Choose from 16 Fun Things to Do in Rotterdam
ShowingFilter 1-16 of 16 listings.
Nederlands Fotomuseum
The Nederlands Fotomuseum is a must-visit stop if you are interested in the medium of photography. With more than 100,000 images available to browse in its digital collection, travelers can explore more than 100 years of Netherlands’ photographic past, as well as from other locations around the world. The museum contains more than 130 archives from Dutch photographers, with millions of images of the country’s cultural, social and historical past archived within, and also includes a collection of short films from Dutch filmmakers, some of which can be viewed in the site’s Film Lounge.
The museum displays varying exhibits throughout the year featuring famous international photographers as well as younger, amateur artists. Within the exhibits, you can also listen to the stories behind the photos, while elsewhere at the museum, workshops, lectures and guided tours are offered. The extensive library is also open for browsing, and prints, books and gifts are available for purchase in the museum’s shop.
Practical Info
Located in the Las Palmas warehouse in the Wilhelminakade, the Nederlands Fotomuseum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm and on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 5pm. Admission costs €9, while children up to age 12 enter for free.
Address: Wilhelminakade 332, Rotterdam 3072 AR, Netherlands
Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Admission: Adults €9, Children 12 & under free
From $ 13
Rotterdam City Hall
Rotterdam is famous around the world for its modern architecture, but this quirky feature came about by obligation rather than by imagination. The vast majority of the city was turned to ashes during the destructive Rotterdam Blitz by the German Air Force of 14 May 1940, but one building miraculously survived: the City Hall. Built between 1914 and 1940 as per Queen Wilhelmina’s request, it has a symmetrical design and a sober Renaissance style that is not without resemblance to other Dutch city halls. It features and four wings and a small interior courtyard, as well as two statues on either side of the main entrance: the ‘Portier’ (doorman) and the ‘Fiscus’ (tax collector); there are ten other statues scattered around the city hall’s gardens, each representing Rotterdam’s values and virtues. The most striking part of the building, however, is the 70-meter high tower featuring a clock, a bell, and an angel of peace. During the holiday season, Rotterdam's biggest Christmas tree is set up in front of the City Hall.
Practical Info
Rotterdam City Hall is is located at Coolsingel 40, opposite Stadhuisplein. It can be reached by metro via lines D and E (stop Stadhuis), or by tram via lines 21, 23, and 24 (stop Stadhuis). Although it is open Monday to Saturday between 8:30 AM to 5 PM, self-guided visits are not allowed. Guided tours must be booked at the local tourist office.
Address: Coolsingel 40, Rotterdam 3011 AD, Netherlands
Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-5pm
From $ 22
Maritime Museum Rotterdam
The Maritime Museum Rotterdam is one of the world’s oldest and largest museums dedicated to naval history and displays more than three quarters of a million objects from the 15th century to modern times, including photos, models, blueprints, videos and actual ship objects and uniforms.
One of the core displays is the collection of ship models, which formed the core of the museum when it was founded by Prince Henry of the Netherlands in 1874. In addition, the site also contains some actual ships; its open-air Harbour Museum of Rotterdam features historic ships, as well as relics from the old port Leuvehaven, such as cranes, a lighthouse, a tugboat, a locomotor, and a steam-powered grain elevator.
Another important permanent exhibit is Mainport Live, an interactive, multimedia model of the Port of Rotterdam. Here you can not only learn about the history of the port, but also experience the world’s largest and port in miniature. A display of video, lights, sounds and actions brings the bustle of the port to you, while standing in the middle of the old port of yesteryear.
For kids ages 4 through 10, the Professor Splash playground is a fun educational experience. Children can carry out a series of port-related actions that help Professor Splash and his friends prepare for their adventures, while learning about the museum’s collection in the process.
