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    Rotterdam

    Netherlands

    Rotterdam

    CityCultureArchitecture

    Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands, home to Europe's largest seaport, and the destination for all seeking modern architecture.

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    9. Rotterdam
    Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands, home to Europe's largest seaport, and the destination for all seeking modern architecture. Because a German air raid on May 14, 1940, almost completely destroyed the city center, the core was rebuilt after the war – with structures like Piet Blom's Cube Houses, the Markthal, and the Erasmus Bridge.The city, with around 671,000 residents, is located in Zuid-Holland province within the Rhine-Meuse Delta. The Nieuwe Maas divides it into northern and southern parts; on the south bank, the former port area Kop van Zuid has grown into a district with skyscrapers, museums, and hotels.
    Rotterdam is home to around 671,000 residents, making it the second-largest city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam. The city is located in the Rhine-Meuse Delta, mostly below sea level, and is divided into a north and south part by the Nieuwe Maas. Its port is Europe's largest seaport. The city centre on the north bank was completely redeveloped after its destruction in May 1940; few buildings from the old city, such as the City Hall and the Laurenskerk, remained. Today, the Markthal and Cube Houses shape its image. Beyond the Erasmus Bridge lies the Kop van Zuid, a former port area with skyscrapers, museums, and hotels; further west is the old port of Delfshaven. You can get around by metro, tram, and bus operated by RET, or on the water with the Waterbus and Water Taxi. Rotterdam Centraal station, opened in 2014, is the starting point for most visitors.

    Sights in Rotterdam

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Markthal
    Market

    1Markthal

    The horseshoe-shaped Market Hall by the MVRDV office opened on October 1, 2014. The arch houses 228 apartments, including market stalls, shops, and restaurants. The interior is covered by the approximately 11,000-square-meter artwork „Hoorn des Overvloeds“ (Horn of Plenty) by Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam.
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    Cube Houses (Kijk-Kubus)
    Museum

    2Cube Houses (Kijk-Kubus)

    Architect Piet Blom designed the point-tilted cube houses; completed in 1984, they are inhabited. One of these, the Kijk-Kubus, is a furnished museum house explaining the project with models and photos.
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    Kunsthal Rotterdam
    Museum

    3Kunsthal Rotterdam

    The steel and glass museum building shows changing exhibitions on art, design, and photography.
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    Erasmus Bridge
    Attraction

    4Erasmus Bridge

    The 802-meter-long bridge over the Nieuwe Maas was opened in 1996 and connects the center with the Kop van Zuid. Its 139-meter-high, angled pylon, designed by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, earned it the nickname 'de zwaan' – the Swan.
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    Euromast
    Historic Landmark

    5Euromast

    The observation tower was built in 1960 with a height of 101 meters and was extended to around 185 meters in 1970. From the top, you'll get a panoramic view of the city and harbor; inside the tower, you'll find dining options, plus abseiling and a zip line.
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    Maritime Museum
    Museum

    6Maritime Museum

    The Maritime Museum tells the story of seafaring and the Port of Rotterdam with old ships, port models, and multimedia stations. For children, there are their own interactive exhibits.
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    Restaurants in Rotterdam

    1

    Fenix Food Factory

    Food market with food stalls and its own craft beer brewery directly on the waterfront on the south bank of the Maas.
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    2

    Harvest

    Modern café with a terrace by the water, serving brunch and specialty coffees.
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    3

    Little V Rotterdam

    Vietnamese restaurant on Grotekerkplein in the center, not far from Laurenskerk.
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    4

    Foodhallen Rotterdam

    Food court with bar on Wilhelminakade on Kop van Zuid, near the Erasmus Bridge.
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    Architecture, Museums and Festivals

    City of Modern ArchitectureOn May 14, 1940, a German air raid destroyed the city center; approximately 800 people died, and 80,000 became homeless. After 1945, the city decided on a complete urban renewal. You can see the result at every turn: Piet Blom's Cube Houses (1984), the Erasmus Bridge (1996), the Markthal, and the new Central Station (both 2014).MuseumsDepot Boijmans Van Beuningen: Opened in 2021, this MVRDV-designed building in Museumpark is considered the world's first publicly accessible art depot, housing over 155,000 objects. Visits are only possible with an online ticket and time slot; it is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. From the rooftop terrace, approximately 40 meters high, you can look out over the city.Kunsthal: Changing exhibitions on art, design, and photography.Maritime Museum: Shipping and port history, with dedicated areas for children.FestivalsInternational Film Festival Rotterdam: Late January to early February.North Sea Jazz Festival: Second full weekend in July.

