Today was our first official day in Rotterdam; however, it was not spent in Rotterdam. After an early breakfast at 7, we hopped on a bus for a pleasant one-and-a-half-hour ride. For most of us, this bus ride was a great opportunity to catch up on some sleep. When we arrived at our destination, the Zuiderzee Museum, I was surprised by an ocean-like breeze. We immediately boarded a ferry that was going to take us to the town. The Zuiderzee Museum, both indoors and outdoors, showcases the cultural past of the region. The lake we were traveling on had transitioned from saltwater to freshwater. The Zuiderzee Bay, which was once a part of the North Sea, had a 32 km dam built to block it off in 1932, and it became a branch of the Rhine River. This, unfortunately, ended the town’s rich history, especially in fishing. The town, once known for shrimping and herring, could no longer access the saltwater. However, the dam and storm surge barriers built were necessary to prevent flooding.

The outdoor museum itself was very interesting but unfortunately full of little gnats. I learned that sailing is a large part of Dutch culture, and the vast amounts of sailboats that passed in the lake were always accompanied by a Dutch flag. We started our time in the town by taking out some rowboats and having a little fun. Getting only slightly wet, we then moved throughout the town and took in the rich cultural history. Much like Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, this town had a paint shop, woodshop, mill, fisherman, etc. We were able to see a mill and use an Archimedes screw that had been used to gather water. The shrimp king who lived in this village also had an interesting home with indoor plumbing, in a sense, to gather water. He also had a bait shack where nets were fixed. The woodworking shop had all mechanical bandsaws, grindstones, and sanders that were attached to large apparatus and powered by the nearby mill. The houses were obviously small, but each had a very beautiful living room.

The day gradually became sunnier, and it is evident that we were all fortunate to have had such great weather so far. The bus ride back was equally filled with sleep, and we soon arrived back in Rotterdam. Rotterdam is much different than Amsterdam because it was destroyed during WW2. It is much newer and does not have the small, tight buildings and cobblestone streets, but it still has the Dutch city feel.