Travel and Accommodations to Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Discover Rotterdam's Wonders

Rotterdam Travel Information Known as the Gateway to Europe, the port of Rotterdam is one of the biggest in the world and plays a crucial role in Rotterdam’s daily life. Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands and the largest port in Europe, making it both a vibrant and multicultural destination. The city of Rotterdam is a modern cityscape, but you still can get an impression of Rotterdam before 1940 as you visit the picturesque Delfshaven. More pieces of heritage are the White House, the St. Laurenskerk and the Van Nelle Ontwerpfabriek. Shopping in Rotterdam is just as varied as the city itself. Walk in the megastores, major shopping districts or the hidden boutiques selling exotic, street wise and authentic clothing. Additional Netherlands travel information including vacation packages and escorted tours.

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Description

Full of energy and innovation, Rotterdam reinvented itself after the bombing of the Second World War. It broke with the past and chose modern architecture. The motto: light, air and space, was groundbreaking for that time. Rotterdam still embraces experimentation: almost anything is possible. Here, you are constantly surprised by new initiatives: from a rooftop city farm to a music festival in the harbour, from an exclusive rooftop bar to a brewery in an old warehouse. If you love architecture then a visit to Rotterdam — with its patchwork of architectural styles — is a must. Icons of the Nieuwe Bouwen era stand beside the typical reconstruction-architecture from the sixties, seventies and eighties. They clash cheerfully with the hypermodern landmarks that have been built in recent decades: the Erasmusbrug, Rotterdam Central Station, De Rotterdam, the Timmerhuis and of course the Markthal.

Useful information

Population:

Urban: 1.3 (2023) Metro: 2.4 million (2023)

Currency:

Euro

Emergency Info:

112

Opening Hours:

Generally, shops in the city centre are open 7 days a week, from around 10 am until 7 pm. On Sunday, shops open their doors at noon. On Friday, shops are open until 9 pm. Most attractions can be visited 7 days a week as well. The Markthal is open until 8 pm except for Friday (9 pm) and Sunday (6 pm). Rotterdam museums welcome their visitors from Tuesday until Sunday (thus closed on Monday). National holidays include Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, King's Day (27th of April) and Pentecost.

Top 10

Cube Houses

The Cube Houses (Piet Blom, 1984) are part of the Blaakse Bos (Blaakse Wood) development which borders on the Laurenskwartier district and the Waterfront area. The architect wanted to design a kind of village within the city and saw the houses as trees and the whole area as a wood. The Cube Houses are tipped to one side as it were, making three sides face the ground and three face the sky. Don’t forget to visit the Kijk-Kubus (Show-Cube) to experience what life is like in a Cube House.

Euromast

At 185 metres high, the Euromast is the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands, and should you — against all odds — get bored of the stunning views, you can always seek thrills in the Space Tower attractions situated at the very top of the Euromast. Euroscoop, Rotterdam’s highest panorama elevator with glass floor, gives you a bird's eye view of the city.

Hotel New York

Embark on the Watertaxi for a ride to Hotel New York. One of the most beautiful historic buildings in the city, Hotel New York is a Jugendstil structure. The former headquarters of the Holland-America Line looks out towards the sea and is now a restaurant and hotel with 72 differently styled rooms.

Kunsthal Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam is housed in a striking building designed in 1992 by Rotterdam architecture firm OMA/Rem Koolhaas. The Kunsthal always presents several exhibitions simultaneously, taking visitors on an exciting journey along various cultures and art movements. From modern masters and contemporary art to forgotten cultures, photography, fashion and innovative design.

Markthal Rotterdam

You’ll find an indoor market hall in various world-class cities, but the combination with luxury housing makes Rotterdam’s Market Hall (MVRDV & INBO, 2014) the first of its kind. The apartments are arched over the food market in a horseshoe configuration. The main hall houses the market itself, as well as shops, various restaurants including Jamie’s Italian (from Jamie Oliver) and a fourstorey car park situated below. Look up to enjoy the massive artwork sprawled across the ceiling: the ‘Horn of Plenty’ by Arno Coenen en Iris Roskam. Sample the delights at the Markthal. In the first indoor market hall in the Netherlands, you can find nearly 100 fresh produce stalls, about 15 food shops and diverse restaurants including Jamie’s Italian (from Jamie Oliver). If you look up you will see the biggest artwork in the Netherlands, the wall painting the Horn of Plenty.