    Nightlife

    1

    KINO Rotterdam

    Cinema with a cocktail bar and restaurant in Gouvernestraat, west of the center.
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    2

    Duke of Tokyo Rotterdam

    Karaoke and cocktail bar on Hofplein downtown.
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    On the Road in Rotterdam

    Metro, Tram and BusNetwork: RET operates five metro lines with Beurs as a central hub, as well as trams and buses. Metro Line E goes to Den Haag, Line B to the beach of Hoek van Holland.Payment: Simply check in and out with your contactless debit/credit card or smartphone (OVpay). The RET day ticket costs 12 euros, the 2-hour ticket 5.50 euros.Rotterdam City Card: Available for one to five days (from 17.50 euros for one day), offering unlimited travel on RET metro, tram, and bus services, plus at least 25% discount at over 50 museums and attractions. It is not valid on trains, the Waterbus, or Water Taxis.On the WaterWaterbus: The Line 20 express ferry departs from the north side of the Erasmus Bridge towards Dordrecht. A WaterShuttle runs directly from Willemskade to the Kinderdijk windmills in about 30 minutes.Water Taxi: These small boats serve around 50 stops in Rotterdam and Schiedam and operate on demand; order via app, website, or phone.Tourist Day Ticket: Valid for one day throughout Zuid-Holland for 17.50 euros, including Waterbus.

    Accommodations in Rotterdam

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    Campgrounds in Rotterdam

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    Nearby

    South Holland

    South Holland

    South Holland is the most densely populated province of the Netherlands, uniting two very different major cities: the port city of Rotterdam and the seat of government, The Hague. In between lie the historic centers of Leiden, Delft, Gouda, Dordrecht, and Schiedam.Along the North Sea coast, behind the dunes, are seaside resorts such as Katwijk and Noordwijk. Southeast of Rotterdam stand the windmills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the south of the province, bridges and dams connect the islands of the Rhine Delta.
    Kinderdijk

    Kinderdijk

    In Kinderdijk, about 15 kilometres east of Rotterdam, 19 18th-century windmills stand along the canals – an ensemble that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. They were built around 1740 to drain the Alblasserwaard polder.Today, two diesel pumping stations handle most of the work, but some windmills are still operational. The name means “Children's Dike” and refers to a legend from the St. Elizabeth's Flood of 1421: A cradle with a sleeping child is said to have been washed ashore here, kept balanced by a cat.
    Delft

    Delft

    Delft is located between The Hague and Rotterdam and is known for three things: its blue and white Delft Blue pottery, the painter Jan Vermeer, and the history of the House of Orange. William of Orange was assassinated here in 1584; the royal family's burial place is located in the Nieuwe Kerk on the market square.The city has a population of around 110,000 and is home to a Technical University. Its center, with canals, the 1620 City Hall, and the Oude Kerk with its leaning tower, can be easily explored on foot.
    Gouda

    Gouda

    Gouda gave its name to the Netherlands' most famous cheese: it is produced in the surrounding area and has been traded here for centuries – every Thursday morning from April to August at the cheese market. This city in Zuid-Holland is also the home of the Stroopwafel and was long known for candles and clay pipes.In the middle of the market square stands one of the country's oldest Gothic town halls, built between 1448 and 1450. The Sint-Janskerk, at 123 meters, is the longest cruciform church in the Netherlands and famous for its 70 stained-glass windows. Gouda has around 76,000 inhabitants and is located at the confluence of the Gouwe and Hollandse IJssel.
    Den Haag

    Den Haag

    The Hague is the Netherlands' seat of government and parliament, royal residence, and a city by the sea: The seaside resort of Scheveningen, with its historic Kurhaus, is part of the city. Visitors come for the medieval Binnenhof, for Vermeer and Rembrandt in the Mauritshuis, and for the miniature city of Madurodam.The city, with around 566,000 inhabitants, is capital of Zuid-Holland province; its center lies about six kilometers from the North Sea. As seat of the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague is also a center for international law.