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About Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Rotterdam is a municipality and city in the Dutch province of South-Holland, situated in the west of The Netherlands and part of the Randstad. The municipality is the second largest in the country (behind Amsterdam), with a population of approximately 601,300 people and over 2.9 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area (combined with The Hague).

The port of Rotterdam is the largest in Europe. From 1962 to 2004, it was the world’s busiest port; then it was superseded by Shanghai. Now Rotterdam is the fourth biggest port in the world.

Rotterdam is known as a city of architecture. A few square kilometres of the city centre offers a complete overview of what the twentieth century has produced in terms of modern architecture.



Rotterdam is served by an international rail link, operating out of Rotterdam Centraal Station, from Belgium and France. High-speed trains from Antwerp (Antwerpen-Berchem, 30min), Brussels (Brussels Midi, 1h12) and Paris (Paris Nord, 2h37) are operated by Thalys. Book well in advance to secure the best ticket deals. Beyond that, a (very much) slower and (slightly) cheaper intercity service, operated by Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS), links Rotterdam Centraal to Antwerp (Antwerpen Centraal, 1h16), Mechelen (Mechelen, 1h35) and Brussels (Brussels Midi, 1h57).

Rotterdam is also well served by NS from other parts of the Netherlands, with direct connections to Amsterdam, Delft, Eindhoven, Gouda, Leiden, The Hague, Utrecht and Flushing. See also the Netherlands page for further information on national rail.

A high speed rail link called Intercity direct connects Rotterdam with Breda, Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport. For onward travel Rotterdam Centraal Station is well served by bus, tram, metro and taxi.



Plan and Book:





Overview

If Holland’s past lives on in Amsterdam’s fabled canals and historic row houses, its future can be found in the gleaming skyscrapers and office towers of Rotterdam. Following a devastating bomb raid in World War II that almost completely leveled the city, Rotterdam has risen from its own ashes to become the one of the largest seaports in the world – and the driving force behind the Dutch economy. A local joke captures this city’s unique role within the Netherlands: “Rotterdam earns the money, The Hague distributes it and Amsterdam spends it.” You can feel that sense of energy and industry as soon as your ship pulls into Rotterdam’s vast deep-water harbour, which is almost a city unto itself. Little tugboats steam briskly past heavily laden river barges, while freighters unload cargo crates into stacks that stretch like buildings from the docks toward the sky. The north and south banks of the river, both lined with high-rises, are linked by the dramatic spans of two cable bridges – including the asymmetrical Erasmus bridge, a city landmark.



Rotterdam was founded in 1340, but you’d never know it by looking at today’s modern skyline. Centuries of history were wiped out by Nazi bombs in May 1940. Afterwards, the rebuilding of Rotterdam was embraced with a vengeance — and continues to this day, with new buildings popping up every year. This constant buzz of energy and expansion makes Rotterdam one of the most dynamic places to visit on any European itinerary. For the first-time visitor, it can be jarring to see steel and cement instead of canals and cobblestones. But what Rotterdam lacks in historic charm it makes up for in cutting-edge architecture, world-class museums and sunny sidewalk terraces perfect for enjoying a Dutch beer or two. And the past isn’t entirely forgotten; look closely enough and you’ll unearth a few remnants of the city’s history, like a 1920s statehouse, a 15th-century church and a 400-year-old statue of Erasmus — a ghost from the past who seems to smile benevolently upon Rotterdam’s bright future.

The atmosphere of Rotterdam is absolutely distinct from other Dutch cities. The mentality can best be described as ‘can do’. From the waiters you meet to the businessmen and the people who have just arrived as migrants, all of them breathe a dynamic optimism of getting forward with things and their town. The modern looks of the city, the bustle and its building spree all add to this impression. That said, you might also find that people are sometimes somewhat too straight with you. And yes, the city is not the cosiest, or the most picturesque of towns, especially on drab winter days. But; get acquainted with this small metropolis, easiest done on days of one of the festivals with nice weather, and you will come to love it.


If you do not have a car, the hub for leaving the city will allmost invariably be Centraal Station from where trains leave in all directions at short intervals (so you can generally drop in and catch the next train to your destination). Most regional and longer distance buses leave here too, with the exception of most buses to southerly destinations and the province of Zeeland that leave from Zuidplein Metrostation. Contrary to trains bustimes should be checked in advance as they can sometimes be far and between.