Museum & Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. Throughout the year, the museum hosts a rich spectrum of temporary exhibits on a variety of subjects. Besides that, the collection of paintings, sculptures, drawings, etchings and objects is impressive. It features many major Dutch and European works spanning the period from the early middle ages to the 21st century, from Jeroen Bosch to Rembrandt and from Van Gogh to Salvador Dalí and Dutch Design. The museum building is closed for major renovation, but the entire collection of 145,000 objects accessible to the public in other museums. Within the Museumpark, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen has built an art depot: Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Rotterdam Central Station

Rotterdam Central Station (Team CS, 2014) is one of the most iconic architectural sites in Rotterdam. The roof over the tracks is covered in solar panels and the striking hall roof points towards the city centre. A number of historic elements from the former station building (1957) by Sybold van Ravesteyn have been re-used, like the original clock in the front façade and the letters spelling out ‘Centraal Station’. In the main hall you can find several shops, information about public transport and the Rotterdam Tourist Information. If you’re looking for original souvenirs, don’t miss shopping at ‘Love Rotterdam. Gifts, Food & More’. The square in front of the stations is a popular starting point for many walking and biking tours of Rotterdam's architecture.

Rotterdam Zoo

For a splendid day out that the entire family is bound to enjoy, head to Rotterdam’s famous zoo: Diergaarde Blijdorp. The Zoo is situated in the district of Blijdorp, in Rotterdam Noord. Stroll across the African Savannah and stand face-to-face with the giraffes. Walk on the seabed in the indoor Oceanium and meet stingrays and sharks. Discover the Amazon in the largest butterfly paradise of Europe: Amazonica. Experience tropical temperatures, fragrant flowers, hundreds of colourful South American butterflies and greedy piranhas.

Art & Culture

Chabot Museum

The Chabot Museum is dedicated to the Dutch painter and sculptor Hendrik Chabot and showcases international expressionism in one of Rotterdam’s most beautiful villas, a monument in International Modernist Style.

Garage Rotterdam

Garage Rotterdam represents high quality contemporary art. The exhibitions are held around a theme reflecting recent developments in contemporary visual arts. The exhibition centre is located in a renovated Volkswagen garage.

Kunstinstituut Melly

Kunstinstituut Melly is one of the most important institutes for contemporary art in the Netherlands and internationally regarded as a pioneer. It's located in a former school building on Witte de Withstraat.

Museum Rotterdam, Museum of the City

Museum Rotterdam is about the city and its people. It presents the past, present and future of Rotterdam. The permanent exhibitions feature photos and videos comparing the city before and after World War II.

Natural History Museum Rotterdam

Famous for its ‘Dead Animal Tales’, featuring the Domino Sparrow and the Do-Not-Swallow-Fish, this museum offers exhibits for people of all ages. Stuffed mammals, mounted birds, skeletons, insects, shells and fossils are permanently on display, and there is a fine curiosity cabinet.

Nederlands Fotomuseum

With its impressive collection of more than 5.5 million photos, the Nederlands Fotomuseum is the leading national museum of photography in the Netherlands. The collection comprises an important part of the Netherlands’ visual heritage.

Nieuwe Instituut

In Het Nieuwe Instituut, the Museum of Architecture, Design and Digital Culture shows temporary exhibitions with a recurring theme of innovation. In other words: the museum examines the designed world and how it is constantly being changed by new technologies, new ideas and shifting social priorities. The presentation, Surprising Finds from the Collection, can also be viewed. Its exhibits are regularly changed and include extraordinary drawings, photographs, objects and models from the extensive archives of Het Nieuwe Instituut.

Sonneveld House

The Sonneveld House stands adjacent to Het Nieuwe Instituut. Built in the early nineteen thirties, it is one of the best-preserved houses in the Nieuwe Bouwen style, the Dutch branch of the International School of Modernism. As a visitor, you can see for yourself what it was like to live in a hypermodern home in 1933.

Culinary Rotterdam

Alfredo’s Taqueria

Alfredo’s Taqueria is an authentic Mexican restaurant that will satisfy all your taco, tortilla and cocktail cravings. It has a heated terrace with tropical palm trees and picnic benches in the courtyard of Het Industriegebouw.

Bazar

If you fancy a feel of the Orient then head to this busy restaurant, which really deserves its name and offers delicious Mediterranean and Oriental food. Bazar is also a hotel.

By Jarmusch (East)

At By Jarmusch, they serve breakfast throughout the day. You can also enjoy other dishes at this American Breakfast Diner.

De Matroos & het Meisje

The interior of the restaurant is audacious yet tasteful with Delfts Blue print on the walls and the famous Dutch checkered tea towel used as napkins. This boldness and style is also reflected in the dishes. The menu changes regularly and is inspired by the market and the season.

Deli Bird Thai Kitchen

Deli Bird owner Wiland Toelen has succeeded in bringing a true piece of Thailand to Rotterdam. The interior is minimalist, while the flavours are anything but.

FG — François Geurds Restaurant

Once the assistant chef of Heston Blumenthal at The Fat Duck, nowadays one of the best chefs in Rotterdam: Francois Geurds (FG). His fine dining FG Restaurant offers you quite an experience. It’s all about molecular cooking here, with the power of simple and pure biological ingredients. Expect unexpected combinations, often created at the table itself.

