# Rotterdam

    Rotterdam is a huge city with several district articles that contain information about specific sights, restaurants, and accommodation.
Rotterdam is a very large city in the province of South Holland in the west of the Netherlands. The city is the second largest in the country with a population of approximately 650,000 inhabitants in the municipality (2020) and about 2.2 million inhabitants in the shared metropolitan area of the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH). Rotterdam is a vibrant, multicultural city; it is known for its university (Erasmus), cutting-edge architecture, lively cultural life, industrial riverside setting, its maritime heritage and colourful summer events. The municipality stretches all the way to the North Sea with gigantic areas like Europoort and Maasvlakte 1&2. All belong to the Port of Rotterdam.
Starting as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre. The port of Rotterdam is Europe's busiest port by cargo tonnage, and was the world's busiest from 1962 until it was surpassed by Shanghai in 2004. Rotterdam's commercial and strategic importance is based on its location near the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse), a channel in the delta formed by the Rhine and Meuse on the North Sea. These rivers lead directly into the centre of Europe, including the industrial Ruhr region, which is why Rotterdam is often called the "Gateway to Europe".
Many relatively high buildings (by Dutch standards) have been emerging throughout and around the city centre. Daring and new styles of apartments, office buildings and recreation facilities resulted in Rotterdam becoming a city of modern architecture and the only city in the Netherlands with a modern skyline. Due to this, the city is especially interesting for Dutch people to visit.

## Districts

* Stadsdriehoek (Rotterdam Centrum) Filled with highrise and out-of-the-box architecture, this district forms the heart of Rotterdam and gives the city its characteristic.
* Delfshaven (Delfshaven) Originally a part of Delft, this town over time grew closer to Rotterdam, leading up to its incorporation in 1886. The former town still has a fair bit of its historic identity.
* Kralingen-Crooswijk (Kralingen-Crooswijk, Noord) Famous for the Kralingse Plas, a large artificial lake and the surrounding park, as well as Blijdorp, the second-oldest still active zoo in the Netherlands.
* Feijenoord (Feijenoord) Namesake of a Dutch football club, Feijenoord is the heart of the south banks of the Meuse.
* Northern Rotterdam (Overschie, Hillegersberg-Schiebroek) Home to Rotterdam's airport as well as Hilligersberg and the surrounding lakes and forests.
* Capelle en Noordoost (Prins Alexander, Capelle aan den IJssel) Largely home to Rotterdam's urban sprawl.
* Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel (Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel) Though not incorporated into Rotterdam, Nieuwerkerk is largely an extension of the city. It is home to the lowest point of the famously low-lying Netherlands, at 6.76 metres (7.39 yd) below sea level.
* Zuid (Charlois, IJsselmonde) The southernmost districts of Rotterdam.
* Port of Rotterdam (Pernis, Rozenburg, Botlek, Europoort, Eerste- en Tweede Maasvlakte) Best known as the largest seaport of Europe, the Port of Rotterdam has been built within a river delta as well as the sea.
* Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland) Formerly one of the main gateways into the Netherlands from anywhere reachable by ocean-going vessel, nowadays a popular beachfront.
* Albrandswaard (Hoogvliet, Poortugaal, Rhoon) Island on the suburban fringes of Rotterdam, functioning as a suburb both to Rotterdam and Spijkenisse.

## Understand
### History

Settlement at the lower end of the fen stream Rotte dates from at least 900. Around 1150, large floods in the area ended development, leading to the construction of protective dikes and dams. A dam on the Rotte or 'Rotterdam' was built in the 1260s and was at the present-day Hoogstraat ('High Street').
Although Rotterdam did well after the Middle Ages and in the 'Golden Century' - roughly between 1650 and 1750 - it was not before the second part of the nineteenth century that the city started to develop itself rapidly. Helped by the digging of a new seaway (the Nieuwe Waterweg) Rotterdam was rid of access problems caused by the silting of the river and started receiving ever bigger ships with cargo for/from the booming Ruhrgebiet in Germany. Port related trade and industry skyrocketed, and the city started to draw lots of migrants from the then poor Brabant province, for whom the southern part of the city was constructed. At the turn of the twentieth century Rotterdam was well under way to become the largest economic centre in the Netherlands. It was between then and the second world war that large prestigious construction works were undertaken, in part to show off the new found economic pride.
The German army invaded the Netherlands on 10 May 1940. Germany had planned to conquer the country in one day, but after meeting unexpectedly fierce resistance, it finally forced the Dutch army to capitulate on 14 May 1940 by bombing Rotterdam and threatening to bomb other cities. The heart of the city was almost completely destroyed by the German Luftwaffe, and 800 people were killed, while about 80,000 others were made homeless. During the war, Rotterdam was bombed several times during allied raids that were aimed at the harbour area but sometimes also hit the city. The City Hall survived the bombing. Unlike most other European cities however, the City Council did not aim at rebuilding what was lost, but on taking the opportunity to create a 'new' and better city. Damaged but not destroyed old buildings were torn down in the process.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, the city was rebuilt. It remained quite windy and open until the city councils from the 1980s on began developing an active architectural policy. Daring and new styles of apartments, office buildings and recreation facilities resulted in a more 'livable' city center with a new skyline. In the 1990s, the Kop van Zuid was built on the south bank of the river as a new business center.

