Do you love to get off the beaten track and are you always looking for authentic, alternative and unique places you can’ t find anywhere else? Follow in the footsteps of Rotterdam’s locals to experience the city as it really is.
The often-heard ‘you should have been there’ makes it clear that words can never do justice to the experience itself. The smell of the trees in the Kralingse Bos after the rain, the taste of a Rotterdam sandwich or beer, the colourful spectacle of Rotterdam street art: words are only a taste of what awaits. And that is exactly what we want to offer you now so that you can prepare your senses for the beauty of the Maasstad. Based on tips from Rotterdam’s locals we selected a few unique spots in the city.
Port city? Yes. Architecture city? For sure. Maybe you don’t immediately think of nature when you think of Rotterdam, but it’s bursting with it! The Zuiderpark is the largest city park in the Netherlands. The most beautiful park in Rotterdam is Het Park at the Euromast, where lush greenery and iconic architecture meet right next to the city centre. Many of the trees are more than a century old and exude a tranquillity that you’ll find yourself assuming. A walk, a barbecue on the designated field or a snack or drink at Parqiet or Dudok in the Park are just a few of the activities many Rotterdammers undertake every weekend. When you visit Het Park, don’t forget to stop by the adjacent historic gardens of Schoonoord. Besides its city parks, Rotterdam also has a lush forest. Rotterdammers visit the Kralingse Bos and its lake for exercise and relaxation. There is something very soothing about enjoying the view of the shimmering skyline of Rotterdam while rowing on the lake or running through the woods.
Charlotte Damen, owner of Lilith Coffee and Pele Surf Shack & Barend Lippens, musician/producer, will tell you more about the vibrant Hoek van Holland and their favourite hidden gems in Rotterdam.
Discover Rotterdam like a local!Wondering where you should go if you want to discover green spots in unusual places? Berend van Zanten, co-owner of campaign agency Groenemorgen for sustainable ideas, will tell you more about the green hidden gems in the city.
Discover Rotterdam like a local!Curious about all that Rotterdam Noord has to offer? Tim, owner of restaurant Holy Ravioli and his partner Ozzy will tell you all about it.
Discover Rotterdam like a local!Siobhan Burger, co-owner of Arttenders, will tell you more about her favourite hidden gems in Rotterdam Zuid!
Discover Rotterdam like a local!Always wanted to know where the director of the ss Rotterdam likes to have lunch? The man himself: Ton Wesselink, loves to tell you all about it.
Discover Rotterdam like a local!Rotterdam takes you to great heights, literally. The Netherlands’ most famous skyline welcomes its visitors and shows that architecture and greenery go hand in hand. In Rotterdam, you won’t have to search for long for a ‘green rooftop’. Go to Het Dakpark for a walk or picnic 9 metres up, with a beautiful view and water stairs where children can play. Tip: take a boot camp or yoga class there in the summer. The largest green roof in the city is located on top of the Groothandelsgebouw, next to Rotterdam Central Station. It’s a beautiful spot, with pergolas, benches and flower beds, in the middle of the city. The Schieblock with de Dakakker on its roof is only a few hundred metres further. Enjoy the all day brunch at Teds and taste the vegetables and herbs grown there.
Spoil your taste buds and nose with Rotterdam delicacies! For local delicacies, visit the Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt, a delicious and sustainable farmers’ market on Noordplein (Saturdays, 10:00 – 17:00). You can buy and taste fresh and tasty products for a fair price and directly from the makers. Local entrepreneurs are happy to tell you the story about their fresh products, for example, the cheese from Kinderdijk (delicious on a thick piece of traditional Rotterdam bread). For a completely different culinary experience, go out for dinner or takeaways on the West-Kruiskade. Taste all the flavours you would expect from a culturally rich city like Rotterdam: from dim sum to Turkish baklava and from Thai to the best rotis and ramen. A trip across the Erasmus Bridge takes you to the south of the city. Taste the delicacies of Katendrecht on the Deliplein square and at the famous Fenix Food Factory. Or grab a delicious and affordable lunch in the adjacent Afrikaanderwijk, at the bustling Afrikaandermarkt.
Rotterdam is a port city at heart, and the Nieuwe Maas River is its artery. There are many fun ways to take a closer look at Rotterdam’s waters. Take the Rotterdam Watertaxi: enjoy speed on the water while moving from A to B. It’s pleasant and practical: the Rotterdam mentality par excellence. Hotel New York and the Veerhaven are popular stops, but this wet taxi docks at a further 48(!) locations. Get off at Marconistraat: the port industry can still be felt here, alongside the new Makers District M4H, which houses a lot of creatives (Studio Roosegaarde, Atelier Van Lieshout). If you would prefer to take the helm, at iKapitein you can sail a luxury sloop yourself. The Hot Tug is something completely different: a floating hot tub that allows you to discover the Rotterdam harbours while enjoying a snack and a drink. Another place to enjoy a view of the water from the water is hanging out in the pool on the deck of fifties icon ss Rotterdam, the steamship that once transported many people to New York.
You can admire all kinds of beautiful things, both on the walls of various museums and the walls in the city centre. The Rewriters app takes you on a Street Art Route past 28 murals. The 18 painted metro pillars of Rotterdam Art Ride (ROAR) along the Maashaven can also be enjoyed for free. Artists from all over Europe contributed! Be sure to visit the Rotterdam museums starting at Kunsthal Rotterdam. Photography enthusiasts should not miss the hundred iconic Dutch photos of the Gallery of Honour of Dutch Photography at the Nederlands Fotomuseum. A new icon in so many ways is the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen: the very first (from November 2021) publicly accessible art depot. Its extraordinary, reflective appearance makes the building itself a must-see.
Does this taste leave you wanting more? We hope to welcome you soon! We promise it’s everything you expect it to be and more.
