It all started with a conversation I overheard between two ladies as I walked down a street in Amsterdam. One of them had just spent a weekend in Rotterdam and she spoke enthusiastically about how “gezellig” (a typical Dutch word basically meaning cosy) the city had become, the many things to do in Rotterdam and what a lovely time she’d had. I almost stopped in my tracks when I heard that! Coming from an Amsterdammer, and considering that Amsterdam and Rotterdam are fierce rivals, this verged on blasphemy! Haha! It triggered my curiosity and I made a mental note to spend a weekend in Rotterdam soon. A week later, I found myself in this port city and I couldn’t agree more with that lady! Since that first weekend visit, I’ve returned to Rotterdam on numerous occasions and it’s become one of my favourite cities to visit in the Netherlands!

My weekend in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a bit of an anomaly in the Netherlands. The city proudly holds the title of being one of the largest ports in the world and it’s arguably the only city in the country that oozes modern flair coupled with an impressive skyline. Its rivalry with Amsterdam is legendary!

A city reborn

I never thought much of Rotterdam to be honest; this can be partially attributed to being an Amsterdam snob myself! 😉 Large swathes of the city were destroyed during World War II. The reconstruction that followed was, in my view, more functional than aesthetically-pleasing, resulting in a rather nondescript cityscape – a sharp contrast to Amsterdam, with its charming canals and historic buildings. However, Rotterdam started to experience somewhat of a renaissance from around the turn of the century. New urban projects spearheaded by various world-renowned architects brought new life and a shiny, new skyline to the city.

Where I stayed in Rotterdam

I chose the Mainport Hotel, a five-star waterfront hotel in the city centre as my weekend base. The hotel is perfectly situated between the harbour and the Coolsingel, the city’s main thoroughfare, and a stone’s throw from the city’s main attractions such as the lively Witte de With quarter, Markthal, the Museum Quarter and the Kop van Zuid.

I booked a harbourview room with a spa – some rooms come equipped with both a Finnish spa and a jacuzzi with a view of the harbour! My room had a gorgeous view of the Leuvenhaven and the city’s iconic Erasmus bridge.

Things to see in Rotterdam

As I only had a weekend, I decided to concentrate on the new architecture in Rotterdam as I set out to explore the city. I’ve included in the map below my sightseeing walking route along the highlights of Rotterdam.

Weekend in Rotterdam – Day 1

From the hotel, I hopped onto a tram which took me to the Central Station in ten minutes. The railway station, with its pointy roof, is absolutely spectacular.

Central Station

Cool district

From here, I explored a bit of the Cool district and discovered more architectural gems like these striking new buildings along the Mauritsweg near the Central Station. The Pauluskerk (Paulus church) was especially eye-catching!

I continued to the Schouwburgplein (Theatre Square) and on to the Coolsingel avenue via Lijnbaan, one of the city’s main shopping streets.

Witte de With Quarter

From the Coolsingel, I headed to the Witte de With Quarter, with its many cafés, terraces, bars and restaurants. It’s a great place to stop for a drink and a meal and mingle with the locals.

That evening, I had a fantastic dinner at Asian Glories, one of the top Chinese restaurants in Rotterdam.

Hotel New York

After dinner, I visited the iconic Hotel New York for a drink. The former HQ of the Holland America Line, Hotel New York has one of the best locations (and views) in Rotterdam. The night view of the Rotterdam skyline is stunning!

Weekend in Rotterdam – Day 2

Maritime Museum

The next day, after a terrific breakfast at the hotel, I visited the Maritime Museum which is practically next door to the hotel. The Maritime Museum is great for people of all ages and provides unique insights to Rotterdam’s maritime history.

Markthal

From the Maritime Museum, I walked towards my next stop, the Markthal. Along the way, I passed by the Schielandshuis, the only remaining 17th century building in the Rotterdam city centre.

I arrived at the Markthal and was very excited because I’d seen so many amazing photos of this building.

I couldn’t take my eyes off that amazing ceiling! There are many stalls selling a variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and other ingredients. The Markthal is real foodie paradise where you can sit and enjoy cuisines from around the world, from Japanese to Moroccan, and Chinese to Spanish. There are also various restaurants, cafés and bars.