### Demographics

In the Netherlands, Rotterdam has the highest percentage of foreigners from non-industrialised nations. Nearly 50% of the population are not native to the Netherlands or have at least one parent born outside the country. Muslims comprise close to 25% of the city's population. The city is also home to one of the largest Cape Verdean communities in the world, as well as the largest Dutch Antillean community.

### Atmosphere

Rotterdam's culture is distinct from other cities in the Netherlands. The mentality of the people is described as 'can do'. From the waiters you meet to the businessmen and recent immigrants, everybody breathes a dream of getting forward with life. The modern design of the city, the bustle and the spree of buildings all add to this impression. That said, you might also find that people are sometimes 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 one of the festival days with nice weather. You will come to love it.

### Climate

Rotterdam gains a lot of charm when the sun is shining. Visiting in spring or summer may be more enjoyable than during the dark rainy winter. The summer months see temperatures averaging around 22 °C (72 °F) during the day and 14 °C (57 °F) at night; though temperatures near or above 28 °C (82 °F) during the day and 16 °C (61 °F) at night are not unheard of during heat waves. Daylight runs from 05:30 until 22:00 in the summer, and only between 08:45 and 16:30 in the winter.

### Tourist information

* 51.918864.4812391 Rotterdam Tourist Information Coolsingel (VVV), Coolsingel 114, 3011 AG Rotterdam (Metro A  D : Beurs, at the garden of the Schielandshuis), ☏ +31 10 790 01 85, info@rotterdam.info. 09:30-18:00. This well equipped and modern tourist office can provide loads of information like city maps, small guide books, souvenirs and the like, and offers tips and information on what to see and do in Rotterdam. Rotterdam.info also sells Rotterdam Welcome Cards, concert tickets, gift certificate, souvenirs, public transport tickets and parking vouchers. Check the website for upcoming events. (updated Oct 2021)
* 51.92414.47032 Rotterdam Tourist Information Central Station (VVV), Stationsplein 21, 3013 AJ Rotterdam (main entrance, in the central hall of the central station), ☏ +31 107900185. 09:30-18:00. With help from the service desk, a wide range of tourist information folders and the employees, you can find out what part of the city you would like to visit. (updated Jul 2019)
* Rotterdam Welcome Card. The card allows for unlimited use of all public transport by RET in the city and region, and offers at least 25% discounts on more than 50 attractions, museums, and restaurants. Available at Rotterdam Info (VVV) points and other locations. Without public transport, the card costs €6.00. 1 day (€13.50), 2 days (€19.50), or 3 days (€24.50). (updated Jul 2022)

## Get in
### By plane

* 51.9512484.4435411 Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM ). It is the 3rd largest airport in the country. It is 6 km north of the city centre. There are direct flights from cities in Germany, Italy, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Commercial airlines that operate to the airport include Transavia, Lufthansa, British Airways, and Turkish Airlines. (updated Jun 2016)

#### Services

* VVV Rotterdam-The Hague Airport information point, Rotterdam Airportplein 60 (at the arrivals hall). 07:30-23:45. Come here if you have questions about Rotterdam. The place to hear history. The gift shop is open 09:30-18:00. (updated Oct 2021)

#### How to reach

To plan a trip (for all public transport in the Netherlands) see 9292.nl$^{[deadlink]}$
Depending on the amount of travel with public transit in The Netherlands it is possible to buy a so called OV-Chipkaart or it may be more convemient to pay with a contactless credit or debit card by touching in & touching out on each trip. see for more information under Get Around.

##### By bus/metro

* Bus 33. Connects the airport with Meijersplein/Airport metro station, from where you can take metro line E to Slinge (for Rotterdam Centraal and Rotterdam city center).See for more information the By Metro section under Get Around. Bus 33 also connects to Rotterdam Centraal station via the Overschie district. (updated Jun 2024)
* Bus 300. 15 July - 20 September, Fr-Mo only. Direct service to Rotterdam Centraal. No stops in between. (updated Jun 2024)

##### By taxi

* Rotterdam Airport Taxi, ☏ +31 10 262 04 06. Recommended by the airport web site. (updated Jun 2016)

#### Other close airports

* Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) is 58 km north of Rotterdam and has much more flights than the Rotterdam airport. NS (Dutch Railways) operates Intercity Direct high-speed rail service, every 30 minutes to Rotterdam. The journey takes 27 minutes. You have to pay an addition for the journey from Schiphol to Rotterdam, so regular intercities in direction Rotterdam Centraal and Rotterdam Blaak are cheaper (but slower) (these intercities also call at Schiphol).
* Eindhoven Airport (EIN) is 106 km southeast of Rotterdam. Ryanair and Wizzair operate flights to this airport. Take a bus to Eindhoven Centraal (approximately 20 minutes, the intercity train to Rotterdam Centraal takes about 63 minutes.
* Brussels Airport (BRU) is 140 km south of Rotterdam. Many international carriers operate flights to this airport. The train from Brussels takes about 120 minutes and costs €35. Buses are also available, although less frequent.

