Rotterdam

Havennummer 882

A storm surge barrier that is one of the largest moving structures in the world. The Maeslantkering is one of a series of surge barriers, locks, and dikes in the Netherlands, further described in the Delta Works article.

Bus 38, Beukelsbrug stop, 8 min from Rotterdam Centraal· Moderate

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. It is an icon of 20th century industrial architecture. It looks great even from outside. It is also well visible from the train (left side if the train goes to Rotterdam from the Hague).

Metro: Eendrachtsplein· Pricey

The main building of Museum Boijmans van Beuningen is closed for a major renovation until 2029. The Depot was opened for the public in Nov 2021. Some of the masterpieces are being shown in other locations in the city or abroad.

Overblaak 70· Cheap

These houses, designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom, are literally cubes, tilted over by 45 degrees. There were 39 cube houses built in Rotterdam in the early 1980s, along with 18 in Helmond, and 3 in Toronto.

Metro: Stadhuis

The Rotterdam City Hall may appear quite historic compared to the modern outlook of the city, but it was actually only built in 1915 in a lavish style echoing historic city halls in other Dutch cities.

Piet Heynsplein

This 1870 sandstone statue is, and always has been controversial. It commemorates Piet Heyn, a commandant of the Dutch West India Company, eventually working his way up to lieutenant-admiral of Holland and West-Frisia, housed in Hoorn.

Quite literally translating to The Park, Het Park is the second-oldest park of Rotterdam, and the oldest within the city centre. Initially purchased by the city to build a new city hall, it was eventually decided to become a public space…

Noordzeeweg 691

Storm surge barrier completed in 1997 as the last part of the Delta Works, a plan set in place to defend the low-lying Netherlands against flooding.

A combined cable-stayed and bascule bridge across the Nieuwe Maas built in 1996.

at the Oude Haven

A "skyscraper" built after American tall buildings in 1898. Now it's a National Heritage Site.

(IFFR) is an annual film festival held in various cinemas at the end of January. It is one of the larger film festivals in Europe.

On the second weekend of July. It began in The Hague, but since 2005 the festival has taken place in Ahoy.

· Cheap

The tourist tram line 10 will bring you along modern architecture, the city centre and historic parts of Rotterdam using classic trams. Total trip time 65 minutes.

Pieter de Hoochweg 108

Markets itself as a "maker space and house for talent development". The Batavierhuis is a society of sorts focussed primarily on music, but also other art forms, and hosts concerts and other events (albeit often Dutch-spoken), both from…

Usually in late January, Vrienden van Amstel is a Dutch series of concerts, sponsored by beer-brand Amstel. It is one of the largest indoor events of the Netherlands with over 100.000 attendees each year.

· Cheap

Tour of the Port of Rotterdam, specifically the Tweede Maasvlakte. The guide speaks Dutch, but audiotours and factsheets are available in English and German as well.

Krabbeweg 9, Brielle· Cheap

Only accessible to golfers that are a member of the Royal Dutch Golfing Federation, this golf course is located on a peninsula between the Brielse Meer and Hartelkanaal.

Metro: Leuvehaven. Tram 7: Willemsplein

You only see the first 8 km of the harbour starting at the Erasmus bridge (the trip doesn't go all the way to the North Sea, and skips some of the more interesting harbors) But Rotterdam is REALLY big, so even in those first 8 km there's…

location listed under #See· Expensive

Not for the faint of heart! Lower yourself down the Euromast, one of the highest buildings in the Netherlands during summer. The journey down can be done by two people at the same time, along with an instructor for guidance.

Hoeksekade 141, Bergschenhoek· Cheap

Outdoor centre, featuring a climbing wall, canoe ( per canoe), kayak ( per kayak) and mountain bike ( per bike) rental as well as disc golf ( per person). Outdoor Valley also organises events such as obstacle runs and mud runs.

Proveniersstraat 40a· Pricey

The first floor is much like a Turkish market square. It is fully decorated and cozy, the fake balcony and window pane complete the market square. Through a small staircase you reach the 'living room'.

's-Gravendijkwal 133B· Expensive

Nicely decorated Italian restaurant where you don't just drop by for a simple pizza. As a matter of fact, they don't even serve pizza. With the fine use of herbs, garlic and more interesting stuff that the Italian kitchen has to offer, it…

Take Tram 4 to the Bloemkwekerstraat stop on the Nieuwe Binnenweg· Pricey

Prepare yourself for something special when visiting this famous eatery. The outside is absolutely rundown (so is the interior) and you must convince yourself to really push open the dark door.

Schiekade 6a· Pricey

Italian kitchen and ice cream parlour. Whether you come for a dinner or a takeaway pizza, you always have to wait. But everything here is definitely worth the wait!

Oude Binnenweg 115

Very nice old-looking bar. They also serve food for a reasonable price and most of the food is home made. Try the grilled beef with Spanish pepper and garlic! Or have one of their great sandwiches or salads.

Nieuwe Binnenweg 19

This is 'the' place in town for creative people. Or it used to be, because lots of people now go to the next-door café's Stalles and Parket. Rotown has a restaurant with decent food for a decent price.

Van Vollenhovenstraat 62

In the city centre in the popular district named Scheepvaartkwartier enclosed by the river Maas, the Erasmus bridge, the Westzeedijk and the park at the Euromast.

Metro: Blaak

Clean, safe and easy to find. Since they are in the world-famous Cubic Houses, all the rooms are different shapes and nothing is 'square'. Surrounded by bars and concrete, party noises are amplified and bounced into your room.

Geldersestraat 50

One of the first hotels of this chain with an innovative concept - offering ample, four-star level amenities, including designerish common spaces, combined with ultra-small cabin-sized rooms, all at a reasonable price vs.

on the quay of the Rijnhaven· Expensive

Bed, Bites & Business has a spectacular view of Wilhelminaplein, the head from south to the Euromast, inside the building "San Francisco", which in 1930 was the former headquarters of the largest transhipment warehouse in the world.

Bus 33 (Airport) or 40 (Delft) from Rotterdam Centraal Station, metro stop Blijdorp or bus stop Blijdorpplein· Cheap

Northwest of the centre. For camping near the city it's the only option. There are a lot of trees to give shelter from sun or wind. Basic facilities. Little chalets (2/4 persons) can be rented too.

Aert van Nesstraat 4

Combines a historic 1930s building with a newer one adjoining De Bijenkorf department store. While the common areas entice with art deco charm, some of the cheaper rooms have fallen behind the times and are now badly worn.