The Full Travel Guide to Rotterdam: The Gate of Europe

Rotterdam is one of the most important cities in the Netherlands. It is considered the second-largest city in the country. It has been described as a city with multiple faces, so everyone who visits it returns to it again and discovers it differently.

Rotterdam is on both banks of the Nieuwe Maas River in the southern part of the Rhine Island and lies on the delta of the North Sea. The North Sea combines three rivers: the Moise, the Rhine, and the Scheldt.

Rotterdam depends on its economy of various companies and primarily on maritime transport, and it is one of the most important economic cities in the Netherlands. There is a company called Dutch East India, founded in 1602 and was the first company accredited in the world in this field.

Rotterdam occupies a distinguished tourist place in the Netherlands, as the city enjoys permanent innovation and vitality and is one of the most renewable cities. And it has many tourist attractions, represented in museums, markets, high-end restaurants, art galleries, and skyscrapers.

History of Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s history dates back to 1270. It was built after a dam was constructed on the Rott River, which is why it was named after this river.

The city began to grow and prosper to become famous, making it one of the largest railway transportation centres and a sea gateway to all of Europe. For this reason, it is called the Gate of Europe because it contains a seaport considered the world’s largest port.

In 1940, especially during World War II, the city was subjected to a violent bombardment, which destroyed a large part of it. After the war ended, it was rebuilt and bypassed, making it one of Europe’s most modern and architectural cities.

Weather in Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s climate is influenced by the ocean, which is humid and rainy and is also affected by the North Sea. The winter is cold, and the summer is pleasant. The average temperature is between 3.5 and 17.5 degrees in January.

Winter extends from December to February, summer is from June to August, and the best time to visit the city is from May to September.

Things to do in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is one of the most important Dutch cities in terms of tourism. Millions of tourists visit it annually to enjoy its atmosphere, history, and structure in a more than excellent style.

The city is characterised by its maritime heritage, which is essential to it. Many of the most important tourist attractions in Rotterdam are also included, which we will learn about in the coming part.

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

The Museum of Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the most famous and influential art museums in Europe. It includes different collections of paintings from all over Europe. 

It includes paintings from the 14th to 16th centuries, such as Jan van Eyck and Pieter Bruegel, the Elder. You can also find paintings from the 17th century for Rembrandt and other artworks by Van Gogh, Picasso, Chagall, Mont, and many more.

Sint-Laurenskerk

The great St. Lawrence Church is one of the few medieval buildings left in the city after most buildings were destroyed during World War II. It is a Gothic church built in the 15th century on marshy ground, giving it a lean that was halted after its foundation was rebuilt.

The church is one of the top attractions in Rotterdam. When you enter, you will be impressed by the interior design and the coloured glass of its windows. One of my favourite things in the church is the three Danish organs, the largest of which stands on a marble base. You will also see the bronze entrance door.

Rotterdam Zoo

Rotterdam Zoo is considered one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands. It was built in 1857, includes many animals you would love to see, and is a perfect place for the family. The zoo contains elephants, a rare red panda, and more.

Also, there are natural habitats that you can visit in the zoo, such as the Asian one, which includes a forest with two large aviaries for birds. The zoo has an aquarium with an extensive collection of marine life from the Americas.

Old Harbour and Marine Museums

Rotterdam’s old Harbour is part of the Maritime District. It is like a boat basin filled with historic boats. You can visit the place, especially in summer when the weather is good, and enjoy one of its outside cafes or restaurants while watching the boats being painted and repaired.

Near the old harbour, the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, established in 1873, offers a great sea view. The collections display shipping history, including ship models, maritime paintings, and the reconstruction of a 2,000-year-old vessel. 

Another famous tourist attraction is the Maritime Museum Harbour, an open-air facility that is home to an old lightship and more than 20 historic vessels.

Kinderdijk Windmills

The Kinderdijk Windmills are on the Noord River and are about 23 km east of Rotterdam within the village of Kinderdijk. The place is one of the most visited places in the Netherlands; it is also called the children dyke, and there you will find 19 windmills built in the 18th century. It is also known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The windmills comprise the most significant surviving concentration in the Netherlands and are considered a history celebrated during Mill Days. You can visit the museums in the Blookwer and Nederwaard mills and explore them from the inside.

The Euromast

The Euromast is a famous spot north of the Maastunnel in Rotterdam. It was built in 1960. It is a 185-metre-high tower with two restaurants situated on metre 92, giving you a magnificent view of the city.

If you love to have more adventure, you can try to abseil down the building and reserve one of the two suites located at the 100-metre point.

