Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second largest city provides a unique travel experience that is quite unlike its famous Dutch neighbours to the north. This trendy, modern city offers a great deal to discover with incredible dining, fantastic places to grab a cocktail and a number of great shopping streets, museums and markets all with an incredible river-side view.
A relatively short train ride from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Rotterdam lies within close proximity to many must-see day-trip locations like Delft, Gouda (for its amazing cheese), The Hague for its stately charm, scenery, and beaches, as well as picturesque Utrecht for its unique canal cellars and historic centre. Holland’s Largest Castle ‘Kaastel de Haar’ is also only 54 km away.
Read on for a guide to the many things this great city has to offer and why Rotterdam is such a great place to make the most of your travels in Holland.
What makes Rotterdam great?
If you’re looking to tour South Holland, Rotterdam is the perfect place to stay when making scenic day trips to the beautiful Dutch countryside. Whether travelling solo, couple or in a group, Rotterdam’s close proximity to so many desired locations, its own many attractions, as well as plentiful bars and eateries to enjoy when you return, make it a perfect place to venture from.
Travellers to Rotterdam will find a much calmer and more laid-back experience than Amsterdam, and the city Itself has a plethora of great amenities, must-see attractions, as well as amazing eating and drinking options with lively streets like Witte de With, Meent Straat and Coolsingel that makes this a favourite go-to spot.
Proximity to many incredible tourist destinations
In addition to the many great Dutch cities close by, you will find easy access to some wonderful northern Belgian cities like Antwerp, Ghent, and Bruges well within reach for an overnight trip.
Rotterdam is decidedly less touristy with a personality all its own
You won’t find streets lined with kitschy souvenir shops or ‘coffee shops’ on every corner. Rather, you will find plenty of vibrant developing areas offering innovative restaurant concepts, cocktail bars and modern cuisine. Rotterdam continues to transform itself into a progressive, fashionable city in its own right with streets lined with public art installations. Look for uniquely charming antiques, specialty and record shops tucked along the hidden sidestreets.
Rotterdam’s Distinctly Modern Aesthetic
When you arrive at Rotterdam’s ultra-modern Central Station, you get your first sense of Rotterdam’s modern aesthetic. The beautiful, asymmetric building is lit up by a massive LED display presenting a larger-than-life maritime montage of the city. Step outside and you will see another side of The Netherlands, one vastly different from the centuries-old canal-lined cities you see elsewhere in NL.
As a result of the near-total destruction of the city’s core in World War Two, the inner city has been completely transformed. There are, however, pockets of old buildings interspersed with the new, as well as a number of requisite canals. That is what I find ultimately most interesting and charming about the city, the completely unique juxtaposition of styles.
Rotterdam has a contemporary, spacious big-city feel
As a visitor to Rotterdam, the first thing you will notice is the ‘feel’ you get being in a spacious, contemporary city. When you leave Central Station you feel as though you are exiting into the middle of a modern-day metropolis. The 35-story Millennium Tower (130m) containing the Rotterdam Marriott Hotel, overshadows the station, as does the 41-story (151m) Delftse Poort towers next door. This contrasts starkly with the distinctly old-world perception you get when you exit the historical Amsterdam Central Station.
Rotterdam offers more value for your travel dollar
Being less touristy often makes it much more cost-effective as a home base for touring or business travel to the area. I frequently choose to stay in Rotterdam when hotels in The Hague and Amsterdam become prohibitively expensive.
Things you must see in the Rotterdam Area
Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp)
One of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands – dating to 1857, the Rotterdam Zoo is an incredible day trip destination for solo travellers and families alike. Located just minutes from Rotterdam Central Station, the expansive park has a feeling of being miles from the city and makes for a lovely escape.
Arriving in Rotterdam by train I witnessed a pair of giraffes snaking their tangled necks over a high fence, curiously glancing toward me as my train slowed towards the entrance to Rotterdam’s Central Station. I questioned how could giraffes be roaming near the Central Station, and thought I needed to go investigate!
Rotterdam Zoo’s city-side entrance is located only a few blocks from the Central Station, and the amazing Giraffe enclosure sits alongside one of the major train routes into the station. The animals can be often seen when arriving from the north.
Located on approximately 26 hectares (65 acres) the zoo features over 180 animal species divided into several geographical zones.
In addition to the animal life, the Rotterdam Blijdorp Zoo houses a Botanical Garden and Oceanarium (Aquarium) with an amazing underwater ‘shark tunnel’ where you can view feeding every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The view from under the water is truly stunning!
I found it very difficult to see everything during a single visit, and I am looking forward to returning.
Schiedam’s Distilleries and Giant Windmills
A few minutes away by tram or train to the west of Rotterdam you will find Schiedam, a small picturesque city founded in 1275 that is quite historically significant. The city gets its name from way back in the 13th century when a dam was built nearby on the river Schie. Similar to how Amsterdam and Rotterdam got their names from respective dams on the Rotte and Amstel Rivers.
Unlike Rotterdam, Schiedam’s historic city centre and its quant canals remained intact through the war as it was relatively untouched by the massive bombing campaigns of WW2.
