Rotterdam, places to visit?

The city of skyscrapers with a contemporary architectural skyline

Rotterdam is the second largest cosmopolitan city in the Netherlands. This metropolis of unique charm has a dynamic nature and innovative mindset. Also known as ‘the Manhattan on the Meuse’, Rotterdam is famous for its skyline of skyscrapers.

The international port of Rotterdam

The city’s unique history means it can be discovered from different aspects: as a port city, trendsetting city due to its nightlife, sophisticated shopping city or city of art. Undoubtedly the international port of Rotterdam has played a primary role in the city’s history as it is the largest in Europe and one of the five largest ports in the world.

But over the years Rotterdam has also become known as an architectural and cultural metropolis, offering various attractions, festivals and museums. It has a lively urban culture, but is also an excellent centre for shopping, strolling among the skyscrapers, visiting stores, cafes and restaurants and enjoying the excellent food. This lively culture continues well into the night in Rotterdam’s bars, pubs and discos.

Witte de Withstraat, the heart of the city’s art scene, runs from Museumpark to the Maritime Museum. It features street art painted by local artists and galleries and theatres that alternate with elegant cafes and the Bazar, an eatery animated by the exotic colours of a Middle eastern souk.

The museums of Rotterdam

The most famous museums of Rotterdam and two of the most popular museums in the Netherlands, Boijmans van Beuningen and Kunsthal, are situated in Rotterdam’s Museumpark.

One of the oldest buildings and well worth a visit is the Laurenskerk or Church of St. Laurence dating back to 1449, the only medieval building to have survived the bombings that took place during World War II.

The skyscrapers of Rotterdam

But Rotterdam is above all famous for its modern architecture, which includes iconic monuments such as the Cube Houses designed by Piet Blom, the covered market, the Erasmus bridge that crosses the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse) river and naturally its numerous famous skyscrapers.

A building that must be seen is the Gebouw Delftse Poort, a twin-tower skyscraper complex built in the twentieth century and one of the tallest in the Netherlands; other buildings include the panoramic tower Euromast and the Van Nelle Factory, a congress centre and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the vantage points for getting a good view of Rotterdam's skyline is Hotel New York housed in the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, or with Spido, a boat tour and one of Rotterdam's biggest attractions, where from the water you can admire the old maritime quarter of the city. The SS Rotterdam in the Katendrecht area is a famous 1950s cruise ship converted into a hotel. Also worth a visit are the 17th-century Norwegian Seamen's Church and De Nolet, the world's highest windmill (55 metres).

The Dutch cuisine

In between sightseeing, why not stop to sample the Dutch cuisine, which is rich in fresh, regional produce. The former harbour area of Katendrecht is one of the city's liveliest food districts, while nearby Deliplein is a small square with a variety of eateries offering various cuisines that range from classic French to surprise seasonal menus and succulent seafood.

For a taste of the exotic, just head to West-Kruiskade, where Asian, Moroccan, Surinamese and Caribbean restaurants reflect Rotterdam's multicultural population.

Texts by the editorial staff of Avion Tourism Magazine

Tourist Board

Rotterdam Tourist Information

rotterdam.info

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Where to sleep in Rotterdam

Rotterdam offers endless possibilities to stay in structures equipped with the best services.

To find the ideal hotel and the best offers, you can do a search by stars but also by neighborhoods or places of interest.

STARS

Hotel by stars, divided by the type of services offered:

HOUSES, RESORT, B&B

NEIGHBORHOODS

Neighborhood hotels

Hillegersberg-Schiebroek

PLACES OF INTEREST

Hotels in tourist areas

Old Luxor Theater Rotterdam

New Luxor Theatre Rotterdam

Naturemuseum Rotterdam

Museum Rotterdam '40 -'45 Now

Miniworld Rotterdam

Markthal Rotterdam

Maritime Museum Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam

Holland Casino Rotterdam

Golf De Hooge Rotterdamsche

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam

Ahoy Rotterdam

PLACES OF INTEREST

Hotels in tourist areas

World Trade Centre Rotterdam

Theater Rotterdam Schouwburg

SS Rotterdam

Rotterdam Zuid Station

Rotterdam Tram Museum

Rotterdam Noord Station

Rotterdam Kleiweg Station

Rotterdam Centraal Station

Rotterdam Blaak Station

Rotterdam Alexander Station

REGION

Hotels in the region

South-Holland

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WHERE TO GO IN ROTTERDAM

Tourist attractions of Rotterdam

Prinsenmolen

The Prinsenmolen, a national monument dating back to 1648, is an octagonal-shaped water mill thatched with reeds, which features an iron paddle wheel that was originally found in North Holland but later moved to its current location. Until 1981, the Prinsenmolen drained the polder of Berg en Broek. The Prinsenmolen (Mill of the Prince) was probably named after a visit to the mill by Stadtholder Wilhelm IV in 1747.

Rotterdam Central Station

Rotterdam Central Station is an iconic architecture with the hall roof pointing towards the city center. Some historical elements of Sybold van Ravesteyn's former station building dating back to 1957 have been reused, such as the original clock on the front facade and the letters that make up 'Centraal Station'. At the station, at 'Love Rotterdam. Gifts, Food & More' there are shops selling Dutch souvenirs and typical products.

