A t 607 feet, this tower used to be the tallest structure in The Netherlands. Many similar towers have been built for World's Fairs, but this one was put up for "Floriade in the Park" -- an international flower exhibition. Flowers are a huge part of the Dutch economy, and this building shows the kind of effort put into something people in other countries take for granted. The Euromast seems smaller than its sister towers because the observation deck is so low to the ground. The architect didn't want the tower's 300,000 annual visitors to lose touch with the earth that had brought them all to this place, so the viewing level is only 341-feet high. From that height you can see people, cars, and bicycles on the ground while still being able to appreciate Rotterdam's fast-changing skyline. He is quoted as saying, "If Mum thinks it's scary, the family won't go up." On the other hand, safety isn't necessarily on the minds of those people who choose to attach themselves to cables and sling themselves off of the tower. 850-feet of cable is strung from the tower to a point in the park, and people strap into a safety harness, clip themselves to the cable and slide down. The entire trip takes about 14-seconds. Originally the province of daredevils and the bungee-jumping set, more and more office workers are taking the plunge as part of the latest wave of team-building and stress-conquering psychobable. If you're less adventurous, there is the "Space Cabin" which takes you up to the 600-foot level for an even better view of the Low Countries.