Practical Info
The Maritime Museum Rotterdam is open Tuesday through Friday from 10am to 5pm, and Saturday to Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Address: Leuvehaven 1, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Hours: Tue-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm
Admission: Adults € 8.50, Children Age 4-15 € 4.50, Children 4 & Under Free
From $ 13
Miniworld Rotterdam
Miniworld Rotterdam is the largest indoor miniature world in the Netherlands. The 535-square-meter site of Dutch landscapes is complete with miniature versions of polders, city views, harbors and model trains that traverse over 2 kilometers of track.
Experience the city of Rotterdam, complete with historic architecture and modern towers, including buildings such as the Erasmusbridge, the Euromast, Hotel New York, the new Rotterdam Central Station and City Hall. There is even a to-scale working model of the Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in the world. The site even expands beyond city limits, stretching out to the coast and including the suburbs of Rotterdam. The UNESCO World Heritage windmills of Kinderdijk are here in miniature too.
One day in Miniworld Rotterdam lasts 24 minutes, and toward the end of each cycle, night falls with the overheard lights dimmed in a sunset, while thousands of tiny lights illuminate the miniature landscape. An open workshop allows visitors to see how the models are made, and the command center is open for exploration as well.
Practical Info
Miniworld Rotterdam is open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 5pm and on weekends from 10am to 5pm. The museum is just a short walk from Rotterdam Central Station, located at Weena 745.
Address: Weena 745, Rotterdam 3013 AL, Netherlands
Admission: Varies
From $ 12
Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp)
Rotterdam Zoo is the largest in the Netherlands and one of the most active in Europe, running both conservation and breeding programs. A rare Indian rhino, an Asian elephant, Asian lion cubs and baby polar bears have all been successfully bred here.
There are many species to see in the zoo’s themed enclosures, ranging from the lions, gazelles, ostriches and giraffes of the African savannah to the tigers and elephants from the Asian rainforest, plus polar bears and Arctic foxes from more wintery regions. Cute otters splash in pools, penguins dart around their aquarium and gorillas play on African Gorilla Island at Rotterdam Zoo.
Even on a rainy day there’s plenty to do undercover; visit the sharks and rays in the Oceanium or admire the thousands of butterflies in Amazonica, a climate-controlled pavilion that opened in 2013. The zoo is also home to Crocodile River, where visitors can follow the pathways to get up close with the crocs.
Practical Information:
General admission is €21, while it is €16.50 for youth ages 3 to 12. The zoo is open daily from 9 a.m until 5 p.m., or 6 p.m. in the summer. Visitors can take the metro to Blijdorp (no cash) to reach the zoo or walk 15 minutes from Central Station. Rotterdam Zoo also has supervised onsite parking for €8.
Address: Blijdorplaan 8, Rotterdam 3041 JG, Netherlands
Admission: €21
From $ 13
Erasmusbrug (Erasmus Bridge)
Better known by its affectionate local nickname of “the Swan,” Erasmus Bridge crosses the River Nieuwe Maas with its elegant white spines, constructed in 1996 to link north and south Rotterdam across the harbor. Designed by Ben van Berkel, the bridge is an iconic landmark in Rotterdam, and its 456-foot (139-meter) single pylon supports 32 steel cables from which the half-mile (800 m) roadway is suspended. The southern side of the bridge includes Europe’s heaviest bascule, which lifts in order to let shipping transport through. It’s best seen at close quarters from the water on a harbor tour, from above on the viewing platform of Euromast or from the walking and cycling trails around the Port of Rotterdam.
The Swan is beautifully illuminated at night and often provides an eerie backdrop for Rotterdam’s festivals and fireworks displays. In 2005, several planes flew beneath the bridge as part of the daring “Red Bull Air Race.”
Practical Information:
The Erasmus Bridge can be seen from most vantage points around Rotterdam’s harbor.
Address: Rotterdam, Netherlands
From $ 22
Old Harbor (Oude Haven)
The Old Harbor, or Oude Haven, of Rotterdam is the city’s first port, dating back to 1350. Today, the Old Harbor is an entertainment center of Rotterdam, with a unique mix of old and new structures and a collection of terraces and restaurants to enjoy some time to relax in the bustling city.
