There are places that you don’t have on your radar for a city trip. But once you’re there, you’re absolutely thrilled. Rotterdam in the Netherlands is one of these cities.
I was particularly fascinated by the fantastic architecture here, such as the Rotterdam Market Hall or the cube houses. But there are also lots of cool cafés, bars and museums. In this article, I’ll tell you where to find the culinary highlights of Rotterdam, where to stay and what the coolest Rotterdam sights are. I’ll also give you lots of valuable Rotterdam tips.
The following video gives you a first insight into what you can expect in Rotterdam:
Basically, you should know that the Netherlands tends to be more expensive than Germany. Food and restaurants in particular can really hit your travel budget.
That’s why an Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass may be worthwhile for you. This gives you unlimited access to more than 35 of the city’s top attractions for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days and you save up to 50% on admission.
You can also find all the tips in this article here on the map:
If you only have a short time but want to see as much of Rotterdam as possible, then a tour with a guide is definitely worthwhile:
- 2-hour walking tour of Rotterdam
- Rotterdam: bike tour to the highlights of the city (2.5 hours)
- Rotterdam: 1-hour sightseeing tour in an amphibious bus
If you want to explore the coolest Rotterdam sights on your own, here are the best tips:
1. Celebrate in the Witte de Withstraat
The street Witte de Withstraat, which sounds like a verse from the Pipi Longstocking song, is the best place to go out in Rotterdam. There are lots of bars and restaurants here, which also turn into a club at the weekend from around 23:00. Then the tables are cleared away because the space is needed as a dance floor where a DJ usually heats up the crowd.
The best known is the Nieuw Rotterdams Café. Here you can enjoy a delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner during the day. At night, you can party to electronic beats on the upper floor and hip hop and RnB downstairs.
2. Spend the night in an extraordinary cube house
These cube-shaped residential buildings are one of the architectural highlights in Rotterdam. They were created by architect Piet Blom as a kind of modular tree house with a trunk and a crown.
At first glance, you won’t even be able to imagine that you can live in it at all. After all, everything must slide down the sloping levels and walls. On closer inspection, however, you realize exactly how the sloping cubes work.
For €3, you can even see what the cube houses look like from the inside at the Kijk-Kubus Museum.
It is even possible to stay here as a tourist. At the Stayokay hostel, you can book double rooms with a bathroom and shower in addition to typical shared rooms where you can stay with friends or other tourists. However, these are quite popular and you should book quickly if you really want to stay in a cube house.
3. Go shopping in the Rotterdam Market Hall
The “Markthal” is one of the coolest market halls I have ever visited. The horseshoe-shaped building with the two huge glass facades as walls and the graphic artworks by Dutch artist Arno Coenen inside make it a feast for the eyes.
But you can indulge yourself here not only visually, but above all in culinary terms. You will find food from all over the world at numerous stalls and restaurants.
What many people don’t know: There are also over 200 apartments on the 11 floors of the Markthal.
4. Take a trip to the windmills in Kinderdijk
Windmills are one of the first things you think of when you hear the word Netherlands. And the small village of Kinderdijk is probably home to the most famous of its kind. That is why the region around Kinderdijk has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
You can stroll along the canals and pass numerous windmills on the way. There are 19 in total.
Entry to the area with all the windmills is free. You don’t have to queue at the entrance, you can just walk through. Only the museums on the way cost €9 each.
There are the following museums in Kinderdijk:
- Museum Nederwaard – Here you get an insight into how life used to be in a windmill. The mill dates back to 1738.
- Museum Blokweer – The Blokweer windmill is even older. It was mentioned in documents as early as 1631.
Tickets for the Kinderdijk museums, which also allow you to see the windmills from the inside, cost around €18 (tickets often include a boat trip through the village and admission to the engine room of the pumping station).
How do I get to Kinderdijk from Rotterdam?
The easiest way to reach the windmill village is by boat. There are several options available here:
- The Waterbus line 202 takes you from the Erasmusburg Terminal next to the Erasmus Bridge directly to Kinderdijk. However, the 202 only runs once an hour and costs €4 per trip.
- Alternatively, you can also take line 20 to Ridderkerk de Schans for €4. Once there, get on the ferry and pay another €1.80 to be transported to Kinderdijk.
It can get very crowded on the return journey. Only about 130 people fit on one boat. Be there in good time to join the queue.
5. Chill in the coolest cafés in Rotterdam
Don’t worry – you’re not getting recommendations from typical stoner coffeeshops here, but from real cafés that you should definitely try out:
- Lilith – Rock & roll music from the speakers and a rather cozy interior describe the Lilith pretty well. There are also some damn tasty pancake variations here.
- Jordys Bakery – Jordys Bakery has an almost informal atmosphere. For a few Euros you can enjoy a delicious breakfast with a croissant, 2 types of bread, cheese, jam, butter and an egg.
6. Have a beer at the Oude Haven
Rotterdam has one of the largest ports in the world. But that was not always the case. There is also a port district (Oude Haven) that dates back to a long time ago. The foundation stone for the Oude Haven was laid around 1350.
