Sneakers, patta’s, kicks, slippers – they appear on every street corner. Take a stroll on a sunny afternoon through the heart of Rotterdam, and an abundance of beautiful, trendy, and vibrant-colored footwear immediately captures your attention. Not surprising, because Rotterdam is a mecca for sneaker freaks: it’s full of (unique) sneaker shops. Whether you’re a dedicated collector or simply looking for a stylish pair to rock, Rotterdam’s sneaker shops have something for everyone.
Rotterdam is also considered a hotspot for kicks abroad, thanks in particular to sneaker shop Woei. Located on the Hoogstraat, this store, which bears the name of founder Woei Tijn, has been Rotterdam’s best-known sneaker shop since 2007. There are regular exclusive releases from Nike and Asics (including the so-called collabs) that enthusiasts come from far and wide to queue for. Woei has close ties with local designers such as Iwan Smit and with the well-known artist Parra and releases a collection of clothing with designs from Parra a number of times a year. If you are looking for the newest and most exclusive Nike’s, Asics, New Balance’s or Karhu’s, then you should definitely visit Woei.
Woei at the Hoogstraat
If you are looking for the more mainstream (less expensive) sneakers and casual shoes, and you want more square metres with other brands and clothing, then go to the intersection of the Lijnbaan and the Aert Van Nesstraat. This intersection has 4 streetwear shops next to and opposite each other with a large collection of sneakers, namely ASICS Store, Snipes, Footlocker and Kids Footlocker. A little further on the Lijnbaan, you will find JD Sports.
For basketball kicks, such as Nike Jordan’s, go to House of Hoops on the first floor of Footlocker or to Oqium a little further down the Korte Lijnbaan. You’ll often find sneaker addicts there early on a Saturday morning waiting for that one special pair to be released.
Funkie House is located at Korte Hoogstraat
X21 and Sport 2000 on the Hoogstraat, Vans Store on the Lijnbaan and Funkie House on the Lijnbaan. Skaters will enjoy themselves at RSI on the Witte de Withstraat and the Skatestore on the Westblaak: all close to Skatepark Westblaak where one of the largest skate parks in Europe is located. Rotterdam Sneaker Heaven? Definitely! It’s impossible not to score a pair (or two!) of shoes here.
The story of the city, the bombardment and reconstruction, and the drive to innovate that locals still use today to shape their city all make Rotterdam a fascinating place to visit. Rotterdam is a must-see city with lots of attractions, monuments and architectural highlights to look out for. Find out where to go and what to do and discover the highlights of Rotterdam in this top 10 list of things to do and see.
