Rotterdam is a city located in the western part of the Netherlands. It is the second most populated city in the country and a major commercial centre, home to one of the busiest ports in the world.
Rotterdam is a destination that is rarely included in tourist itineraries to discover the Netherlands, although the city is a lively destination with plenty of activities to do. Rotterdam is not famous for its historical heritage as most of the old sites were destroyed by German bombing during World War II, but more for its modern and avant-garde appearance.
The development of the city began in the 19th century, thanks to the impetus of the Industrial Revolution and the expansion of Germany. A large influx of workers came here during those years and Rotterdam’s growth did not come to a halt until World War II, when the Luftwaffe bombed it several times, leaving it half-destroyed.
From the damage caused by the war, however, the municipality pursued the idea not so much to rebuild what had been lost, but to create a ‘new’ and better Rotterdam. From 1950 to 1970 the city was practically completely rebuilt.
Today, the city is known for being a location with buildings and works constructed by famous architects in recent times and for being an ideal destination for those who love architecture and shopping thanks to the presence of numerous boutiques of major brands.
Things to do in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is certainly not a popular destination for tourists, who certainly prefer Amsterdam or Utrecht. But it would be a big mistake to miss it: here are the main things to see in the city.
Museum Quarter
There is an area of Rotterdam known as Museum Park that houses six museum sites of different types and topics. The museums present are:
- Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum6it houses a rich and extensive collection of Ancient Art. There is also a collection of prints and drawings and a collection dedicated to design. The modern art wing has an important collection of surrealism with works by Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.
- Kunsthal Rotterdam7: this building is nothing more than an exhibition space, alternating more than 20 exhibitions throughout the year. Often the museum’s choice is to propose exhibitions on original and never-before-used themes, so as to make the exhibition fascinating for the visitor.
- Natural History Museum8: the ‘Natural History Museum’, which exhibits finds and testimonies related to natural history and the animal world.
- Het Nieuwe Instituut9: the ‘New Instituto’ is a centre for architecture, design and digital culture.
- Sonneveld House10: 1930s villa famous for its modernist architecture
- Chabot Museum11: Museum exhibiting works by the Dutch expressionist painter Henk Chabot (1894-1949)
Other museums to consider in Rotterdam are:
- Museum of Photography12: In Rotterdam there is also the Netherlands Museum of Photography, which focuses on photography in its broadest sense, not only as an artistic form of expression, but also and above all as a means of social expression.
- Maritime Museum13: Close to the Old Harbour is the Maritime Museum, which covers the maritime history of the city and its harbour.
Famous Rotterdam Statues
The city’s homage to its most illustrious citizen, Erasmus of Rotterdam, can be found in the Grotekerk square, in front of the late Gothic church dedicated to St. Lawrence, the city’s patron saint, where sculptor Keijser’s bronze Erasmus Statue18 reproduces the figure of the humanist theologian.
Two other famous statues can be found in the city: the first is De Verwoeste Stad19 by the French-Belarusian sculptor Zadkine in 1953, who was inspired when he visited Rotterdam shortly after the Second World War. The statue, in cubist style, depicts a man in agony who has just lost his heart (a symbol of the bombed city centre); it still evokes strong feelings in Rotterdam.
The second statue is a work by Picasso (made in collaboration with Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar), Sylvette20, the name of the painter’s muse, erected in 1973.
Cruise the harbour of Rotterdam
There are several reasons why a cruise in the port of Rotterdam can be an interesting and unique experience: consider that the port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and one of the largest in the world. From the water you have the opportunity to enjoy unique views of the city from the Maas River, admire the skyscrapers and see the city from a different perspective.
Moreover, the cruise is also a great opportunity to relax while sitting on the boat, perhaps after a day spent sightseeing.
Best-selling cruise
Of all the cruises you can take in Rotterdam, the one below is the best-selling as well as one of the cheapest.
Recommended Rotterdam Cruises
Alternatively, choose the one that suits you best: if you wish, combine your cruise with entry to other Rotterdam attractions or, why not, cruise the Maas River by an alternative means!
Where to stay in Rotterdam
The choice of accommodation in Rotterdam is really wide: it ranges from inexpensive hostels, especially suitable for young people looking for fun, to hotels in all price ranges. You can also try the experience of sleeping in smart hotels with excellent wifi coverage where you can check in yourself 24 hours a day using the tablets available at the entrance and manage lights, TVs and curtains with home automation.
Rotterdam is not an endless metropolis, so it is quite easy and quick to move from one area to another, but each area has its own particular identity that it is good to know in order to find the most suitable hotel for the type of holiday you want to take. The best areas to sleep in Rotterdam are Centrum, Noord and Delfshaven.
The centre is the preferred choice of many tourists, convinced that it is always a good idea to stay in the heart of the city. In fact, this is also true in Rotterdam if you are looking for comfort and amenities, but don’t expect a quaint medieval centre with romantic alleys and views: the centre of Rotterdam was rebuilt after World War II and is therefore very modern.
Recommended hotels in Rotterdam
How to get to Rotterdam
The city is served by an international airport located 6 km north of the city centre. There are direct flights to and from several European cities, mainly thanks to the Dutch airline Transavia. The RET Bus 50 and 33 are the service provided as a shuttle to and from the airport to the centre.
A good alternative for getting to the city is also the train, which provides high-speed connections from many European and Dutch cities including Amsterdam, from which it is only an hour away.
Speaking of Amsterdam, it is also easy to get to Rotterdam from the Dutch capital using a rental car: you travel via the A4 motorway heading south, passing through The Hague and taking just under an hour in all.
Getting around Rotterdam
Like any city in the Netherlands, getting around by bicycle in Rotterdam is easy and efficient, and it is probably the fastest means of transport within the city. There are separate bicycle lanes from most of the main roads, and rental offices are located near the central station.
The RET company runs public transport within the city, including the five metro lines. As in the rest of the Netherlands, unless you only plan to take public transport a couple of times, it is worth buying the OV Chipkaart, a debit card used to pay for transport.
Insight: Erasmus of Rotterdam
His name in Latin makes him sound like a character from the Harry Potter books, but there is little that is magical and much that is intellectual in the life of Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, better known as Erasmus of Rotterdam.
A key figure of European Humanism at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries, he was an important theologian, philosopher and essayist. He travelled extensively and lived for longer or shorter periods in France, England, Switzerland and Italy.
His education took place in an ecclesiastical environment and Erasmus eventually took vows, but he was always critical of the church and its dogmatism. He anticipated some aspects of Lutheranism, but never sided with either the Catholics or the Lutherans. In 1517, he abandoned his religious habit.
His best known work is In Praise of Folly, written in a single week. It was a bestseller at the time, with translations in several languages and numerous editions, and has become a fundamental text for anyone studying philosophy. It is a shrewd and biting critique of the church and many aspects of contemporary society.
