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.
More
Rotterdam has only seven windmills left. Of these, only De Ster and De Lelie are open to visitors on a regular basis. Other windmills are open to visitors when the mill is turning (easy enough to see), but there are some exceptions to this rule of thumb. Windmills De Ster and De Lelie, Plaszoom – These two windmills (Star and Lily) date from 1777 and 1829. They are very handsomely situated on the side of the Kralingse Plas lake. The mills do still do their original job wich is grinding ingredients for spices and snuff tobacco. Adjacent is a small shop where these products are sold. (Metro: Voorschoterlaan. From there it is a 10 minute walk (follow the Julianalaan until you reach Plaszoom). open every 2nd Sat of the month: 10.00 – 16.00; And also whenever the mills are in use.
Rotterdam Zoo (Dutch: Diergaarde Blijdorp), established in 1857, is one of the most popular day trips in the Netherlands. Walk through different parts of the world, seeing interesting animals that feel right at home in an approximation of their natural habitats. An interesting feature of Rotterdam Zoo is the Oceanium. Feast your eyes on your journey through this enchanting world of water, filled with ocean and coastal dwellers, including exotic fish and puffins. Rotterdam Zoo, Blijdorplaan 8 (20 minutes walk from Central trainstation, or bus 33,32 or 44), Ph +31 (10) 443 14 95. Mon-Sun: 9.00AM – 5.00PM.
Arboretum Trompenburg, dating back to 1820, is a lovely park filled with well-designed walking paths. The seven hectare park houses a rich collection of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. Arboretum Trompenburg, Honingerdijk 86 (beneden) (Tram 21,24 towards De Esch, Woudestein stop), Ph +31 (10) 233 01 66 ([email protected], fax: +31 (10) 233 01 71). Mon-Fri: 9.00AM – 5.00PM; Sat-Sun: 10.00AM – 5.00PM.
On the Spido harbour trip, you get to see the first 8 km of the harbor starting at the Erasmus bridge (the trip doesn’t go all the way to the north sea, and skips some of the more interesting harbours). Rotterdam is really big, so even in those first 8 km there’s plenty to see.In the summer there are longer tours. Spido harbour trip, Willemsplein 85, Ph +31 (10) 275 99 88.
The Euromast is the highest lookout tower in the Netherlands and gives you an amazing view over Rotterdam and beyond. High-speed elevators take you to the main platform at a height of 100 meters in only a matter of seconds. From the platform you can see the city skyline with all its landmarks like the Erasmus bridge, the port, the Feyenoord stadium, Hotel New York and many other things. But that’s only the intermediate height: you can experience a ride in the rotating and transparent Euroscoop to the top of the tower at a height of 185 metres. From here you can see as far as the cooling towers of Antwerp (Belgium) or The Hague at the seaside.
Being a major harbour and having lots of waterways and lakes, Rotterdam has a lot to offer for water-enthusiasts.
Boating: There are four major lakes in Rotterdam. The Kralingse Plas, The double Bergse Plas, the Rottemeren and the Zevenhuizer Plas. All of them have active yachting communities and sometimes sailing races can be seen. The Zevenhuizer plas is mainly populated by Windsurf enthousiasts. Sailing boats can be rented at the Kralingse Plas at the Van Gent sailing school, Plaszoom, a 10 minute walk from Metro Voorschoterlaan (walk through the Julianalaan until you reach Plaszoom). Rowing and sailing boats can be rented at the windmill at the very end of the eastern Rottekade at Van Vliet’s(Rottemeren, go by car or bike, a very nice ride).
Yachting: When visiting Rotterdam with your own yacht you will find that most yachting harbours are on the inland waterways, were there are a lot of them. On the river Maas you will only find the City Marina, behind a bascule bridge on the southern bank, and the Veerhaven, right in the city center on the northern bank. Unless you need the better shelter of the characterless City Marina, go for the admittedly a little choppy Veerhaven marina, very central and scenic.
The SS Rotterdam is a former cruise ship of Holland-America Line (HAL) which has been in use for more than 40 years to transport emigrants between Rotterdam and New York and to carry cruise passengers around the world. Nowadays the majestic ship is open for the public for free and it contains a unique hotel, a restaurant and business facilities as well. You can admire the original art, the machine rooms, the passenger decks, the captain’s room and the control bridge. A number of guided tours are available. The SS Rotterdam often offers live music and there are plenty of activities.
Steamship Rotterdam was launched by Queen Juliana with a gala ceremony on 13 September 1958 and started to carry out commercial transport in summer 1959. It was the last great Dutch ‘ship of state’, employing the finest Dutch craftsmen during its construction. The steamer had been in use for 10 years with Holland-America Line for transatlantic service between Rotterdam and New York before it was converted into a cruise ship. From 1969 the ship was used on cruises to the Caribbean and Alaska and occasionally on world cruises which were very popular by rich Americans.
Surrounding Area
The closest good beach to Rotterdam is a 32 minute trainride away at Hook of Holland, the port at the mouth of the river. Trains leave Rotterdam Centraal station every half hour. Wait for the last station, Hoek van Holland Strand (strand = beach). Here you will find a very fine sand beach with good swimming and enough entertainment. Leave the town of Hoek van Holland proper aside, there is nothing there. For a more urban-party beach experience head to Scheveningen where you can find everything beach-party addicts dream about; Endless rows of beachside bars, restaurants and discoteques and a boulevard along a splendid fine-sand beach. It can get very crowded here. Take the train to Den Haag HS station and from there Tram 1, or take the train to Den Haag Centraal Station and Tram 9 subsequently.