### By train

    See also: Rail travel in the Netherlands

#### International connections

* 51.9254.4694442 Rotterdam Centraal. The station is served by high-speed trains from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. (updated Apr 2018)
** Thalys operates high-speed trains from Antwerp (Antwerpen-Centraal, 35 min), Brussels (Brussel-Zuid/Midi, 1 hr 12 min), Paris (Gare du Nord, 2 hr 37 min) and Lille (Lille-Europe, 1 hr 55 min). Book well in advance to secure the best ticket deals. A cheaper but slower alternative to Thalys is the Intercity Brussels service between Amsterdam and Brussels.
** Coming from Germany, Rotterdam Centraal can only be reached by changing trains in the Netherlands. When travelling on the German high-speed train ICE$^{[deadlink]}$ from Cologne, Düsseldorf and Oberhausen, the exchange will be in Utrecht Centraal station, and coming from Berlin, Hanover, Osnabrück (with the DB-intercity$^{[deadlink]}$) it is advisable to change at Amersfoort. Intercity-trains to Rotterdam depart from both Utrecht and Amersfoort.
** Eurostar runs a daily high speed service from London St Pancras International to Rotterdam Centraal. Prices start at £35 one way. The journey time is about 3 hr 30 min, but you must arrive at the station at least 90 minutes before departure in order to clear the extra border controls caused by COVID restrictions and Brexit.

#### National connections

The Dutch railway company NS runs high-speed Intercity Direct trains between Amsterdam, Schiphol, Rotterdam and Breda. The train stops only at those four stations and shaves 25-30 minutes in journey time between Amsterdam and Schiphol and Rotterdam versus the regular Intercity and Sprinter trains that stop in between.
Beware that you have to pay a supplement (€2.60 during peak hours, €1.56 outside peak hours) to use the Intercity direct line to travel to Rotterdam if your journey involves Schiphol, (i.e. Amsterdam-Rotterdam journeys are subject to this supplement). You can purchase this supplement by tapping an anonymous or personal OV-chipkaart on a designated red pole found on the platform. Those without an anonymous or personal OV-chipkaart can use the ticketing machines or the NS website to purchase the supplement, however the discount may not be applicable to supplements purchased this way. Most unlimited day tickets including the Holland Travel Ticket can be used to travel on the Intercity Direct but a supplement purchase is still required.
Thalys also offers seats for passengers travelling from Amsterdam to Rotterdam. The journey is less than 40 minutes, slightly faster than the Intercity Direct. However, reservations/advance bookings are required and most unlimited day tickets recognised by NS cannot be used on Thalys.
Rotterdam is also well served by NS from other parts of the Netherlands, with direct connections to Delft, Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Gouda, Leiden, The Hague, Utrecht and Vlissingen. Some intercities and sprinters also stop at Rotterdam Blaak station which is in the middle of the city center. This station is also frequented by trams and metro. See also the Netherlands#Get in Netherlands page for further information on national rail.
Alternatively, Rotterdam's Metro line E provides a connection for passengers coming from The Hague at Den Haag Centraal. The journey from Den Haag Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal costs €4.43 with an anonymous or personalised OV-chipkaart, which is marginally cheaper than an NS journey (€4.90) between the same points but takes about five minutes longer to complete the journey.

### By bus

* Flixbus, (bus stop) Rotterdam Centraal @ Conradstraat 52 (International bus stop platform 'GG' at Rotterdam Centraal.). Serving both domestic and international routes. They also have an extra stop at Rotterdam Zuidplein @ Gooilandsingel (updated Jul 2017)

### By boat
#### Ferries from England (UK)

You can also get to Rotterdam by ferry from the United Kingdom. No ferries arrive in the center.
* P&O Ferries has a daily overnight sailing from Kingston Upon Hull to Rotterdam Europoort. From Rotterdam Europoort P&O Ferries operates a shuttle bus service that takes you to the city center of Rotterdam. Please book this shuttle service while you book your sailing.
* StenaLine has a daily day and a daily overnight sailing from Harwich to Hook of Holland. Next to the port is Hoek van Holland Haven metro station. Line B brings you to the city centre in approximately 30 minutes.
* DFDS Seaways has a daily overnight ferry crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam. You can drive to Rotterdam in approx. 50 minutes.

#### Waterbus

The WaterBus services provide connections between Rotterdam and the Drechtsteden (Dordrecht and surrounding cities, including UNESCO-site - the world-famous windmills - Kinderdijk).

### By metro

Coming from The Hague or somewhere in between it can be advisable to use metroline E , see for more information the page about the whole region.

### By car

Rotterdam is easily reached by car. From Amsterdam take the A4 South to Rotterdam Haven. From Utrecht take the A12 and change to the A20 just after Gouda on knooppunt Gouwe. Traffic congestion on highways is common during peak hours (morning and evening commutes).
You can pay for on-street parking with debit and credit card. Remember your license plate number. Parking regulations are enforced regularly.
Parking garages can be easily found by following the sign-marked P-route. The easiest way to pay is by credit card, just insert your card on the way in, and insert it again on the way out, and the total time is automatically deducted. You can also pay with cash or debit card.
Park & Ride (P&R) facilities outside the center of Rotterdam offer free or cheap parking with public transport connections into the city center. For some locations (Slinge A15, Kralingse Zoom A16/E19 and Alexander A20/E25), you can park for free if you have a valid check-out on your public transport card (OV-chipkaart).