One of Schiedam’s stand-out features is it features the tallest windmills in the Netherlands. The exceptionally tall windmills are quite unusual as they were built to tower over the many surrounding warehouses built during the Industrial Revolution which fueled Schiedam’s Jenever (Dutch Gin) trade.
Jenever the Dutch National Drink
Tracing its earliest roots back to the mid-13th century, Jenever, or simply Dutch Gin is the national spirit of the Netherlands. The drink was the main export of Schiedam during the 18th century.
Visit the National Jenever Museum for tastings in its in-house distillery and Roastery, and sample their ancient form of Gin distilled from malt wine. In the recently renovated museum, you can learn about how the spirit exploded in popularity, its cultural influences and its impacts on Dutch culture and economy.
National Jenever Museum Schiedam | Adults: €15.00 | Long Haven 74 Schiedam | Webstie | +31 10 246 9676
Kettle One Vodka Distillery and the World’s Tallest Windmill
Family-owned since 1691, the Nolet Distillery is the home of the world-famous Kettle One Vodka. The distillery is the oldest still in existence in Schiedam, once home to over 400 in its golden age. At the distillery, you can stroll past the ‘Mollen de Nolet’, classified as the world’s tallest windmill. Mollen de Nolet is in actuality a cleverly disguised modern 150kw wind turbine designed to look like a traditional Schiedam windmill!
Where to Eat and Drink in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is great for foodies and serves up a great selection of cuisine to choose from. With its dozen Michelin-starred restaurants, to more humble, local fast food cuisine such as Rotterdam’s very own ‘Kapsalon’, I’ve found Rotterdam a great place to eat drink and relax. The restaurants below are places I’ve personally tried and return to often.
Enjoy the Nightlife on ‘Witte de Withstraat’
When it’s time to grab a bite to eat or satisfy your thirst, seek out the lively buzz on the street ‘Witte de Withstraat’, a favourite of many locals, about six blocks south of the Central Station. The street is full of life, with a great assortment of memorable restaurants and bars with street-side terraces, interspersed with fine art and shopping. The area is also adjacent to Rotterdam’s Museum District as well.
Meent Street
A vibrant area just off of the Coolsingel, Rotterdam’s North-south artery, is Meent Straat. The area is home to many great eating, drinking, and nightlife options.
1NUL8 – the name is a play on their address (108), check them out for amazing Gin and Tonics as well as tasty food | $$ | Location: Meent 108 | Website | +31 10 412 3561
Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub – a great authentic pub experience with excellent live music and a fun vibe | $ | Rodezand 15 | Website | +31 10 411 0078
Where to Eat in Rotterdam near the Cruise Terminal (Kop Van Zuid)
The Kop Van Zuid area is a newly redeveloped area located around the Cruise Ship Terminal on the South side of the iconic Erasmus Bridge. Beautifully restored warehouses, modern residential towers and a mix of cultural features such as the Nederlands’ Fotomuseum make this a great place to visit.
Rodeo Restaurant – Argentine Steakhouse – located across the Erasmus Bridge, adjacent to the Hotel New York. Their melt-in-your-mouth 300-gram Fillet Mignon is a must for me every time I am in Rotterdam. Reasonable prices with excellent service. | $$ | Location: Otto Reuchlinweg 1002 | Website | +31 10 341 1127
Restaurant Mood – a beautiful space with a lively atmosphere, serving up visually stunning presentations, excellent food and great service. | $$-$$$ | Location: Otto Reuchlinweg 999 | Website | +31 10 234 5122
Where to Stay in Rotterdam
Convenience matters when you are doing a lot of day-tripping and touring, and there is no place more convenient than staying near the Central Station. I often stay at the Rotterdam Hilton of the Rotterdam Marriot Hotel as they are within steps of the station. If you are looking for more budget-friendly accommodation there are many local options including some unique hostels in the city.
Rotterdam Marriott Hotel – Overlooking Rotterdam Central Station it is the most convenient for train travel, with Michelin star dining, an excellent Executive Lounge with gratis drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and a well-outfitted 24/7 fitness centre | $$$ | Weena 686, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Website | +31 10 430 2000
Rotterdam Hilton – This classic hotel is only a few blocks from the station in the Theatre District, surrounded by shopping, restaurants, bars and everything else you’d need. The rooms are funky and modern, and I love the ground-floor Executive Lounge. The Hotel’s restaurant is very good, with a lively bar. | Weena 10, Rotterdam, Netherlands | $$$ | Website | +31 10 710 8000
Holiday Inn Express Rotterdam Central Station – a somewhat more budget-oriented, well-located, fully modern hotel aimed at the business traveller. Close to the Station and all of the dining and shopping options of the Weena and Coolsingel area. No fitness centre by the location more than makes up for it. | $$ | Weena 121, Rotterdam, Netherlands | Website | +31 20 797 9196
Conclusion
With all of the many wonderful amenities that Rotterdam has to offer, I find the city to be a great place to touch down, visit the local hot spots and enjoy all that South Holland has to offer. I’ve been back to this city countless times on business trips and for pleasure and I keep finding exciting things to do and see every time!
What do you think, would Rotterdam make a great European destination to visit? Or, have you visited before and have more great tips to share? Leave a comment below, we’d love to hear from you!