Schiedam
Schiedam is a city and municipality in the province of South-Holland in the Netherlands and is part of the Rotterdam metropolitan area. The city is best known for Jenever (gin), its historical centre and the tallest old windmills in the world. Schiedam in fact has the six tallest windmills of the world. In the historic centre you can also find the attractive Stedelijk Museum with nice modern art exhibitions. Easily reached by bicycle, or take the train from Rotterdam Centraal Station to Schiedam Centrum, or metro A, B or C line to Schiedam Centrum station, or tramlines 21 or 23, Broersvest or Koemarkt stop.
Delft
The historic town of Delft is a 15 min. trainride from Rotterdam Centraal Station. It is a beautiful, unspoiled town with traditional architecture, canals and bikes. It’s also home to the world famous blue and white ceramics. Delft makes a great destination for a day-trip or can serve as a base to explore the region. And if the bustling crowds of Amsterdam are not really your thing, Delft is a lovely alternative, offering an equally interesting insight into the cultural wealth of old “Holland”, on a far more intimate scale. Delft has long been a centre of art and science. With the foundation of the VOC (Dutch East India Company) in 1602, Delft also became a trading center. The VOC was at one time the largest trading company in the world, with a huge fleet and offices all over Asia. One of the Dutch offices was in Delft. It was the ships of the VOC that made the first landfalls of the west coast of mainland Australia, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the coast of Tasmania.
The Canal taxi boat takes you to all the main tourist spots. You can flag a boat on the canals or you can order one by phone on 06 – 22 99 2795. It is also possible to rent the whole boat for a maximun of 8 persons, it will pick you up from where you want.
Dordrecht
Historic Town of Dordrecht is a 20 minute trainride, or even better, you can take the Waterbus. Dortrecht is Holland’s oldest city and enjoy countless monuments and museums, ancient warehouses and the busy merchant streets that commemorate the wealthy history of this city by the water. Absolute must-sees are the Great Church (Grote Kerk), the renowned collection of paintings of the Dordrechts Museum, the interior of the old mayor’s house ‘Huis van Gijn’ and the 13th century Augustine monastery Het Hof. Also highly recommended is the gorgeous view of the rivers’ intersection from the Groothoofd.
Dordrecht is best discovered on foot. Take the ‘Rondje Dordt’ (Dordrecht Round), for instance, a signposted walk past the inner city harbours, monuments, important historic spots and attractive shopping streets. You can also take a boat trip through the old harbors on an electric boat, which will take you past houses built in the water and under dark bridges. Close to Dordrecht lies the splendid nature reserve National Park De Biesbosch, and the famous windmills of Kinderdijk are also not far away. By bike, these combine very well with a visit to Dordrecht.
Gouda
Visit the picture postcard town of Gouda, a typical Dutch city with lots of old buildings and pretty canals, and is a popular destination for a day trip. It is also a good base for exploring the rest of the Netherlands, thanks to its great rail and highway connections. Gouda is famous for its cheese, its 15th century town hall and the amazing glass windows in St. Janskerk, but there is a lot more to see and do.Gouda is 20 minutes away by train.
The centre of Gouda is small and very easy to walk around. All the main sites are here, inside the canal, which circles Gouda centre. A lot of the street are pedestrianized. The main shopping street, Kleiweg, is pedestrianized and bike free. At the centre of Gouda and the end of Kleiweg is the Markt. The Stadhuis and De Waag are here, and this is where the cheese market takes place. The cheese market is on every Thursday morning in the summer. You can hire a bike on the on the north side of the train station. Booking is essential Ph 0182-516 111.
Oudewater is a village is 15km from Gouda. It is famous for its witch weighing house, where they issue certificates proving people aren’t witches. It became famous during the 16th century because people accused of witchcraft were offered an honest chance of proving their innocence. In many cities and countries such trials were usually rigged, resulting in the burning or drowning of hundreds of innocent people. No witches ever were found in Oudewater.
Kinderdijk
Kinderdijk is a village in the Alblasserwaard polder of the Netherlands. Kinderdijk is famous for its windmills – 19 windmills still help to control the water level. Windmill number 2 is open to the public, allowing you to see the inner workings. The best way to see the windmills is on foot or by bicycle. Bike rental is available. Cycling is a popular activity in Kinderdijk. You can cycling along the windmills, or in the wider area. It is even possible to cycle all the way to here from Rotterdam. Arriva bus 90 from bus and metro station Zuidplein will get you to Kinderdijk in 50 minutes. Kinderdijk is also accessible by boat from the city centre (near Erasmus bridge) and by waterbus from Dordrecht.
The Mill Network at Kinderdijk-Elshout (Ph +31 6 520-834-86) is the largest concentration of old windmills in the Netherlands. The windmills, being a part of the general landscape, are free to visit. In total, there are 19 windmills that were built in 1740 to drain the Albasserwaard. The mills are not always in operation; this depends on the weather. One of the windmills, the Museummolen, can be visited inside, and a visit is usually combined with the steam-powered pumping station Wisboomgemaal. The Museummolen and the Wisboomgemaal are opened 09:30-17:30 daily in the summer season, that starts at April 1 and ends at October 31. Outside the summer season, they are only opened 11:00-16:00 on weekends. The Wisboomgemaal has a visitor’s centre, a digital scale model and an introductory film. Some of the facilities here include free restrooms and soda machines.
Brielle
Visit the medieval fortified town of Brielle. The centre is a nice ensemble of old houses and churches, enclosed by the original earthern defensive walls. There are some museums and the Roman Catholic shrine of the Martyrs of Gorcum. Walking around town and fortifications is a treat. You can easily spend the day in Brielle. Brielle Historical Museum covers the 80 Year War against Spain. Open Tue-Sat 10:00-17:00, Sun 13:00-17:00, closed on Mondays. All in all the ride is 70 minutes from Rotterdam – take bus 103 at the Spijkenisse Centrum Metro station.