Oudehaven and Leuvehaven districts

After lunch at the Markthal, I walked through the charming Oudehaven and Leuvehaven districts. The Oudehaven is Rotterdam’s oldest harbour (dating from the 14th century). These days, it’s a lively area with lots of cafés and restaurants, as well as the Witte Huis, Europe’s first skyscraper.

Museum Quarter

I continued to the Museum Quarter. This quarter is home to two famous museums: De Kunsthal and Boijmans van Beuningen, as well as various smaller museums. De Kunsthal is an art museum with (often) fascinating exhibitions.

Adjacent to the Booijmans van Beuningen Museum is another eye-catching structure, De Depot. This stunning building with its mirrored surface is a huge art repository.

Across the road from the Depot are three attractions that would appeal to architecture fans: Het Nieuwe Instituut (with art and architecture exhibitions), Chabot Museum and Sonneveld House, both of which are beautiful Modernist (Bauhaus) houses.

Westersingel Sculpture Route

From here, I slowly made my way back to the Central Station, passing the Westersingel Sculpture route along the way.

I only scraped the surface of Rotterdam on this 36-hour visit. However, I’ve been back numerous times since that first weekend visit. I’ve discovered that this vibrant city has much more to offer visitors, making a visit of a few days absolutely worthwhile. Hotels I can recommend, aside from Mainport Hotel, include nhow Rotterdam and Room Mate Bruno.

12 things to do in Rotterdam

Here’s a list of things to do in Rotterdam that I’ve experienced across several visits and which I truly enjoyed:

1. Museums

Visit the fascinating Museum Booijmans van Beuningen (contemporary art), KunstHal (contemporary art) and the Maritime Museum.

2. Depot

Book a visit and to the Depot building adjacent to the Museum Booijmans van Beuningen.

3. Harbour cruise

Go on a harbour cruise from the Spido terminal or join a harbour tour.

4. Food tour

Experience a ‘global’ food tour of Rotterdam and visit the Markthal food market.

5. Van Nelle factory

Visit the beautiful Van Nelle factory, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Van Nelle factory was once described as “the most beautiful spectacle of the modern age” by the famous architect Le Corbusier.

6. Kop van Zuid

Visit the historic and modern landmarks in the ‘Kop van Zuid‘ district just across the Erasmus bridge. My favourite is De Rotterdam, a striking 3-in-1 tower designed by world-renowned Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. You can also opt for a two-hour architecture walking tour. Other attractions in this district are Hotel New York and the National Photography Museum.

7. Westersingel Sculpture Route

Stroll along the Westersingel Sculpture route, with its intriguing sculptures.

8. Delfshaven

Experience the atmosphere of the quaint Delfshaven, a historic corner of Rotterdam most famous as being the departure point of the Pilgrim Fathers to New England in the 18th century.

9. Euromast

Go up the Euromast for panoramic views of the city and port.

10. Kinderdijk

Visit another UNESCO World Heritage site: Kinderdijk. This site, with its 19 18th-century windmills, is famous the world over. You can combine a visit to Kinderdijk with the Euromast and a harbour cruise.

11. Delft

Visit nearby Delft, the home of Delft Blue ceramics and Vermeer! Delft is a short train ride away and has a beautiful historic centre with charming canals. Read more about things to see in Delft.

12. Schiedam

Go on a day trip to nearby Schiedam, a historic town that’s famous for its distilling industry (home of Ketel One) and giant windmills. Schiedam, just 5-minutes by train from Rotterdam, is on of my list of most beautiful towns in The Netherlands. Read more about things to do in Schiedam.

More info

Visit Rotterdam Info for more information and tips for things to do and see in Rotterdam. If you’re staying a bit longer, I can also recommend three nearby cities to explore: Delft, Gouda and Dordrecht. These places were also included in my road trip around the Delta region of Central Netherlands. And, if you love oysters, Yerseke, the famous oyster town in Zeeland, is just an hour away!

Check out my recommendations for towns in the Netherlands to visit.

Read more about other places to visit in the Netherlands

• Charming Amersfoort
• A drive around the tulip fields
• Holland at its best
• Exploring the historic towns north of Amsterdam
• A drive along the Markermeer loop
• Day trips from Amsterdam

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