### By bike

As a Dutch city Rotterdam is well connected to extense (inter)national bicycle networks which use all kinds of infrastructural facilities.
Most attractive for tourist to cycle over longer distances are the so called LF-routes. So the city center is croshed by LF2 Stedenroute (City Route) from Amsterdam to Brussels and LF12 Maas- en Vestingroute follows the flow of river Maas all the way from The East. See for more information Bicycle Route Planner$^{[deadlink]}$: sellect more options and LF-Routes.

## Get around

RET operates the buses, trams, and metro within the city. You could find a journey planner and some network maps there. Alternatively you'd use the pan-Netherlands journey planner – 9292.nl. Transport generally arrives every 10 minutes during the day.
Free Wi-Fi is available in some trams, buses and metro lines, and on the busier metro stations, you just need to accept the terms of use.

### Tickets

You can use your contactless bank card$^{[deadlink]}$ to pay for any public transport that also accepts the OV-chipkaart. This system is called OV-Pay and is the most convenient way to travel. Debit and credit cards from Maestro, V PAY, Mastercard and Visa are supported. As anywhere else in the country OV-chipkaart can still be used to pay all kinds of public transport. The card costs €8.50 and you'd need to keep a positive balance there for at least €4.
For using buses and trams, checking in and out has to be done in the vehicle, while for train and metro use the gates or card-reader poles at the entrance of the stations.
Alternatively one of the city's transport travel cards could be used:
* RET travel cards. To travel by bus, tram and metro with RET. Can be purchased via the RET Barcode app, at ticket machines in metro stations and at RET Sales and Information points. For children under 12 and age 65 and up there is a reduced price. The 1-day ticket is not a 24-hour ticket: it is only valid on the day of the first check-in, until 04:00 of the early morning the next day. Tickets are not sold on bus and tram anymore; use your bank card to check in instead. 2 hours - €5.00; 1 (calendar) day - €11.00. (updated Jan 2025)
* Tourist Day Ticket: Rotterdam & The Hague region. Unlimited travel on local transport (bus, tram, metro and waterbus. Note: trains excluded) in the Rotterdam and the Hague region. Available from ticket machines and service counters of RET and at tourist information. Ticket is valid for travel with RET, HTM, HTMbuzz, Arriva, Connexxion, EBS, QBuzz and Waterbus in South Holland. €17.00 for one day. (updated Jan 2025)
* Rotterdam Welcome Card also allows for unlimited use of public transport with RET in the city and region.
Note that tickets must be purchased in advance, there is no ticket sale on board of bus, tram and metro.

### By metro

There are 5 metro lines in the city.
Lines A , B and C , share tracks between Schiedam Centrum and Capelsebrug and offer an east-west connection.
Lines D and E share tracks between Rotterdam Centraal and Slinge and offer a north-south connection. Interchange between all lines is possible on Beurs station in the city center.
Lines A , B and C operate every 10 minutes on working days and Saturday, which allows 3-4 minute intervals on the main section between Schiedam Centrum and Capelsebrug. Lines D and E operate every 10 minutes on working days and Saturday, which give shorter intervals between Rotterdam Centraal and Slinge. In the evening, on Saturday morning and Sunday the service is reduced to a 15-minute interval.
The Rotterdam Metro operates from 05:30 until 00:00. On weekends the opening time is not until 07:00 Saturday, and 08:15 on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday nights the service is extended for a bit longer past midnight, but not on some parts of line B and E. See the Weekend metro page for an overview.
For tourists the most important metro stations are:
Line A, B and C (East-West branch)
* Blaak: train station, interchange with trams and busses, cube houses, Markthal, ports
* Beurs: city center, shops, interchange with metro D and E
* Eendrachtsplein: museumpark
* Coolhaven: Euromast
* Delfshaven: historic port
Line D and E (North-South branch)
* Meijerplein: bus service to Rotterdam The Hague Airport (only line E )
* Blijdorp: Rotterdam Zoo (only line E )
* Rotterdam Centraal: northern edge of the city centre, interchange with trams and buses, train station
* Beurs: city centre, shops, interchange with metro A , B and C
* Leuvehaven: ports, museums, Erasmus Bridge, Waterbus
* Wilhelminaplein: Erasmus Bridge, Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, hotel New York
* Rijnhaven: Katendrecht, bus service to SS Rotterdam

