The historic centre of Rotterdam was completely destroyed in World War II and rebuilt after the war, based on a modernist urban plan. After the war, Cornelis van Traa designed the famous Basic Plan for the Reconstruction of Rotterdam. The entire city centre was constructed according to this two-dimensional urban plan. At the time, authorities and planners were both convinced that Rotterdam needed a fresh start — also in architectural terms. This approach turned the city into the Dutch capital of post-war modernism, featuring many remarkable buildings from the 1950s and 1960s. In recent years, these highlights of post-war architecture get more and more recognition. Since 1999, 26 of them are listed as national heritage sites, while others have been integrated into new developments.