Fitzgerald

You won’t find standard dishes on Fitzgerald’s compact, seasonal menu, that changes monthly. Get ready for sophisticated, international flavours and ingredients. These are accompanied by a wide choice of known and unknown wines. Another surprise: the beautiful secret garden of this restaurant and finger food bar in the historical Oude Haven.

Foodhallen Rotterdam

Foodhallen Rotterdam is located in the monumental, robust and characteristic Pakhuismeesteren warehouse. This spacious indoor food market has fifteen local stands with a diverse range. It is a social concept where everyone eats together, but can also individually choose a meal at one of the stands.

Bars & Nightlife

Annabel

Enticing, raw and urban are the words that describe this café and pop stage a stone's throw from Rotterdam Central Station. Annabel is one point of the golden triangle of Schiestraat (the other two are Biergarten and BAR). When it's sunny, you can enjoy a seat outside.

Ballroom

Ballroom's hallmark is its selection of over 52 different gins from 14 countries, enough to impress even the most jaded gin connoisseur. To go with your gin, order some of their famous meatballs. Ballroom has two patios, one on the street side and one in the garden, where you can sit outdoors along the back of the bar.

BIRD

BIRD jazz club not only wants to revive the jazz of the past, but also wants to update it for the 21st century. Jazz and related genres like soul, latin & funk, hip hop, afrobeat and electronica form the core of the music programming, complemented by other jazz-related art disciplines such as performance poetry, film and visual arts.

De Gele Kanarie

The beer and food paradise De Gele Kanarie is on the corner of the Goudsesingel and the Mariniersweg. The interior of the bar may remind you of the Bokaal and Weena cafés, also owned by Ron de Jong and Dave Heijnen. De Gele Kanarie serves lunch, dinner and various types of beer, wine and mixed drinks. They also have their own brewed beer on tap: DGK or De Gele Kanarie (Yellow Canary).

Kaapse Maria

Kaapse Maria is the little sister of the Kaapse Brouwers that we know from the Fenix Food Factory. At Kaapse Maria you’ll discover surprising and creative dishes that are ideal for combining with the craft beer from the Kaapse Brouwers. With 24 beers on tap, there is also plenty of choice.

Maassilo

Maassilo is located in a former grain silo at Massshaven, near the Maas River and one of the most spectacular club venues in the Netherlands. All kinds of dance and music programmes regularly take place here, presented by various party organisers. The clubs patronage consists of different cultures and sub-cultures who represent the core of the trendy international club scene.

Rotown / De Vegan Snackbar

Rotown is a popular place to listen to live bands from Rotterdam and abroad, but also for dancing on various DJ tunes. Housed in a former Chinese restaurant, Rotown has been an institution in the city's musical history for over a quarter-century. It hosts primarily alternative bands and artists, from pop to dance.

Supermercado

At the corner of the Witte de Withstraat, you can find a bar and restaurant Supermercado. This cosy place reminds of a bubbling South-American cantina. Young families, professionals and groups of friends — everyone is welcome at Supermercado, for a good coffee, late lunch or early dinner. You can eat your heart out with one of the many meat, fish or vegetarian dishes that are prepared in a truly Latin American way on the charcoal grill. Also, you will of course find Mexican tacos and tortilla chips on the menu. Order a cerveza or tequila as a side and your evening is complete.

Shopping

Bijenkorf Rotterdam

While London has Harrod’s, Rotterdam is blessed with De Bijenkorf, the most luxurious chain of department stores in the country. The great thing about shopping here is that you’ll find exclusive brands like Burberry, Michael Kors, Jimmy Choo and Marc by Marc Jacobs all assembled on the same floor. Stroll right on through to the shoes, leather goods, jewellery and cosmetics, and you’ll have a complete outfit all ready to go.

De Groene Passage

Human, animal and environmentally friendly shopping is the aim of this shopping centre. To keep your energy up, you can have breakfast, lunch or dinner at Spirit where everything is 100% organic and 100% vegetarian.

De Kaashoeve

De Kaashoeve is a traditional cheese shop that also carries delights like wine and exotic fruits and nuts. If you're a fan of the stronger cheeses, don't miss your chance to try a piece of the legendary 'Old Rotterdam'.

Fenix Food Factory

This small-scale food hub is located in the Fenixloods, a former warehouse, at the Katendrecht peninsula. Here you can enjoy artisanal food and products from among others the Kaapse Brouwers brewery, Booij Kaasmakers cheese, Jordy’s Bakery and Rechtstreex fruit and vegetables. The Kaapse Kitchen serves affordable dishes from different Rotterdam chefs that vary weekly. The terrace on the adjacent quay offers a great view of the Rotterdam skyline.