### By tram

There are nine tram lines in the city. Each tram has a conductor. Tram stops provide a detailed map of the public transport system for on-the-go route-finding. Most lines operate every 10 minutes on workdays, with a more frequent service during rush hours on some lines.
All trams except 2 will stop at Rotterdam Centraal, the main train station of Rotterdam.
* Line 1 and 1 run from the suburbs in the northwest to De Esch in Kralingen, via Schiedam, the north of Delfshaven, and the city centre.
* Line 2 runs on the south side of the rivers, through the districts of Charlois, IJsselmonde and Rotterdam/Feijenoord.
* Line 3 starts at the central station, and connects to the south bank via Feijenoord, IJsselmonde and Beverwaard.
* Line 4 starts from Heemsraadplein, connecting to much of the city centre and the neighbourhoods to its west, before connecting to Hillegersberg via the central station, and Noord/Crooswijk.
* Line 5 originates from the central station, running to the south bank via Feijenoord and suburbs, before terminating in Barendrecht.
* Line 6 runs from Heemsraadplein to Kleiweg, just north of the A20 highway, running parallel with line 4 up to Rotterdam Noord railway station.
* Line 7 starts at Marconiplein, where the metro and lines 1, 8 and 11 meet, to Woudestein where it meets lines 1 and 11 again, via the central station and Erasmus University. Between Weena and Woudestein, lines 1 and 11 follow a more direct route via the Stadhuis, Beurs, Blaak and Oostplein metro stations, while line seven heads north via Crooswijk and Kralingen.
* Line 8 , lastly, comes from Spangen, and then continues through most of Delfshaven roughly following the river up to Eendrachtsplein in Cool, from where it joins the main tram corridor through the city centre, to eventually terminate in Schiebroek.
* Line 12 operates during football matches in the Kuip stadion only.

### By bus

RET operates bus services across the city.
Night bus service (BOB-bus) has been cancelled.
Buses operated by Arriva and Connexxion connect the city with suburbs.
Use the front door when boarding a bus.

### By water taxi

* Watertaxi Rotterdam, ☏ +31 10 403 03 03. Rotterdam was built on a number of islands and if you want to travel from shore to shore, the nicest way to go is to take a Water Taxi. Fixed fares for rides between 50 docks in Rotterdam and Schiedam, with 3 fares zones, starting at €4.50 per person in the central zone. You can give them a call, or use the online tool to see availability and book a ride. It is advised to book in advance, especially on days with large events in the city. €. (updated Jul 2022)

### By taxi

If you do need a taxi you will have to find yourself a taxi rank or call a taxi company. There is a minimum taxi fare of €2.30 (first it was €7.50 which included the first two kilometers). Additionally, each subsequent kilometre is charged €2.20.
* Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale RTC N.V., ☏ +31 10 462 60 60.
* Coöperatieve Taxi Onderneming St. Job u.a., ☏ +31 10 425 70 00.
* Citytaxi Rotterdam$^{[deadlink]}$ +31103145788
* Stadstaxi Rotterdam, ☏ +31 10 818 28 23.
* Botlektaxi Rotterdam, ☏ +31 10 666 66 06. (updated Jan 2022)
* Taxi Rotterdam 010, ☏ +31 10 261 31 88.
* Rotterdamse Taxi, ☏ +31 10 261 31 22.

### By tuk-tuk

* Tuk Tuk Company, ☏ +31 9009933399. A Thai-influenced transportation service using three-wheeled, open-air (but covered) motorized vehicles called Tuk Tuk offers a more economical and fast way to get around the city centre when compared to taxis. Tuk-tuk pricing is based on a zone system. Within a zone, a ride is €3.50 per person, €5 for 2 persons and €6.50 for 3. If you go to another zone, €3.50 is added (irrespective of number of persons). This service is handy if it is past the regular tram/bus/metro service hours (approximately half past midnight). (updated May 2019)

### By bicycle

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. Of course it is also strongly advisable to watch out for other traffic at all time. On the other hand bicyclists can rely on the fact that motorists and pedestrians are aware of bikes.
Always lock your bike securely when leaving it (preferably chained to a fixed object) or go to a guarded bicycle parking station.

#### Rent a bike

At Rotterdam Centraal, you can rent bicycles at the shop in the underground bicycle parking, below the Station square. Leave the station at the front, exit 'Stationsplein'. The entrance of the bicycle parking ('fietsenstalling', with the glass roof) is at your right, in front of grand cafe Engels. Use-it, rents out nice Kronan bikes (Schaatsbaan 41-45, leave Central Station towards the center. Turn right at restaurant Engels and take the 2nd right).
Bikes can be rented by several other private companies. Holland-Cycling.com provides a list of addresses. Another list you will find at Rotterdam.nl$^{[deadlink]}$.
If you have a personal (rather than an anonymous) OV-chipkaart, bicycles can be rented at many train and metro stations and other central locations by the OV-fiets system.

#### Guarded bicycle parking

* The larger train stations have their own guarded bicycle parking.
* Rotterdam municipality has also some free locations.

