15 Best Things to Do in Rotterdam Netherland

Rotterdam is located in the southern Netherlands and has a population of approximately 630,000 people, making it the country’s second largest city after Amsterdam. Rotterdam has been a major city for hundreds of years, and it has always been a major port due to its location on the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt river delta.

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Since the 1300s, Rotterdam has grown and served as a major port for the Dutch East India Company. During WWII, Rotterdam was heavily bombed, and its center was nearly completely destroyed; however, the city was gradually rebuilt, and it now stands as a modern port.

Aside from its fascinating port, Rotterdam has some fantastic architecture, such as modern cube buildings and the Euromast Tower, as well as a wonderful variety of museums, eateries, and activities.

1. Markthal Rotterdam

15 Best Things to Do in Rotterdam Netherland — Source: Boris Stroujko / shutterstock

The Markthal, built in 2009, is a stunning piece of architecture that serves as both an office building and a marketplace. The structure has a distinctive design, with a large semi-circular grey façade and a large windowed section facing out to the surrounding courtyard. Arno Coenen’s artwork on the inside of the structure depicts various colorful fruits, plants, insects, and flowers.

The Markthal’s market section contains a diverse range of shops, stalls, restaurants, and bars, including a Tea bar, a tapas bar, a “world of drinks” shop, and over 70 other different businesses. It’s a cool and vibrant place to explore and try some local food and drink.

2. Rotterdam Zoo

The Rotterdam Zoo, also known as the Diergaarde Blijdorp, had stood for many years despite having to relocate during WWII to avoid bombing. The zoo is in excellent condition and includes a Botanical Garden and an Oceanium, as well as breeding programs for endangered species such as the Red Panda.

The zoo is divided into themed areas such as a Chinese garden, a Malayan Forest, Mongolian Steppes, and a crocodile river. The Black Rhino, Greater Kudu, Sumatran Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Amur Leopard are among the animals. This zoo is a fantastic place for both children and adults, and the variety of enclosures and interactive elements will keep you entertained for hours.

3. Euromast Tower

The Euromast Tower is a 1960 observation tower that provides panoramic views of the Rotterdam Cityscape. The tower is 606 feet tall and, with its antenna, the tallest building in Rotterdam. In addition to the observation deck, the tower has a restaurant, a conference room for business meetings, a hotel suite, and a hotel suite.

This is an excellent way to see the vast expanse of Rotterdam and its ports, and the admission fee is reasonable for both adults and children. If you want to get some adrenaline pumping, you can even zip-line or abseil from the tower.

4. Erasmus Bridge

This magnificent bridge spans the Rhine’s Nieuwe Maas distributary, which runs from the confluence of the Noord and Lek rivers. This magnificent bridge stretches for an incredible 802m, making it the second longest in the Netherlands. The Swan Bridge got its name from its large upright mast, which resembles the neck of a swan.

A bascule section in the bridge’s center opens to allow larger ships to pass through the waters. This modern engineering marvel serves as an impressive backdrop to Rotterdam’s port and is a pleasure to admire and walk across.

5. Rotterdam Central Station

The central station is one of many examples of modern and distinctive architecture in Rotterdam. The new terminal opened in 2014, and its architecture has become instantly recognizable. The structure is triangular in shape and protrudes into the sky at an angle.

The clock and large letters in the station entrance were moved from the old station to preserve some of its memory. The station serves 100,000+ passengers daily and connects to many other destinations in the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, Den Haag, Groningen, and Tilburg.

6. Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk

The Church of Saint Laurence is Rotterdam’s only remaining example of medieval architecture. The church was built in 1449 and has since been expanded.

The church was one of the first all-stone structures built in Rotterdam and has hosted numerous important events. The church stands out against Rotterdam’s relatively modern skyline, as it is located in the old town center near the Maritime Museum and the Erasmus Bridge.

The church’s interior is quite lovely, with many decorated arches, high vaulted ceilings, stone reliefs, and rich religious decoration.

7. Europort

The Europort is a port area in Rotterdam that is considered one of the busiest in the world and a major trade entry point into Europe.

