Rotterdam

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Rotterdam is a young, dynamic city, continuously renewing itself at a rapid rate. Sparkling skyscrapers, an impressive port, trendy restaurants and food markets, renowned museums and awesome festivals are the direct result of the can-do mentality of the Rotterdammers. Add to that the many extraordinary attractions and city tours — by bike, bus, boat or on foot — and you understand why Rotterdam was voted Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2016.

Population:

640,000

Currency:

Euro

Emergency Numbers:

112

Opening Hours:

Generally, shops in the city centre are open 7 days a week, from around 10 am until 7 pm. On Sunday shops open their doors at 12 am. On Friday shops are open until 9 pm.

Most attractions can be visited 7 days a week as well. The Markthal is open until 8 pm except for Friday (9 pm) and Sunday (6 pm). Rotterdam museums welcome their visitors from Tuesday until Sunday (thus closed on Monday).

National holidays include Christmas, New Years Day, Easter, Kings Day (27th of April) and Pentecost.

Newspapers:

City of Architecture

Full of energy and innovation, Rotterdam reinvented itself after the bombing of the Second World War. It broke with the past and chose modern architecture. The motto: light, air and space, was ground breaking for that time. Rotterdam still embraces experimentation: almost anything is possible. Here, you are constantly surprised by new initiatives: from a rooftop city farm to a music festival in the harbour, from an exclusive rooftop bar to a brewery in an old warehouse.

If you love architecture then a visit to Rotterdam — with its patchwork of architectural styles — is a must. Icons of the Nieuwe Bouwen era stand beside the typical reconstruction-architecture from the sixties, seventies and eighties. They clash cheerfully with the hypermodern landmarks that have been built in recent decennia: the Erasmusbrug, Rotterdam Central Station, De Rotterdam, the Timmerhuis and of course the Markthal.

Attractions & Tours

Sailing through the port of Rotterdam, marveling at the exotic animals in Diergaarde Blijdorp (Rotterdam Zoo) or climbing the Laurenskerk tower: Rotterdam has an amazing variety of fun things to do for visitors of all ages.

Water, Port & Harbours

As a port city, Rotterdam has unbreakable ties to the water, from the Maas River that flows right through the city to the many (historic) city harbours like Delfshaven. The city flows – courtesy of the Maas – seamlessly over into its industrial port that stretches for 40 kilometres to the Maasvlakte 2 and Hoek van Holland.

Art & Culture

Rotterdam has a rich cultural scene centred largely around the cultural axis between Museumpark and Witte de Withstraat. This area includes acclaimed museums like Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Kunsthal Rotterdam and The New Institute, where large and small (international) exhibitions for old and new art, design and photography are presented. The numerous galleries around Witte de Withstraat and the city centre are also well worth your time.

You don't necessarily have to head indoors to see art in Rotterdam, though. Pablo Picasso, Joep van Lieshout, Henry Moore, Paul McCartney, Elmgreen & Dragset: masterpieces by the world's most famous artists can simply be visited in public in Rotterdam. If you love street art, feast your eyes on the beauties around the Luchtsingel pedestrian bridge and the Hofbogen arches, where major and impressive wall paintings by local artists are progressively covering the walls.

Rotterdam also boasts many theatres, concert halls and arthouse cinemas where you go to be inspired and touched by (classical) music, theatre, cabaret, dance and musicals from local, national and international artists and companies.

Fans of arthouse films can indulge themselves at the charming old Cinerama cinema, at the LantarenVenster movie house or the new small Kino movie theatre. Or visit Rotterdam in January during the global International Film Festival Rotterdam.