cry Baby, Play Together, Monstrous Other, Sugar-Coated Pill, and Hypersonic. They reveal that cuteness has many faces – from sweet, innocent, and comforting to critical, ambiguous, and occasionally even disturbing.

Museum Rotterdam

Tucked within a modest building in the Delfshaven district, this is an intimate but powerful place that deals with WW2 In Rotterdam Unlike large-scale national museums, it feels personal – almost like stepping into the living rooms, workshops, and cellars of those who experienced the war first hand.

It’s chilling to see how quickly daily life unravelled after the German invasion in May 1940. But the museum doesn’t dwell only on destruction; it highlights the human spirit of resistance. Exhibits detail the work of underground newspapers, sabotage missions, and the bravery of ordinary Rotterdam citizens who hid Jewish families or smuggled food during the “Hunger Winter” of 1944-45.

Euromast Tower

After exploring the WWII Museum, it’s fitting to visit the Euromast, a 185-meter-high observation tower .just a short walk away. Where the museum tells the story of wartime destruction, the Euromast embodies post war rebirth and optimism. Built in 1960 as part of the Floriade horticultural exhibition, the tower was a bold architectural statement at the time.

You can dine in the revolving restaurant or go higher in a glass walled elevator to the very top. As you ascend, Rotterdam unfurls beneath you in a breath-taking panorama. On the ground floor is a new experience called The Rise of Rotterdam where you literally step into the story of the city. In two immersive rooms, you’ll experience how Rotterdam became what it is today: from a land of water and mud to a colourful metropolis.

FENIX Museum of Migration 

The newest reason to book a cultural weekend is FENIX, Rotterdam’s international art museum of migration, on Katendrecht, a former docklands district that once sent thousands across the oceans. The building’s showstopper—a shimmering, double-helix “Tornado” staircase designed by MAD Architects—spirals 30 metres to a rooftop platform with skyline views.

Inside in the renovated warehouse, FENIX uses contemporary art and powerful personal stories to trace why people move and how migration shapes identity. On the ground floor, anchoring personal stories of 2,000 suitcases is the Suitcase Labyrinth. The Family of Migrants brings together iconic and lesser-known images of migration from 136 photographers covering the late 19th century to the present

Upstairs All Directions showcases the Fenix collection, an outstanding array of works by over a hundred artists from around the world. It features paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and photographs by both emerging talents and internationally celebrated artists. The pieces on display serve as tangible reminders of migration’s moving history, including a section of the Berlin Wall, a refugee camp tent and one of the first passports ever issued to a stateless individual.

Factfile

GO: Eurostar direct from London. The Rotterdam City Card makes public transport free and offers discounts on attractions.

INFO: Rotterdam Info has information about the city.

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen dominates the Museumpark.

The Nieuwe Instituut  has the exhibition Ma Yansong from MAD Architects.

CUTE is at the Kunsthal.

Museum Rotterdam is about the WW2 bombing in Rotterdam.

Euromast has the new experience The Rise of Rotterdam.

Fenix Museum of Migration has recently opened its doors.

STAY: The Usual is new city centre hotel that promotes sustainability.

EAT: Station Bergweg is an excellent world food hub in the repurposed Hofbogen railway station.

The post Travel Guide to Museums and Galleries in Rotterdam, Netherlands appeared first on The Travel Magazine.

Hilton has been named the #1 Best Workplace in Asia™ by Great Place to Work®. This news reaffirms Hilton’s ranking as the region’s top hospitality company – a position it has held since 2017. The award reflects the company’s commitment to a best-in-class employee experience, and its signature hospitality focused on wellness, growth, purpose and inclusion.

It’s an easy train journey to Leuven, from London via Brussels and the station is conveniently located in the city centre. At first glance, it looks like many Flemish towns—red brick gables, cobbled squares, cyclists weaving confidently through narrow lanes. But there’s a hum here, a youthful energy you feel before you even unpack your bag.

With 50,000 students out of a population of just over 100,000, Leuven is defined by its university, its beer, and its sense of fun. It’s a place where Gothic spires meet rowdy terraces, where centuries-old libraries sit comfortably next to buzzing bars, and where Belgium’s best-loved brew, Stella Artois, was born.

It’s also a dream destination for cyclists and, with more bikes than cars in the centre, the city has fully embraced two-wheeled travel. Wide cycle lanes and bike-only streets, make navigating the compact city both safe and stress-free.  And it’s easy to get going – just download the Blue-bike App, pay your money and pick up an e-bike from the underground parking at the central square, Rector De Somerplein.

Leuven City Centre

I begin my ride at the Grote Markt, one of the most beautiful squares in Belgium. At its centre stands St. Peter’s Church, a masterpiece of Brabantine Gothic. Construction began in the 15th century and, like so many cathedrals, it was never finished—the tower intended to soar above the skyline was left incomplete. Inside, art treasures abound, most notably Dirk Bout’s Last Supper, painted in 1464, considered one of the first Flemish attempts at perspective.

