Situated on the bank of River Meuse in Rotterdam, the Wereldmuseum is an ethnographic museum that sheds light on the different cultures and traditions present around the globe. Standing tall in radiant white, the museum’s structure represents a long ship with many windows on one side, a reference to the city’s trading past.

Indeed the exhibitions here pay tribute to the Dutch’s colonial past, containing artefacts that date back to 2,000 years ago. Many of these artefacts were collected by many of the traders that originated from Rotterdam during their trades with many of the colonies around the world. You’ll be surprised to see Buddhist and even Taoist ceremonial artefacts here at the museum, a testament to the wanderlust and trading history of Rotterdam.

Of course, to make the exhibitions more coherent and simpler to understand, the artefacts are arranged according to the region they originate from and come complete with labels and information boards to allow visitors to better understand the artefacts. Truly, the building and the collections here are a ‘product’ of Rotterdam, both historically and figuratively, and it would definitely be worth the visit this rather unique and informational museum.