In addition to the Witte de Withstraat, the old harbor is also a good place to go out. Here you will find cozy beer gardens as well as quaint bars.
You can also view old ships on the jetty. Some of these belong to the nearby Maritime Museum.
7. Marvel at a dilapidated swimming pool
I felt a bit like I was in an apocalyptic zombie movie when I visited the former Tropicana swimming pool. The water park was closed in 2010 and is now used by the start-up Rotterzwam as a farm for oyster mushrooms. Sounds weird? It is.
In addition to Rotterzwam, many other start-ups have also set up shop here in the Bluecity collective.
Unfortunately, you can’t just get into the building, as it is only open on special occasions. But from the terrace of the neighboring Aloha Rotterdam restaurant, you can catch a glimpse or two of the interior of the dilapidated baths.
8. Gamble until you drop at the Pinball Museum
You will find an extraordinary sight on the peninsula in the Katendrecht district – the Dutch Pinball Museum.
Here you can not only marvel at old pinball machines from the 19th century, but also play on all the pinball machines in the museum for as long as you pay the entrance fee:
- 12 € admission for 2 hours
- 27,5 € for a day pass.
9. Discover local delicacies at the Fenix Food Factory
Right next to the Pinball Museum, you can feast your fill at the Fenix Food Factory. All kinds of different food courts have set up shop in an old harbor warehouse. The focus is on products from the region: from organic pizzas and cheese platters with local cheese to organic beers, you can get everything your heart desires here.
10. Visit the Sonneveld House and the Nieuwe Museum.
The Kubik houses and the market hall are two of Rotterdam’s architectural highlights. But there are many more extraordinary buildings.
One of them is the Sonneveld House. It is already 80 years old, but had one of the most modern interiors in the city when it was built. It is reminiscent of the Bauhaus style from Weimar and the word functional describes it very well. You will also find many influences from the USA in the Sonneveld Haus.
I found the somewhat extravagant bathrooms and the many mirrors throughout the house particularly fascinating.
For €14, you not only get entry to the Sonneveld House, but also to the neighboring Nieuwe Museum – a museum of modern art with changing exhibitions.
If you’re interested in architecture in general, then this guided tour of Rotterdam’s architecture alongside an expert guide might be a good option. This includes a tour of the curved mirrored façade of the new depot, as well as a visit to a roof terrace that is normally closed to visitors.
11. Visit the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
The most famous and one of the best museums in Rotterdam is the Boijmans van Beuningen. You should definitely take a few hours to visit it.
Exceptional works of art by Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh are on display here, as well as many other works by 20th century masters.
12. Experience an Arabian night in the bazaar
One of the coolest restaurants in Rotterdam is Bazar. As the name suggests, there are no local dishes here. The ornate oriental interior with its many colorful lights and matching music is more reminiscent of a marketplace in the distant Orient.
13. Admire cacti in the Trompenburg Arboretum
Trompenburg is the city’s botanical garden. If you’re looking to slow down and take a break from the modern architecture in the bustling city center, then this is the place for you. There is also a turtle pond here.
A day ticket costs €11.
14. Walk over the famous Luchtsingel wooden bridge
The once neglected district of Hopflein was given a new lease of life with the construction of the Luchtsingel. The Luchtsingel is not just a striking yellow wooden bridge, but also consists of the public area at the former Hopflein train station, the Pompenburg park and the largest rooftop farm in Europe – the DakAkker.
At the western end of the Luchtsingel there is also a cool area with a few bars and a beer garden.
15. Visit the site of Dutch emigration
The former main building of the Holland-Amerika Lijn shipping company now houses a hotel. But in the 19th century, the company had a virtual monopoly on transatlantic passenger transportation. You can still catch a bit of the flair of this era at the Hotel New York today.
Some information boards in the square in front of the building tell you about the past of this historic place.
16. Relax in Het Park
Rotterdam’s Het Park is a really nice place to relax after all the sightseeing.
The park is also right next to the Euromast, from which you also have a great view over the city. For €12.50, you can get tickets in the highest panoramic elevator with a glass floor to perhaps the best view over the rooftops of Rotterdam.
17. Stay in cool accommodation in Rotterdam
Rotterdam offers plenty of great and unusual places to stay. Here are my recommendations for hotels with that special Rotterdam touch:
King Kong Hostel: The King Kong Hostel is located directly on the party mile of Witte de Withstraw and is therefore particularly suitable if you want to go out in the evening. However, the hostel itself is not a party hostel but rather a boutique. There are also double rooms with French double beds.
Stay OK Hostel in the cube house: If you want to stay in one of Rotterdam’s iconic yellow cubes, then this accommodation is exactly what you are looking for.
City Hub Rotterdam: In this hotel, you will sleep in rooms with an unusual style, but which are kept very functional in keeping with the architecture of the city.
Hotel New York: This hotel is located in a place steeped in history. The central location is also great for a city trip.
Which Rotterdam tips did you like best on your city trip? I look forward to a comment from you.
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About the Author: Matthias