## See
### Landmarks

Rotterdam has national notoriety for its architecture, and the city therefore is dotted with landmarks of all sorts. Most of them you will find in the city centre, but Feijenoord is also quite dense with them.
Rotterdam is known for some bridges, not in the last place the Erasmusbrug, spanning the Nieuwe Maas between the city centre and Feijenoord. Also of historical importance is the former railway lifting bridge De Hef, slightly upstream from the Erasmusbrug.
Historical landmarks are somewhat rare to come across in Rotterdam's city centre, but the city itself isn't completely devoid of them. In the city centre, the 1920 City hall and the Great or Saint-Laurence church, both survivors of the 1940 bombardment. Rotterdam is also home to the country's oldest known bronze statue, depicting Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam and dating from 1622. It is found opposite the Saint-Laurence church. De Verwoeste Stad (Destroyed City) is a cubist statue depicting a man in agony who just lost his heart (symbol of the bombed city centre). Feijenoord, despite being home to many modern redevelopments, houses some historical landmarks such as the former headquarters of the Holland-Amerikalijn. Also worth visiting are the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) and the nearby Witte Huis (White House) and Schielandshuis.
Industrial landmarks are plenty in a city that mostly thrives off of harbour activities. Besides the many industrial sites found in the Port of Rotterdam, the Van Nellefabriek in the north of the city is a listed UNESCO site.
The skyline of Rotterdam can, of course, be observed from one of the many skyscrapers in the city - though you should probably book a hotel located in a skyscraper or find one with a publicly accessible roof, as trespass isn't welcomed. Another great site for views over the city though, is the Euromast on the border between the city centre and Delfshaven, twice in its history the highest building of the Netherlands. For a relatively small entry fee, you can climb the tower or for a larger sum, you can dine inside of it. For those less comfortable with great heights though, a birds-eye overview of the city can also be obtained at Miniworld Rotterdam, near the central station.
The city is also well-known for its experimental and out-of-the-ordinary architecture, often being a testing ground for new concepts. A prime example of this are the Kubuswoningen (Cube Houses) at Blaak; one has been set aside as a museum, offering a view of the unique perspective and custom furniture that comes with living in one of the houses. Also striking are the Markthal, harbour-crane inspired sculptures at the Schouwburgplein and the Koopgoot, all found in the city centre.
Historic churches: in the Netherlands churches are generally closed to visitors on Sundays.

### Other sites

The area around the Station Rotterdam Blaak was destroyed by a Nazi bombardment during World War II. After the war this area was populated with some bold examples of modern architecture. The Kubuswoningen are literally cubes, tilted over by 45 degrees. Oude Haven (Old Harbour) is a nice place to see and sit at some café nearby. Witte Huis is a "skyscraper" built in 1898. Het Schielandshuis is the only remaining 17th-century building in the city centre of Rotterdam.
Delfshaven is one of very few locations in the city which survived World War II bombings. 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 little shops in this neighbourhood, by night attractive pubs and restaurants make the visit worthwhile.
* Chinatown in Centrum is full of Chinese restaurants and also Indonesian and other Asian restaurants.

### Windmills

Rotterdam has only seven windmills left. Of these, only De Ster and De Lelie in Rotterdam/Kralingen-Crooswijk 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. A blue flag also indicates that the mill is open to visitors.
Look for De Prinsenmolen, De Vier Winden, and De Speelman windmills in Northern Rotterdam and De Zandweg in Rotterdam Zuid.

### Museums

Museumkaart is accepted at the city's museums. The Museumpark area in Centrum has many of the city's museums. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen houses a rich, broad collection including masterpieces ranging from Pieter Brueghel the Elder's The "little" Tower of Babel (1563) to an important collection of surrealism, prominently featuring Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. Sylvette is a large work by Pablo Picasso was erected in 1973. It is one of the elaborations Picasso made based on the portraits of his muse Sylvette David. Definitely worth a look. Kunsthal houses some 25 exhibitions annually with a fascinating and widely varied repertoire.
Het Nieuwe Instituut museum includes the Museum voor Architectuur, Design en Digitale cultuur, a museum for architecture,deesign and digital culture, and Huis Sonneveld, a building in the Bauhaus style. Chabot Museum is a neat little museum is housed in a splendid modernist 1930s villa. It houses a collection of works of the expressionist painter Hendrik Chabot. Natuurhistorisch Museum has changing expositions and a fixed collection of mammals, plants and fossils.
The city has two maritime museums. The Maritiem Museum has a variety of expositions about the harbour of Rotterdam and maritime history, and a restored 19th-century gunboat that is a must-see for naval enthusiasts. The Mariniersmuseum shows the history of the centuries-old Narine Corps and its modern-day role. Special attention is given to the heroic role of the corps in the 1940 defence of Rotterdam.

#### Other museums

In Centrum, you can visit Museum Rotterdam, which is dedicated to the modern day Rotterdam and its history; the Museum of Chess-Pieces, which houses a diverse collection of chess games from ancient Chinese to of cartoon characters; the Wereldmuseum (World Arts Museum), which focuses on encounters and cross-cultural inspiration; and Witte de With (Centre for Contemporary Arts).
Nederlands Fotomuseum shows the diversity of forms of photography, especially as a medium of social expression and commentary.
SSN Museumstoomdepot features old steam locomotives and trains. Besides a small museum it's a workshop where you can see restoration in progress.

## Do

Upcoming events and performances are listed on the VVV and Use-it websites. The larger events are well documented on the VVV site, for smaller venues check Use-it (under Calendar) for a very attractive and well updated listing of music, expositions, movies and parties that need checking out.
The Uitburo office inside the Central Library provides information on theatre and music performances. It also sells tickets and offers an overview of performances that can be visited for free (gratis).