Rotterdam’s Old Harbor is home to a number of old sailing ships that harken back to the heyday of the city as a trading port. Alongside the harbor stands Het Witte Huis (The White House), recognized as the first skyscraper of Europe. Standing 45 meters, the White House was built in 1898, and was not only the first, but also the highest skyscraper in Europe.
The ten-story, art nouveau-style building was designed by Dutch architect Willem Molenbroek, and stands on 1,000 piles that keep it from sinking into the soft soil. It is one of the few buildings in Rotterdam to have survived the German bombing campaign of May 14, 1940.
The Old Harbor used to be the home of the Plan C business complex, built in 1880. This complex combined shops, offices and homes around central arcades, allowing shoppers to remain dry even during the rain. This complex was, in fact, one of the first shopping malls similar to the malls of today. Unfortunately, most of Plan C was destroyed in the bombing, and only the railing and some underpasses of the complex remain today.
Taking its place around the Old Harbor are the restaurants and modern apartments that the Old Harbor is known for today. Chief among these are Rotterdam’s Cube Houses, built in 1984. These houses, designed by Piet Blom, look like giant yellow blocks, tilted on their side and raised up on poles. The cube house complex is known as the Blaakse Bos, or Blaakse Forest, as each of the houses can be seen to look like a tree. One of the cube houses is open to the public, or you can spend the night at the Stayokay hostel, which is located within one of the cubes.
The area around the harbor has now been transformed into a center for dining and nightlife in Rotterdam. There are thirteen restaurant and cafes that surround the harbor, along with a CitizenM hotel.
Practical Info
The Old Harbor is centrally located in Rotterdam, with the nearest Metro station being the Blaak station. It is free to visit the harbor, but can be very crowded at the restaurant terraces when the weather is nice.
Address: Rotterdam 3011, Netherlands
From $ 34
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Rotterdam’s premier art museum began with bequests from two wealthy Dutch art lovers: Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans donated his collection to the city in 1847, and Daniel George van Deuningen followed suit in 1955. From 16th-century paintings to contemporary glassware, the museum’s displays of western works are constantly changing; it has featured 20th-century bodies of work by German Expressionist Max Beckmann and French surrealist Yves Tanguy, as well as pieces from hundreds of years earlier.
Highlights of this expansive 140,000-work collection include Pieter Bruegel’s peerless Old Testament offering The Tower of Babel (1553), which warrants close inspection for all its detailed activity; scores of delicate drawings by Renaissance artist Fra Bartolommeo; Rembrandt’s winsome Titus at his Desk; and a collection of Gerrit Rietveld’s distinct colored wooden furniture. The many other artists represented here include Rubens, Dalí, Da Vinci, Monet, Picasso, Van Eyck and Man Ray. All works are housed in a stylish red-brick building designed by Adrianus Van der Steur, now updated with airy glass galleries and surrounded by a sculpture park and fountains. Free temporary exhibitions are on display in the Willem van der Vorm gallery and Serra Hall just inside the main entrance.
Practical Info:
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is at Museumpark, and the general entrance fee is 12.50, while it costs €6.25 for students and €10 for seniors. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visitors can take subway A, B or C from Central Station to De Akkers (with a prepaid card only), or park in the underground lot at Museumpark, which does not accept cash. Audio guides and guided tours are available.
Address: Museumpark 18, Rotterdam 3015 CX, Netherlands
Admission: €12.50
From $ 13
Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen)
Revolutionary architect Piet Blom designed and developed Rotterdam’s collection of 40 innovative cube houses in 1984, each of which has a giant yellow and gray tilted, wooden cube balancing on top of the ground level. The houses were built to resemble trees in a forest and to present an alternative to high-density urban living. Blom took the Ponte Vecchio in Florence as his inspiration for the structures and included public areas below and private living spaces above in the cubes. These bizarre apartments are centered around a courtyard playground and lean at an angle of 45 degrees over the buzzy waterfront bars and restaurants of Oude Haven. The whole complex sits on top of a pedestrian bridge over a busy road.
