Day 2: Between buffet, museum adventures and city expeditions

The first night in Rotterdam is over – and yes, we all survived it. Some actually look like they slept, others just claim to have done so. But by the time we got to the breakfast buffet, we were all back in full force.

Freshly fortified, we headed to the Maritime Museum. There we encountered a concentrated dose of maritime history: we explored an oil platform, for which we had previously received all the ‘vital’ information in a serious briefing. Afterwards, we were allowed to pilot helicopters, load containers and even detect gas leaks in pipelines – multitasking at its best.

And in the middle of it all was perhaps the biggest surprise: the children's area. Actually intended for the little ones, but apparently also magically attractive to adults. Our teacher disappeared without a trace – captivated by the fascination of a projected whale. (Don't worry, we got him back.)

Outside at the museum harbour, the group almost felt at home again. Boats, water, seagulls – just everything in Dutch packaging. For a brief moment, it was almost as if we had put the port of Hamburg in our pockets and brought it with us.

After a well-deserved lunch break, the art archive awaited us. We were mentally prepared for something ‘old, dusty, smelling of filing cabinets’ (as we know it from Germany). What we got was a chic new building that was so modern that we wanted to leave our school bags there right away.

The afternoon was ours. ‘Independent city exploration’ sounds very educational – in reality, it meant everyone setting off on their own. Some hunted for the best chips in town, others shopped their way through the streets, and still others simply walked until they thought they had seen everything.

Dinner was enjoyed according to preference. The main thing was to fill our stomachs, because the next day would be another long one.

And then evening fell. With it came the stories that you only tell in a close circle. Stories that are best told over a hot cup of tea (ahem, ahem), some of which are probably better left unwritten ... 😉