Rotterdam stretches across a maze of natural and artificial waterways. With its location at the mouth of the New Meuse River and easy link to the Rhine and Central Europe, it is Europe’s largest port, earning it the nickname “Gateway to Europe.” Much of it was destroyed during World War II, yet it stands today as one of the continent’s great cities of art, architecture and innovation, boasting a lively culture and many museums. With a pleasant river orientation, Rotterdam’s spacious new inner city is a pleasure to explore; its shop-lined Lijnbaan district was Europe’s first pedestrian shopping precinct.