Why now?

You thought Alain de Botton was joking last week when he suggested visiting Rotterdam container port. But this year the city is celebrating its architecture (rotterdam2007.nl) with a series of exhibitions and events so when better to explore the extraordinary collection of buildings - from Piet Blom's cube houses to the Erasmus bridge.

Getting there

Transavia (020-7365 4997, transavia.com) offers direct flights from Stansted for pounds 84 return inc taxes.

Where to stay

In one of the two suites half way up Euromast (euromast.nl), a 185m-high 1960s folly. It isn't cheap (euros 385) but the view (and the bottle of champagne) should soften the blow a little. Or stay at Stroom, a former power station for euros 139 (stroomrotterdam.nl).

Where to eat

The industrial-style Humphreys (humphreys.nl), three-course menu euros 19.95.

What to buy

Have a snoop around the design and second-hand vinyl stores in hip neighbourhood Binnenweg.