But the real show-stopper is the Town Hall. It’s an almost fantastical confection, its façade bristling with turrets, pinnacles, and niches filled with statues of saints, scholars, and rulers. Some call it excessive, even ostentatious, but in the afternoon sun, it looks majestic.  Leuven’s Town Hall is not about restraint, however, it’s about civic pride carved in stone.

Just nearby is the Oude Markt, often called “the longest bar in the world.” Lined on both sides by cafés and pubs, it’s a magnet for students and locals alike. By day, it’s a pleasant square for coffee or a light lunch. By night, it transforms into a carnival of clinking glasses, laughter, and music. Leuven’s nightlife begins here.

University of Leuven

Founded in 1425, the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven) is the oldest in the Low Countries and has shaped the city ever since. Behind every corner, a university hall or imposing college awaits you.  In the centre alone you’ll find Atrecht College (home of the first female students), Holy Spirit College, Van Dale College, Kings College (with Zoological Museum) and Pope’s College.

Dominating the huge square of Ladeuzeplein is the University Library, a grand neo-Renaissance building with an imposing clock tower. Burned down twice in the 20th century, once by the Germans in 1914 and again during the Second World War, it has become both a symbol of destruction and of resilience. It’s a hard climb up the narrow stairs to the top of its tower but the view is well worth it. I gaze over terracotta roofs across the spire of St. Peter’s Church to the flat fields of Flanders stretching way into the distance.

Another building worth a visit is the University Hall, originally a 14^th century Cloth Merchants Hall before becoming part of the university in 1431. A guided tour takes me to the beautiful Rector’s Salons, the impressive Promotion Hall and to the top floor for a panoramic view of Leuven.

The Groot Begijnhof

A short bike ride brings me to the Groot Begijnhof, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a serene enclave of cobbled lanes, brick houses, and tiny gardens. It was founded in the 13th century as a community for beguines, religious women who lived independently without taking vows.

They are long gone, but the buildings have been beautifully restored and now house university students and professors. Walking its tranquil streets feels like stepping back centuries, a world away from the bustle just outside its walls.

Botanical Garden

Another serene retreat is the Botanical Garden, the oldest in Belgium, established in 1738 for medical students. Today, it’s a lush oasis with greenhouses, ponds, and flowerbeds. On a warm day, locals sprawl on the lawns, children run between statues, and the scent of herbs drifts on the breeze.

Arenberg Castle and Park

On my second day, I set out to explore beyond the city centre. Arenberg Castle and Park was for many centuries the home of noblemen but now it’s frequented by students and university staff of the KU Leuven Science and Engineering Campus. The lords of Heverlee built the first castle here in the 14th and it was extensively renovated in neo-gothic style in the 19th century

It was donated to the university in 1916, and the extensive grounds house some artworks. Perhaps the most impressive is the new Wandering Garden installation by artist duo Gijs Van Vaerenbergh. Conceived as a contemporary folly, colourful climbing plants will gradually overgrow the network of curved steel lattices – echoing the rhythm of the seasons.

Park Abbey

Just a few kilometres south, Park Abbey is known as one of the best preserved abbey sites in Western Europe. Although the abbey mainly dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, its history goes back to 1129, when the Duke of Brabant donated his hunting grounds in Leuven to the Norbertine monks.

Cycling through the huge stone gate, its baroque church, fishponds, and restored farm buildings create a picture of monastic life that feels remarkably intact. It’s worth visiting the main abbey building to see the cloister, library and refectory with its outstanding stucco ceilings. You also get privileged access to the private quarters of the Abbot.

Brewery De Coureur

There’s no better way to finish a day of cycling than sampling some excellent Belgian beers. Tucked away in the Leuven neighbourhood of Kessel-Lo, Brewery De Coureur (French for ‘the cyclist’) is a microbrewery brimming with personality, warmth, and a unique cycling twist. The beers have cycling-related names such as Colleke, Kuitenbijter and Souplesse, and the theme continues with the décor, with recycled bike parts and even stools fitted with bicycle seats.

Brewer Bart and his partner Ine stepped away from the corporate rat race to pursue their passion of creating bold, characterful beers. You sample them in the taproom, sharing tables with other drinkers and dogs are welcome. They don’t serve food here, but you can bring your own sandwiches or even get a takeaway delivered. And it goes without saying that the beer is excellent.

Factfile

GO: Eurostar to Brussels, then local train to Leuven, around 30 minutes. Hire a Blue-bike through the app.

STAY: The Penta Hotel makes a good base in the city centre.

INFO: Visit Leuven has information about the city.

Visit Flanders has information about the region.

EAT:

• Madmum Coffeebar is good for light meals
• Baracca has Italian inspired dishes with great crispy pizza
• De Abdijimolen at Park Abbey has good food and river views from its terrace.
• De Hoom is in the former Stella Artois Brewery and serves Flemish and international dishes.
• The Optimist has inventive small and medium sharing plates with emphasis on vegetarian.
• Brewery De Coureur has excellent distinctive beer.

You may also like to read Cycling and Walking in Speyside, Scotland

The post Guide to Cycling in Leuven, Flanders, Belgium appeared first on The Travel Magazine.