Inside, the houses have three stories and myriad angled walls with plenty of light pouring in from the sloping, triangular, plate-glass windows. The rooms are also triangular, which makes furniture design especially tricky. Each unit consists of a living space on the first floor, two bedrooms and a bathroom on the second and a workspace or sun lounge on the top floor.
Two of the larger cube houses have been transformed into a funky hostel for tourists, but the three-floor Show Cube (KijkKubus) is a fully furnished pod open to impress visitors with the crazy planes and slopes of its interior.
Practical Information:
The Cube Houses are on Overblaak at Oude Haven. Entrance to the Show Cube costs €2.50, and it is open daily from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Paid parking is available in the Kiphof or Oude Haven public parking lots, but neither have the option to pay with cash.
Address: Kijk-kubus Overblaak 70, Rotterdam 3011 MH, Netherlands
Admission: €2.50
From $ 29
St Lauren's Church (Sint Laurenskerk)
St. Lauren’s Church, or The Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk, is the primary cathedral of Rotterdam, and the only remaining building of medieval times in the city. The late-Gothic structure was built between 1449 and 1525, originally consecrated as a Catholic cathedral before being converted to a Protestant place of worship following the Reformation in 1572. Much of the ornate decoration from the interior was removed at this time.
For a time, from 1619 to 1642, the church was topped with a wooden spire designed by architect Hendrick de Keyser, but this was demolished due to rot. The next idea was to top the tower with a stone pinnacle, but this caused the tower to tilt, requiring new piles to be added under the foundation. Much of the remaining interior decoration was removed during the Batavian Revolution of 1795.
Sint-Laurenskerk was heavily damaged in the German bombing of May 14, 1940, the images of which still symbolize the hardship the city endured during this period. After the bombing, there was controversy over whether to keep or demolish the church, and in the end, a restoration was agreed upon.
One of the main attractions of the Sint-Laurenskerk is the Carillon of bells, which were originally installed in 1661 as a set of 36 designed by F. Hemony. More were later added during the post-war renovation, and there are now 49.
Practical Info
The Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk is open from Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm. The church is closed on Sunday and Monday except for church services. Admission is €1 for adults, with children up to age 12 free. Admission for the exhibit is €5 for adults, €3.50 for children 13-18, and free for children to 12 years. You can access the museum via Tram 21 (Blaak stop) or Metro Beurs or Blaak.
Address: Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk Grotekerkplein 15, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Hours: Tue-Sat 11am-5pm, Closed Sunday & Mon except for church services
Admission: Admissions Varies on Activity
From $ 13
Euromast
Designed by Dutch architect Hugh Maaskant for the 1960 Floriade flower festival, Euromast dominates the Rotterdam skyline with its futuristic shape, serving as a much-loved city landmark. Now standing 606 feet (185 meters) tall, Euromast was originally only 328 feet tall before its extra height was added in the 1970s to counter its lost title as Holland’s tallest structure. Originally built as an observation tower, Euromast is better known today as a center for fine dining and adrenaline-pumping extreme sports.
From the bottom to the top, a visit to Euromast tests bravery. Speedboats depart from the foot of the tower for high-speed tours of the port of Rotterdam, getting up close to Erasmus Bridge, as well as the wharves and ships of one of the world’s largest commercial ports. Up at Euromast’s viewing platforms, which are accessible by elevator, visitors can rappel down the tower (summer only, check dates) or zip-line to the ground on the last Sunday of every month.