The port is enormous beyond belief, and it is a fascinating place to visit in order to understand its significance and the role it plays in the city and country’s economies.

Boat tours are a great way to see the port and its many massive cargo ships, quays, storage facilities, and boat yards, and you will be blown away by the sheer scale and operation of this industrial marvel.

8. Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum is one of the world’s largest of its kind, with a massive collection of cartography, maritime memorabilia, and art. The museum is in the heart of Rotterdam, close to the Markthal and the Cube houses.

A controversial painting of the Battle of Trafalgar, a collection of figureheads from various ships, different navy uniforms, and flags from sea battles are among the interesting exhibitions.

This is a place full of interesting objects related to the maritime world, and the artifacts on display are of the highest quality.

9. Fenix Food Factory

This food factory offers a one-of-a-kind experience in which you can delve into the world of food and participate in workshops, tastings, and open markets.

The factory promotes fresh local produce and offers some delectable treats, as well as freshly roasted coffee and home-brewed beer.

Aside from beer and coffee, you can also enjoy tasty cheeses, butcher’s meats, and bread and cakes from Jordy’s Bakery.

Foodies will enjoy this place, and if you allow yourself, you can really pig out on the items available.

10. Rotterdam Boat Tour

A boat tour is an excellent way to see Rotterdam’s beautiful harbors and ports.

It is pointless to try to walk around the port on your own; a boat tour will provide a comfortable mode of transportation and you will learn a lot from the tour guides.

Many companies offer boat tours, but one in particular is the Spido Harbor Tour, which lasts approximately 75 minutes.

The boats are extremely modern, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating as well as large, unobstructed windows.

You can also order food and drinks, and the commentary is available in both Dutch and English.

This is a fantastic way to see Rotterdam’s magnificent ports while relaxing and learning.

11. Kinderdijk’s Windmills

Windmills are an iconic structure that has come to define the Netherlands and is one of the first things that people think of when they think of the country.

Kinderdjik, located about 20 kilometers east of central Rotterdam, is a charming place to visit in its own right.

The many windmills that line the canals in this village, however, make it an especially magical place.

The 19 windmills, which have been restored to their original condition and are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand proudly.

This is a truly delightful place to visit, and the surrounding countryside and canal network are both breathtaking.

12. Depot Boijmans-van Beuningen

This tranquil and charming museum is located in Rotterdam’s Dijkzigt district and is one of the country’s most important art museums.

The museum houses a beautiful collection of sculptures, paintings, and decorative arts by a variety of artists and countries, including works by Van Gough, Dali, and Rembrandt.

The “Tower of Babel” by Pieter Bruegel and Dali’s “Couple with their Heads Full of Clouds” are two notable works.

Aside from the fantastic art collection, the museum’s building and grounds are really impressive and a pleasant place to walk around.

13. SS Rotterdam

The SS Rotterdam is a large ocean liner that was built in the 1950s and was originally known as the Grande Dame.

The ship was one of the last lavishly decorated liners to be retired in 2000. Aside from the Grande Dame, the ship has been given many names over the years, including the Rembrandt, and it now serves as a hotel and museum in Rotterdam.

Guided tours of the ship’s bridge and engine room are available, providing an interesting insight into how the ship operated during its glory days.

14. The Witte Huis

This wonderful building was one of the few in central Rotterdam to survive the Blitzkrieg in WWII and stands proudly as a reminder of the city’s heritage and history.

This building’s striking Art Nouveau style makes it easily identifiable, and the white façade, ornate turrets, and decorative roof give it great character.

This building was the first high-rise building in Europe and was designated a National Heritage Site due to its beautiful design and extensive history.

15. Cube House Rotterdam

The cube house is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of cuboid-style houses.

Piet Blom designed this strange and eccentric housing block, which is made up of cubes that are tilted at a 45-degree angle.

The cubes are unlike any other type of house you will see, and they are a fascinating concept that makes you wonder how the people who live here deal with the odd angles of the walls and windows.

From a distance, the structure resembles an old 2D computer game, and one of the cubes is open to the public so that visitors can see what the interior is like.

Topic: 15 Best Things to Do in Rotterdam Netherland

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