### Events

Rotterdam plays host to a lot of events, a lot of them yearly ones. Besides these there are a lot smaller ones that can be very nice, so ask around and check the VVV website. A few of these yearly events to name:
* Six Days of Rotterdam. A cycling competition in early December. (updated Dec 2024)
* IFFR. The International Film Festival Rotterdam, which mainly features independent films from all over the world in February.
* Art Rotterdam. In February, you can see (and buy) masterpieces of modern art.
* World tennis Tournament. In February.
* On the Rotterdam Museum Night$^{[deadlink]}$ in March, nearly all Rotterdam museums and galleries open their doors in the evening with special events.
* Motel Mozaique. Music, art & performance. Plus a sleeping project that enables sleeping in art or on special locations in Rotterdam (April)
* Rotterdam Marathon, internationally reputed as a very fast marathon, is held in April in Centrum.
* Poetry International. Festival in June.
* Metropolis Festival (music) on the first Sunday in July.
* The sublime North Sea Jazz festival in July with loads of worldfamous artists.
* Summer Carnival. A huge Caribbean-oriented parade and party in the city centre.
* Heerlijk Rotterdam. Three day event where you can sample dishes from Michelin-star restaurants for a reduced price (dates vary, summer edition usually late August)
* The World Port Days$^{[deadlink]}$ a weekend full of activities centred around the large harbour of Rotterdam (early September)
* The classical music Gergjev festival in September, led by master-conductor Valery Gergjev.
* The Rotterdam Harvest Festival in September.
* Bazar Curieux (music) in December
For full listings of events check Rotterdam.info and Use-it$^{[deadlink]}$.

### Tours

Several tours can be found in Centrum, including the tourist tram line 10 through the city centre and historic parts of Rotterdam on classic trams; the Spido harbour trip through the first 8 km of the harbour; and De pannenkoekenboot, on which you cam eat as many pancakes as you want while you cruise the harbour.

### Cinema

There are two huge megacinemas in Rotterdam. The one in the city centre is called Pathé Schouwburgplein (at the Schouwburgplein), the other one is on the southside of the city. It's called Pathé De Kuip (next to the Feyenoord stadium De Kuip). In these cinemas you can see Hollywood movies and occasionally an arthouse movie. To get to De Kuip, take tram to stop Stadion Feijenoord.
If you're more into alternative cinema go to Lantaren/Venster Cinema (Otto Reuchlinweg 996 (Wilhelminapier)). Here you'll get European, Asian and Latin American cinema in a nice atmosphere. It has a nice bar too. The other option is Cinerama (Westblaak 18) which shows a combination of art/house films and commercial Hollywood flicks. During the IFFR (International Film Festival Rotterdam), which usually takes place in February, art-house movies are shown at much more locations throughout the city.
In August, an open air cinema at the Lloydkwartier shows both blockbusters and independent films. Entrance is free, and you can either bring your own chair or rent one onsite. To get there, take A to Coolhaven and walk for about 10–15 minutes towards the river in the south.

### Other attractions

When you want to combine a unique experience with a great view over the city of Rotterdam, you can make a (tandem) skydive at Skydive Rotterdam. At Skydive Rotterdam (also called the Flying Dutchman) you can book a tandem skydive or do a complete skydiving course and jump from a height of 3 or 4 kilometers. It's the only skydiving school in the "Randstad" area and the only place in the Netherlands where you can jump over a major city like Rotterdam. When the weather's good you will have a spectacular view over the Rotterdam skyline and other parts of the Randstad area, all the way to the coastline.
An airplane can be rented at reasonable rates at Rotterdam Airport at Happy Wing. Nice tours above the city, its ports or the coastline are on offer.
On summer Sundays, it is possible to lower yourself down from the Euromast. On last Sundays of summer months you can glide down in 15 seconds on a wire (tokkelen). Both: Not for the faint of heart! Check the website of Heightspecialists.

### With children

Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo) in Kralingen-Crooswijk 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. The Oceanium is filled with ocean and coastal dwellers, including exotic fish and puffins.
Miniworld Rotterdam in Centrum is the largest indoor model railroad layout of the Netherlands.

### Football

    Rotterdam has three professional soccer teams:
* Feyenoord play in Eredivisie, the top tier. Their home ground is Stadion Feijenoord (capacity 51,000), better known as "De Kuip"; it's often also used for rock concerts and similar events. It's south of the river with its own railway station Rotterdam Stadion.
* Sparta Rotterdam also play in Eredivisie. Their home ground is Het Kasteel ("The Castle", capacity 12,000), 3 km west of the centre.
* SBV Excelsior were relegated in 2024 so they play in Eerste Divisie the second tier. Their Stadion Woudestein (capacity 4500), now called Van Donge & De Roo Stadion, is 2 km east of city centre on the north bank of the river.

### Water sports and yachting

Being a major harbour and having lots of waterways and lakes, Rotterdam has a lot to offer for water-enthousiasts. 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.

### Beach

The closest good beach is about 30 km away at Hook of Holland. Here you will find a very fine sand beach with good swimming and enough entertainment. To get there, take line B to Hoek van Holland Strand, its end point.
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 discothèques and a boulevard along a splendid fine-sand beach. It can get very crowded here. Take the train to Den Haag Centraal Station and tram 9 subsequently. Also at the same coast is Kijkduin, which is very recommended for children. To get there, get E to its northern end point, then take bus 24 to Kijkduin. If you want to go to the beach but want to stay in the city, consider taking B to its end point, Nesselande and walk across the Corsicalaan from there. You are at the Strand Nesselande.