The revolving Euroscoop elevator corkscrews its way up from the viewing platform and takes those unafraid of heights to the very top, while a brasserie serving snacks such as bitterballen (spicy Dutch meat balls) can be found perched up at 314 feet (96 meters). If you can’t bear to leave, the tower houses two hotels rooms with stupendous views from their private balconies.
Practical Information:
Euromast is at Parkhaven, and entrance costs €9.25. It is open daily in April through September from 9:30 a.m. until 11 p.m., and in October through March from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Rappelling is bookable in advance and costs €52.50, while speedboat rides cost €47.50. There is plenty of paid parking in the vicinity (with no option to pay with cash) and Tram 8 can be taken from downtown Rotterdam. Combination tickets for Euromast and Kunsthal Rotterdam are available for adults at €16.20 each, €9.95 for youth ages 12 to 18 and at €7.70 for children ages 6 to 11.
Address: Parkhaven 20, Rotterdam 3016 GM, Netherlands
Admission: €9.25
From $ 11
SS Rotterdam
The SS Rotterdam, La Grand Dame, is the former flagship cruise liner of the Holland America Cruise Line, which since 2010 is now a hotel, restaurant, and event center located in Rotterdam Harbor.
The SS Rotterdam was built in Rotterdam, inaugurated in 1958 and put into service in 1959, making a Trans-Atlantic crossing to New York for its maiden voyage. At the time, the ship was one of the ten largest cruise ships in the world. The ship's design was more streamlined and modern than traditional cruise liners at the time with a sharp, high bow and slender flues instead of the traditional chimney of other cruise ships.
The Rotterdam was used for many years for these Trans-Atlantic crossings, until this was replaced by air travel as the preferred mode in the early 1970's. The SS Rotterdam was then converted into a cruise service in the manner of cruise lines today, serving the Holland America line until the mid-1990s. In the late 1990s, the ship was renamed the Rembrandt and was used by Premier cruises for shorter European cruises, until the Premier line went out of business in 2000.
Between 2005 and 2008, the ship regained its old name and was restored to its original luxury, while being upgraded and modernized to service its current purpose. In 2008, the ship returned to Rotterdam and docked at Katendrecht, in the center of Rotterdam.
Today, visitors to the ss Rotterdam can wander the ship, visiting most areas, as they are open to the public. For some areas, you need to book one of the private tours to get in. Tour packages include an above-deck Sea Breeze Deluxe tour of the bow, bridge, and captain's cabin, or a below-deck Steam & Chrome tour of the engine rooms, crew areas, and radio room. You can also combine both tours into the Rotterdam Complete tour to see the whole ship.
The Rotterdam is a fully functioning hotel with 254 guest rooms. The steamship also features two restaurants and two bars, as well as an outdoor terrace where you can relax with a drink by the poolside.
Practical Info
The SS Rotterdam is open free of charge, while guided tours are separate admission. Tours run daily from 10am to 5pm, with the last admission at 4pm.
Address: 3e Katendrechtse Hoofd 25, Rotterdam 3072 AM, Netherlands
From $ 14
Rotterdam Central Station
As the main railway station of the city of Rotterdam and one of the most important transportation hubs in all of the Netherlands with over 110,000 daily passengers in 2007 (as many as Amsterdam Schipol airport), Rotterdam Centraal was just recently renovated and reopened in March 2014. Because it is
now connected to several high-speed networks in Europe and because of its proximity to Schipol airport, it is expected that the numbers of daily passengers will increase to 323,000 by the year 2025.
In terms of architecture, the station has already received the acclaim of the industry thanks to its bold yet efficient design – a nod to the city’s architectural heritage, which is famous for being edgy and resolutely non-traditional. One of the main changes from the recent renovations works is the difference
between the north and south entrances; one faces the residential Provenierswijk neighborhood and the other, a futuristic, skyscraper-ridden commercial district. The station was designed so that commuters feel the gradual evolution from a more modest northern entrance with plenty of natural light and green
spaces merging into a metropolitan, dramatic allure to the south as the stations opens up onto a large and lively public square and a 5000-bike parking.