Museum Rotterdam

Museum Rotterdam is the perfect place to visit to learn more about the city’s history. It was built in the 1950s and displayed many artworks, documents, and artefacts from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Another place you can visit is the Coolhaven annex, which was opened in 2015 and is dedicated to World War II. It includes exhibits related to the Dutch wartime.

Market Hall

The market hall was opened in 2014. It is like a vast office complex known to locals as Koopboog. When you go there, you will see a soaring arched ceiling in its food hall, where there are plenty of fish, vegetables, and many other products.

Also, besides buying food and vegetables, you can find fast food and excellent restaurants that serve traditional Dutch dishes, Indonesian dishes, Spanish tapas, and many other cuisines.

Coolsingel

The Coolsingel is also known as the city’s excellent district. It is well-known as the main street of Rotterdam city centre, where Town Hall is located. The building was built between 1914 and 1920 in a Dutch Renaissance style and wasn’t bombed during World War II. When you visit the place, you will love the interior design.

On the street opposite the town hall, you will see a war memorial designed by Mari Andriessen. Also, there is the Beurs World Trade Centre, which has a greenish-blue glass facade.

Don’t miss visiting the Bijenkorf, a department store built in 1958. Nearby, at the northwest of the city, is the De Doelen, a concert hall rebuilt in 1966 after being destroyed in 1940. It offers great concerts for about 2,200 people.

Cube Houses

The Cube Houses are one of the famous representations of modern architecture in Rotterdam, designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom, and you can watch them while walking by the Old Harbour. 

One of the famous cube houses is the Snow Cube. It is open to visitors, and inside, you will learn more about the cube houses’ history.

Miniworld Rotterdam

Miniworld Rotterdam is one of the most beautiful attractions for kids. It is in a large warehouse, built on an area of 535 square metres, and it includes many of the Netherlands’ attractions on a miniature scale.

The place displays a 3 km-long network of model rail tracks with 150 trains moving around and a collection of 1,800 pieces of rolling stock between them. Miniworld shows you some of the attractions you visited in Rotterdam on a small scale. Don’t forget to visit the Miniworld workshop to see how the trains are controlled from the command centre.

Delfshaven

Delfshaven is one of the oldest districts in Rotterdam. It survived the city’s bombing in World War II, and the beautiful design of its buildings made it a tourist attraction.

The Dutch adored the district for being the birthplace of Admiral Piet Hein. He was known as a country hero in their war against Spain. For the Americans, it is a notable place for the Old Church, where the last service was held in 1620.

Boat Tour of the Europoort

Rotterdam is famous for its port, representing half of the city’s area. The Europoort is known as the Gateway to Europe, and the boat tour allows you to see storage facilities built to serve one of the busiest ports in the world.

The tour will show you the port areas at Maeslantkering near Hoek van Holland and include a quick look at the surge barrier. And while you are touring on the boat to see the famous landmarks in Rotterdam, you will also see the magnificent Erasmus Bridge.

Wereld Museum

Wereld Museum, founded in 1883, is also known as the World Museum; it is one of the destinations you should visit in Rotterdam. The place includes more than 1,800 artefacts from all over the world. It also holds many events and lectures throughout the year, and the museum has restaurants and cafes.

Het Nieuwe Institute

It is an excellent place for people who show interest in the development of various architectural movements over the years. Although it focuses on the Dutch style, many other styles can be found there.

When you are at the Het Nieuwe Institute, you will find more exhibits. You can go to the Sonneveld House, an example of the modern architectural style from the 1920s, and there are shops and cafes nearby. 

Chabot Museum

The Chabot Museum, built in 1938 in a white villa, also houses the artworks of the Dutch painter Henk Chabot. You can visit the Netherlands Photo Museum, which includes a collection of historical images.

This monument’s cosy, peaceful atmosphere does excellent justice to Chabot’s sculptures, paintings, and artworks by his contemporaries.

Hotels in Rotterdam

With all these beautiful places you will be visiting in the city, you will be looking for a hotel to stay in to have some rest and relax; here are some hotels that are in Rotterdam:

• Mainport Hotel: From the hotel, you can enjoy a fantastic view of the city, like the banks of the river Maas. The hotel also includes a spa, swimming pool, and many other facilities.
• Ibis Rotterdam City Centre: This mid-range hotel is on a small canal. It offers cosy, small rooms with Wi-Fi and is known for its excellent restaurant.
• Hilton Rotterdam is a luxury hotel in Rotterdam. It has an indoor swimming pool and a great restaurant near the Central Station and many shopping spots.
• Holiday Inn Express Rotterdam offers spectacular rooms, including a coffee maker, free Wi-Fi, and a continental breakfast. 
• Hotel Baan is a good budget hotel near the train station and the Euromast. The rooms are simple, and some of them have a nice view of the canal.