Funkie House

With a collection featuring over sixty clothing brands, plus an equally varied clientele, Funkie House can justifiably call itself a home to anyone who's into street fashion.

Joline Jolink

Joline Jolink makes stylish clothing in natural materials, both beautiful and practical. Fashion for women who always want to look their best, whether they’re at work, cycling through the city or at a party.

Keet Store

A concept store for startup webshops, businesses and labels. The collection of clothes, jewellery, poetry, graphic prints, interior accessories and tasty treats from young entrepreneurs and local brands changes frequently.

Love Rotterdam. Gifts, Food & More.

Looking for a nice, typically Rotterdam gift or souvenir? Walk into ‘Love Rotterdam. Gifts, Food & More’ in the central hall of Rotterdam Central Station. Here you’ll find mainly Rotterdam products like Rotterdamsche Oude Kaas (Old Cheese), Maasstroompjes (Biscuits), Rotterdam Port from MWAH and locally brewed beer from the Kaapse Brouwers. There is also Rotterdam design available, such as the bags from Susan Bijl. In addition, in the gift shop more traditional souvenirs, from magnets to key rings and postcards are sold.

Tourist Information & Transport

Airport

Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM) offers effortless access for travellers. Whether arriving by car, public transport, or even on two wheels, the airport caters to all. Secure parking spaces and designated Kiss & Ride zones streamline the experience for motorists. For public transport users, a swift journey awaits with metro line E from Rotterdam or The Hague Central Station, complemented by convenient bus services. Those preferring a taxi will find reliable services at the ready, ensuring a smooth start or end to your journey. Schiphol Airport is only 25 minutes away from Rotterdam Central Station by NS International trains.

Public Transport

Rotterdam has an excellent public transport system, mostly provided by the RET. Train, metro, tram, bus and waterbus can take you everywhere. Planning your route is easy via www.9292.nl. To travel on public transport, you need a public transport chip card sold at any Metro Station.

Electricity

The Netherlands uses the Type F electrical plug with two round pins, same as in many countries in Continental Europe. The standard voltage is 230 volts, but some hotels have special plugs for 110 or 120-volt shavers.

Rotterdam Tourist Information Website & Offices

Are you interested in visiting Rotterdam and looking for some more inspiration? Visit the official Rotterdam Tourist Information website for a complete view of the city's highlights and activities. The staff at the Rotterdam Tourist Information Offices at Coolsingel and Central Station will help you find your way in Rotterdam once you have arrived. Their tips will turn your visit into an even better experience. Rotterdam Tourist Information Coolsingel is located at Coolsingel 114 (in the garden of the Schielandshuis, entrance Coolsingel).

Telephone

Country code: +31 Area code: (0)10

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best time of year to visit Rotterdam?

The best time to visit Rotterdam is during the late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October). During these months, the weather is generally mild and pleasant, making it ideal for exploring the city's outdoor attractions and events. Summer is also popular, but it can be crowded with tourists.

How many days should I spend in Rotterdam?

A stay of 2 to 3 days is ideal to explore Rotterdam's main attractions. This allows you to visit the iconic Erasmus Bridge, explore the modern architecture, enjoy the vibrant food scene at the Markthal, and take a boat tour of the port. If you have more time, consider day trips to nearby cities like Delft or The Hague.

What are the must-see attractions in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is known for its modern architecture and vibrant cultural scene. Must-see attractions include the Cube Houses, the Erasmus Bridge, the Markthal, and the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum. Don't miss a visit to the Euromast for panoramic views of the city, and a boat tour of the port to understand its significance.

What is the best way to get around Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has an excellent public transportation system, including trams, buses, and metro lines. The OV-chipkaart is a convenient smart card for using public transport. Biking is also a popular and efficient way to explore the city, with many dedicated bike lanes and rental options available.

Are there any local foods I should try in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam offers a diverse culinary scene. Be sure to try traditional Dutch foods like stroopwafels (syrup waffles) and bitterballen (deep-fried meatballs). The city is also known for its seafood, especially herring, which you can enjoy at local markets or eateries.

What are some unique cultural events or festivals in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam hosts several unique cultural events throughout the year. The International Film Festival Rotterdam in January is renowned for showcasing independent films. The North Sea Jazz Festival in July attracts music lovers from around the world. In summer, the Rotterdam Unlimited festival celebrates the city's multicultural diversity with music, dance, and parades.

What neighborhoods are best to stay in while visiting Rotterdam?

The city center is a convenient area to stay, offering easy access to major attractions and public transport. The Kop van Zuid neighborhood is known for its modern architecture and luxury hotels. For a more local experience, consider the vibrant and artistic district of Katendrecht, which offers a variety of dining and entertainment options.

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