Things to Do in Rotterdam
Transportation by Train in the Netherlands
I travelled to Rotterdam from Maastricht by train on Friday evening. Even though I had to change trains in Eindhoven, it was quite easy to do so due the fact that my train arrived on time. There is no specific time on the train tickets in the Netherlands, you only buy it for the relevant day. If you buy the ticket in advance, you have to download the NS app or print the ticket. Taking a photo from your phone or downloading it and showing it is not valid. In some stations, you have to scan your ticket to enter to the station in Maastricht, but I scanned it to exit the station in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam Airport
The Rotterdam airport is a fairly small one but the best part is that there is a terrace area on the upper floor. The duty free was not big either in the departure section. You can reach the airport from the city center by bus number 33. You can pay with a contactless credit card, you have to scan your credit card when you get on and off the bus. It departs from Rotterdam Central station to go to the airport. My hotel was within walking distance to the station, but there are also metro and tram options from the central station.
Where to Stay in Rotterdam?
I stayed at The James Hotel in Rotterdam, I think it was very advantageous in terms of location. Any place around the Forum would be central. The James was also more luxurious than I thought, I stayed on the 14th floor and had a full city view from my room. I was also lucky to get a free room upgrade and stay in a very large room.
Places to See in Rotterdam
Museum Park
All the museums in Rotterdam are gathered in one area. Even if you are not visiting the museums, I recommend you pass through the park in front of it and the surrounding areas.The surroundings feature a striking mix of open green spaces, water features, and minimalist pathways that reflect Rotterdam’s modern character.
Kunsthal is a modern art museum, you can decide whether to go or not according to the temporary exhibitions held at the time.
Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen resembles a flower pot from the outside and is ideal for taking your own photos since its exterior is like a mirror. It is said the rooftop was nice for the city view, but it could only be visited for free after 6pm from Thursday to Saturday.
There are also different museums, you can plan according to your interests. Het Nieuwe Instituut is a museum focusing on architecture, design, and digital culture. Natural History Museum is a family-friendly museum, showcasing the natural world, from fossils to animal specimens.
Het Park
Het Park was one of my favorite spots in Rotterdam. It’s a serene place perfect for a leisurely walk, surrounded by tall trees, sprawling grassy areas, and charming puddles frequented by ducks. The peaceful atmosphere makes it an ideal escape from the city’s hustle and bustle.
One unique feature is the designated barbecue area, so if you notice smoke rising in the distance, you’re likely near that section. The park also has several cozy cafés where you can take a break and enjoy a drink or snack while soaking in the natural surroundings.
Markthall
Although Markthall is a place where different food options are offered like in other cities, its attraction lies in its exterior and interior design rather than with its food options. Although its exterior looks different in terms of architecture, designed like a horse-shoe, I can say that the wall art inside impressed me much more. The colorful mural inside called “Horn of Plenty”, created by artists Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam. The mural depicts oversized fruits, vegetables, and other food items, celebrating the diversity of the produce sold inside.
An open market is set up in front of Markthall on Tuesdays and Saturdays. My friends from Rotterdam said that they usually do their shopping at this market, and that the cheeses are tastier than those sold in the supermarkets. There are also clothing, food, bag, fruit and vegetable stalls and most of them accept credit cards. There was a building with an interesting architecture right across from Markthall, I later learned that it was the central library.
Cube Houses
I can say that Cube Houses are the most well-known tourist spot in Rotterdam.The Cube Houses are designed to resemble a forest, with each cube representing a tree, and the entire housing complex symbolizing a forest. Maybe they were green, they would evoke the same feeling inside me. Rather, they reminded me of my days at Toys’r’Us. While I was little, I’d go into all the miniature houses designed for children and play there for hours.
The architectural goal was to optimize space in an urban setting by tilting the houses to make more use of the available area. Although these houses look miniature, they are not very small, there are actually people living in them. You can even go inside one of them for a reasonable price, but my Turkish friend living in the Netherlands said that the interior design of the house was not unique and that it was the same as a standard house, so I did not. If you wish, you can visit the hostel.
The Cube Houses are located near Blaak Station, right in the heart of Rotterdam, and are easily accessible by public transportation. They are close to other notable landmarks such as the Markthal, Old Harbor (Oude Haven), and Maritime Museum, making them a convenient stop while exploring Rotterdam’s central area.
Wittehuis
This was the tallest building in Europe in 1897, it is one of the rare buildings that remained after the bombing of Rotterdam. Since many buildings were redesigned after the bombing, they have a very modern and architecturally different appearance. Although it is not a must-see, it is a nice building and it is very close to the Cube Houses. You can even take a nice photo of it from the Cube Houses as well.
Delfshaven
Delfshaven was one of the places I enjoyed the most, because it is like a separate town with its 17th century stone houses lined up by the canal like in the Dutch cities we know. Unlike much of Rotterdam, which was heavily bombed during World War II, Delfshaven survived intact, making it one of the few places where you can experience the city’s pre-war charm.Delfshaven is best known as the departure point of the Pilgrims who sailed to America. This makes it an important place in both Dutch and American history.
I really enjoyed walking along both sides of the canal in the part marked on the map as Historishe Delfshaven, there are also many restaurants and cafes by the canal.
Delfshaven is located in the western part of Rotterdam, easily accessible by public transport (tram, metro, or bus). I have had a long walk from city center but it’s about a 10-minute metro ride from the city center.
Historische Tuin Schoonoord
And now it is time for the Rotterdam’s Zen spot. I call it a Zen spot because it is very small park but extremely peaceful. It is located right next to Het Park, but there are certain opening and closing hours, be sure to check before going. You can sit and meditate for hours, write. You can get lost in the thousands of shades of green. The different bird sounds coming from the bird cage also contribute to the Zen effect. There weren’t many people when I went there on Sunday afternoon, it was quite enjoyable.
Stadhuis Rotterdam
I discovered the city hall while passing by at night and thinking “oh what a beautiful building, I wonder what kind of building it is”. I liked the decorations and the magnificence on it. People actually praised the interior and especially the garden, but I didn’t have the chance to go inside.
De Verwoeste Stad
When the Nazis bombed the city in 1940, they didn’t expect the Dutch to resist. They bombed and destroyed the entire historical center, and then the Dutch surrendered. In memory of that period, French/Belarusian artist Ossip Zadkine made this statue in the form of a heartless man. The lack of a heart symbolizes the destruction of the city center of Rotterdam, a heartless city.
Churches in Rotterdam
Citykerk Het Steiger Sint Dominicus was one of the most interesting when viewed from the outside, I looked at the map while passing by the building and surprised to find out it was indeed a monastery.
Very close to Markthall is the most magnificent church, Stichting Grote Kerk de Rotterdam, I especially liked its back door; I recommend you take a tour around it.
Of course, the churches are not limited to those but these were the most interesting ones for me.
Wall Art in Rotterdam
Although Rotterdam is not very rich in terms of wall art, it might still surprise you occasionally. For example, there was one on Witte de Withstraat, next to the Biergarten… When you search for mural on the Google maps, there seems to be more in the area around Rotterdam Central Station. You can visit the marked points there. Unfortunately, I could not go after the mural this time since I had little time.