## Buy

The main shopping areas are in Centrum. Afrikaanderplein Markt in Feijenoord is a market of about 300 stalls geared towards Rotterdam's inhabitants of Antillian, South American or African descent (a lot of whom happen to live nearby).
Dutch cheese is very famous, you can get some at grocery stores or wider variety at the marketplace. Other typical Dutch things are stroopwafels, hagelslag and drop (liquorice).

## Eat

The area around metrostation Blaak, called Oude haven (Old Harbour), is not only worth seeing but has also a lot of pubs and restaurants. The Rotterdam dining scene is developing very fast with new restaurants opening very often. While most of the attention focusses on new Michelin-star aspiring places, there is very much a trend towards high quality mid-range restaurants offering French/Dutch cuisine.

## Drink

Centrum has a wide variety of bars, coffee shops and music venues.
The Kaapse Brouwers brewery has four locations around the city. Each location has is a whole wall of taps to choose from. They are popular place so waiting lines can be long.

## Sleep

See district articles for listings for camping, hostels and hotels.

## Connect

The telephone country code for the Netherlands is 31, and Rotterdam's city code is 010. In case of an Emergency, dial 1-1-2 (free of charge). When staying for a longer time, buy a prepaid sim card for your mobile phone.

## Stay safe

You should take normal precautions against pickpockets and baggage theft, especially in the main shopping streets, at markets, in trams and trains, at stations, and anywhere where tourists congregate.
It is not wise to hang around Stadhuisplein when nightlife ends. Fights often occur in this area after midnight. Rotterdam also has a reputation of mass venues getting out of hand, though you shouldn't worry too much about it. If violence breaks out at football festivities (not so unlikely) or at the end of sun soaked festive days, like Kings Day (even less unlikely, especially at the Stadhuisplein), just get out of the way and you're unlikely to be affected. It's advisable not to wear a football jersey of Ajax Amsterdam or any other stuff promoting Ajax or Amsterdam.
In terms of general safety, at daylight most areas in the city are safe. But at night, some areas such as Spangen, Charlois and Hillesluis are wise to avoid.
When you drive a car with a foreign numberplate (especially if it's a French or Belgian one) you might or will be approached by so-called drugsrunners. This can occur on the motorways surrounding the city and in the city proper. These guys try to lure people to places where drugs are dealt. Do not respond to their signals and do not follow them.

## Go next

If you do not have a car, the hub for leaving the city will probably be Rotterdam Centraal, from where trains leave in all directions at short intervals (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 metro station Zuidplein. In contrast with the trains, bus departure times should be checked in advance as they can be far and between.
For trains to the North and the South travellers can also choose to depart from Rotterdam Blaak.
The Hague can also be reached easily and rather quickly by metro line E.
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 train or by metro (in 15 minutes) too. MRDH is the area of the region Rotterdam-Schiedam-Delft-The Hague, see this page for more information on travel and cycling.

### Nearby

* Kinderdijk — a UNESCO World Heritage site. 19 old windmills are still helping to control the water level there. Windmill #2 is open to the public, allowing you to see its inner workings. In season there is a direct waterbus service from an embankment at the Erasmus bridge (travel time ~1/2 hour). Alternatively, Arriva bus 90 from bus and metro station Zuidplein will get you there in 50 minutes.
* Schiedam — visit the historic centre of this small town at the edge of Rotterdam, including the world's six tallest windmills. Also you can find there the Stedelijk Museum, an attractive museum with some nice modern art exhibitions. Easily reached by bicycle, a train (from Rotterdam Centraal to Schiedam Centrum), metro A, B or C line to Schiedam Centrum station, or tram lines 1 or 11 (Broersvest or Koemarkt stop).

### Day trips

* Delft — this famous town is a 15-minute train ride from Rotterdam Centraal. Very historic and scenic, but also very touristy.
* Dordrecht — a magnificent historic town with little tourism and an excellent old art museum (Dordrechts Museum). It is a 15-min train ride, or even better, take a waterbus$^{[deadlink]}$.
* Gouda — visit this small picturesque postcard-like town and see the magnificent stained glass windows in the Sint Janskerk. Also 20 min by train.
* Delta Works — a series of construction projects protecting the Southwest of the Netherlands from the sea. The Oosterschelde storm surge barrier is the most impressive, and next to it is Neeltje Jans, a water theme park dedicated to the Delta Works.
* Brielle — a mediaeval fortified town. The centre is a nice ensemble of old houses and churches, enclosed by the original earthen 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 a full day in Brielle. Take bus 103 at the Spijkenisse Centrum metro station. A journey takes about 70 min.
* Schoonhoven — a nice small town with many well preserved medieval buildings on the Lek river in a halfway to Utrecht. From Station Capelsebrug, Rotterdam, take a bus 195 (direction Utrecht). A journey takes about 1 hour.
* Go to the other cities of the Randstad, e.g. The Hague is 1/2 hour by train or metro, Utrecht is around 45 min by train, Amsterdam about an hour.