Like any city in The Netherlands, Rotterdam is very, very bicycle-friendly. Getting around by bike is probably the fastest way of travel within the city. There are separate bike lanes on most major streets and there are separate traffic lights for bicyclists. Avoid getting your tire in the tram rails. Always cross tram rails at an angle. Always lock your bike securely when leaving it, preferably chained to a fixed object. Renting a bike – Handy places near Central Station to rent a bike are: The official NS rental office is situated in a new underground bicycle parking. You will find the entrance at the square before the main entrance of the station Alternatively, try Use-it, which rents out nice Kronan bikes (Vijverhofstraat 47, leave Central Station on the backside, turn right onto Provenierstraat, and you will find it after a 5 min walk on the right (after a former railway) Also different hotels and hostels offer bikes for their guests. Nearby destinations like Schiedam or even Delft can also be reached by bike if you fancy a somewhat longer ride. Bike routes and directions are well marked and available in abundance. A good idea for a sunny day! Schiedam can be reached by metro in 15 minutes too.

Cycling to Hoek van Holland is nice when you want to see the big sea going ships. The whole route from Rotterdam to the Hoek of Holland has a excellent cycle path. Great views. If you only want to cycle one way there is a train station at Hoek van Holland. You can take your bike on the train for a small fee.

Attractions and Activities

The Snerttram, a historical tram, runs on weekends and provides a guided tour of Rotterdam along the tram routes for around 90 minutes. Extensive commentary is given in Dutch, but you can get some English too if requested. The area around train station – Blaak- was destroyed by a German bombardment during World War II, forcing the Netherlands to surrender. After the war, it has been reconstructed with all kinds of strange and fascinating buildings. Especially the Cube Houses are worth seeing. The marketplace is also here on each Tuesday, Saturday (all year around) and every Sunday (in the summer), it is definitely worth a visit to get acquainted with local food and customs. And the Old Harbour (Oude Haven) is around the corner for a drink and a bite to eat.


Delfshaven – Easily accessible by metro (station of the same name), historic Delfshaven is a very scenic walk. It consists of an 17th-century area around two canals with a lot of charm. By day visit the Dubbelde Palmboom museum, the pilgrimfathers’ church, or the little shops in this neighbourhood. By night atractive pubs and restaurants make the visit worthwile.

Markthal – The Markthal is a large indoor food market/food court, with several tens of stalls selling vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, nuts and other food as well as small eateries, supermarkets, liquor shops. The Markthal opened in August 2014 and the building itself is a good example of modern Rotterdam architecture. It is quite popular with locals and tourists alike, so it can get crowded especially on the weekends. (Ds. Jan Scharpstraat 29 (metro: Blaak, tram 21, 24, bus 32, 47), Ph +31 (0)30 234 64 64. Mon-Thu, Sat 10AM-8pm, Fri 10am-9pm, Sun 12am-6pm.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen – The museum, founded in 1849, houses a rich, broad collection that can be generally grouped into four wings: Old Art, with masterpieces such as Pieter Brueghel the Elder’s The “little” Tower of Babel (1563). The collection of Prints and Drawings and the collection of Applied Arts and Design with their international allure. And the Modern Art wing has an important collection of surrealism, prominently featuring Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte. Museumpark 18-20 (Metro: Eendrachtsplein), Ph +31 (10) 441 94 00 (fax: +31 (10) 436 05 00), [18]. Tue-Sun: 11.00AM to 5.00PM; Mon: closed.


Miniworld Rotterdam is the largest indoor miniature world of the Netherlands. You can see model trains, cars, boats, typical Dutch houses and and famous buildings from Rotterdam. This paradise for families with children and model lovers is definiteley worth a visit. Miniworld Rotterdam is like a smaller, indoor version of Madurodam, the famous miniature city in The Hague. Miniworld Rotterdam consists of a number of non existing cities and harbours which can be viewed at eye level. The first little town you’ll visit is the imaginary town Marendam, a small coastal village with dunes, a pier with a lighthouse, a boulevard and a blast furnace. The inspiration of Marendam is based on villages like Hoek of Holland, Maassluis, Rozenburg and Brielle. When you walk along you come to the villages Leckenzijl, Sluishoek and Zeshuizen. These imaginary villages were based on cities like Brielle, Delft, Brielle, Ouddorp and Wassenaar. This part of Miniworld is all about water management and you can see polders, pumping stations and the famous Kinderdijk Windmills.

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