Euromast

The Euromast observation tower was built in 1960. Made of reinforced concrete, its floor is suspended 96 metres above the ground. The Euromast lift takes 30 seconds to reach 100 metres, where there is an observation platform and a restaurant-brasserie. The Euroscope revolving lift takes people up to 185 metres. Rooms are also available, 100 metres up, in the Euromast for overnight stays, either in the Hotel Suite Heaven or Hotel Suite Star, with panoramic views of the city and harbour.

ss Rotterdam

SS Rotterdam dates back to 1959 and is the former flagship of the Holland-America Line. Moored since 2008 on the tip of the Katendrecht peninsula, it is used as a hotel, restaurant and event venue. Instead of the steamship cabins, there are the rooms of a 4-star hotel with a 1950s decor. The deck terrace with swimming pool offers city views. The general areas of the ship and the restaurants are open to the public. SS Rotterdam also offers tours of bridges, corridors, cabins and platforms

Historisch Delfshaven

The yacht marina in Rotterdam is a part of the ancient city that survived the 1940 bombing. It was the starting point from where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed to America, and the birthplace of Dutch maritime hero Piet Hein. Here the residents of Delfshaven once made their living by fishing herring and distilling gin. The historic canal houses now house antique shops, cafes and restaurants.

Erasmusbrug

The Erasmus Bridge, built by Ben van Berkel in 1996, is 800 metres long and spans the river Nieuwe Maas, connecting the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. The bridge is part of the redevelopment of an old harbour area and was designed to be an iconic structure for the area. The suspension bridge has a 139-metre high steel pylon fixed with 40 cables. The shape of the pylon has given the bridge a nickname: the Swan.

Cube Houses (Kijk-Kubus)

This project developed from the idea of creating a village within the city where each house represents a tree, and the cluster of houses, a forest. The Cube Houses (Piet Blom, 1978-1984) are part of the Blaakse Bos (Blaakse Wood) complex that borders the Laurenskwartier district and waterfront area. The Cube Houses tilt to one side, with three sides facing the ground and three facing the sky.

Museumpark

The street of arts and culture in Rotterdam is Witte de Withstraat, known for its artistic and multicultural character. Referred to as the 'Axis of Art' of the city, it runs from the Maritime Museum to the Museumpark and is lined with galleries, cutting-edge fashion boutiques, restaurants and art cafes. For street art enthusiasts, here you will find murals by local artists that can be visited with the Rotterdam Street Art Route.

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Tickets for Rotterdam Welcome Card

Free transport in the city and discounts for museums. Included: 1, 2 or 3 day pass on public transport metro, tram and bus lines, city map, discounts for attractions, museums, restaurants and entertainment venues. Information and reservations: tickets for Rotterdam Welcome Card.

Museums in Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam

The Kunsthal Rotterdam is an icon of modern architecture designed by the Rotterdam-based agency OMA/Rem Koolhaas. The building is located near the Museumpark and Westzeedijk in the museum quarter, near Leuvehaven metro station. It features many exhibitions: old masters, contemporary artists, innovative designers and interesting photographers. The museum's Kunsthal Café is ideal for a snack or drink.

Nederlands Fotomuseum

The Nederlands Fotomuseum is the national museum of photography of the Netherlands, which has an extensive collection of more than 5.5 million images showcasing photography in all its facets: historical and contemporary, Dutch and international. In recent years, the works of photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Nan Goldin, Lewis Hine, Alfredo Jaar, Josef Koudelka and Viviane Sassen have been presented in major exhibitions.

Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum

The museum exhibits the collection of Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans. In 1958, the second part of the museum’s name was added after the acquisition of the Daniël George van Beuningen collection. The building, which opened in 1935, was designed by architect Adrian van der Steur. The collection includes Dutch and European paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and works from the early Middle Ages to the 21st century, ranging from Van Bosch, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Dalí to pieces of Dutch design. It is located adjacent to the Museumpark, in the Museumkwartier district, near the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.

Deposito Boijmans Van Beuningen Rotterdam

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen

The building was designed to store and display works of art. Visitors can wander through the building (alone or with a guide) surrounded by works and objects of art. The building’s 1664 outer mirrored panels are extremely beautiful. The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen is located next to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam's Museumpark. In addition to being a publicly accessible museum storage facility, the depot also stores private and corporate collections. On the sixth floor there is a restaurant with a panoramic view of Rotterdam.

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Tours and excursions in Rotterdam

Rotterdam harbor cruise

Cruise around the city of Rotterdam admiring the harbor and the city skyline. Boat trip from Willemsplein to discover the shipyards, the docks of the port with the containers and the steamship "Rotterdam", the former flagship of Holland America Line. The cruise includes an audio guide and checks in on board at Willemsplein 85 in Rotterdam. Information and reservations: Rotterdam harbor cruise.

Guided tour to De Rotterdam, cube houses, Watertaxi and Markthal

With a tour guide the tour starts in Katendrecht to explore Fenix 1 and Deliplein and continues walking on the Wilhelminapier to admire the views of the city skyline. With a water taxi you cross the river, passing under the Erasmusbrug bridge to the old port of Rotterdam with a guided walk and visit to the roof of the Het Witte Huis, the oldest skyscraper in the world with a view of the city. Continue to visit the Cubic Houses, then the Markthal. Information and reservations: guided tour to De Rotterdam, cube houses, Watertaxi and Markthal.

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