Practical Info
Rotterdam Central Station offers regular service to most Dutch cities as well as international services to Antwerpen, Brussels and Paris up to 14 times a day and to Lille twice per day.
Address: Stationsplein 1, Rotterdam, South Holland 3013, Netherlands
From $ 34
Markthal Rotterdam
Rotterdam’s brand new market hall is more than just a place to shop for produce and grab a bite; it’s an attraction in its own right. It features over 100 food stalls, eight restaurants and 15 shops, all located underneath an imposing horseshoe-shaped structure with glass facades consisting of 4,000 small windows hanged by steel cables – it is, in fact, the largest glass-window cable structure in Europe, and as such, is considered an architectural masterpiece by many experts.
Additionally, the inside of the market is covered by more than 4,000 colorful tiles that give the horseshoe-shaped arch a boost of color, making it the largest artwork in the Netherlands. A 10th-century farm was uncovered seven meters underground during construction of the market, and several foundations and artifacts are now on exhibit throughout the market hall in homage to Rotterdam’s agricultural past.
Practical Info
Markthal is located on Verlengde Nieuwstraat in Rotterdam. It is easily accessible on foot from all over central Rotterdam, or by public transit at stop Blaak (by tram via lines 21 and 24, by train, or by metro via lines A, B, or C.). It can also be reached by car or bike, as there is a four-story parking garage underneath the market hall. Markthal is open every day of the week; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Mondays and Thursdays as well as Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays, and from noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The market is free to enter.
Address: Verlengde Nieuwstraat, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Hours: Open Mon-Thurs and Sat: 10am-8pm, Fri: 10am-9pm, and Sun: 12pm-6pm
From $ 22
Kunsthal Rotterdam
This Rem Koolhaas-designed art museum houses about half a dozen exhibits at a time in its sleek, low-slung stone and glass exhibition hall. Exhibits in the museum’s spacious white galleries have included the works of Andy Warhol, an extensive collection of objects from World War II and the avant-garde fashions of Jean Paul Gaultier. Kunsthal Rotterdam made headlines in 2012 when seven important works by the likes of Monet, Gaugin, Matisse and Picasso were stolen in a daring late-night raid of the museum.
Practical Information:
Kunsthal Rotterdam is at Museumpark, and general admission is €12.50 (€6.25 for students). The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. It’s a 20-minute walk from Central Station or a five-minute walk from Leuvehaven metro station. Visitors can also park in the underground lot at Museumpark. Neither Leuvehaven station nor the Musuempark lot accepts cash. Combination tickets for the museum and Euromast are available for €16.20 for adults, €9.95 for youth ages 12 to 18 and €7.70 for children between the ages of 6 and 11.
Address: Westzeedijk 341, Rotterdam 3015 AA, Netherlands
Admission: €12.50
From $ 13
Kop van Zuid
What was once an abandoned port area has now been redeveloped into an urban, metropolitan neighborhood. Many of the disused buildings in Kop van Zuid "“ shipyards, headquarters, and plants "“ have remained and were recently given a second life, not without thanks to the completion of the now-iconic Erasmus Bridge that finally united the north and the south sides of the mighty Nieuwe Maas River. Along with new infrastructure and award-winning architecture (throughout their modernization, most buildings kept a lot of their original features to keep history alive), this duality and eclectic feel have helped Kop van Zuid reached an international reputation, and its business model has since been copied several times in other naval cities facing similar issues. If Kop van Zuid used to be exclusively for dockworkers and sailors, it is now filled with fashionable youngsters and local families wanting to experience a new side of their city. Visitors will now find a contemporary and inviting entertainment district that features hotels, cafes, restaurants, a theater, and many businesses "“ even an international cruise ship port, the Wilhelmina Pier.
Practical Info
Kop van Zuid is located on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas River in Rotterdam. It is accessible on foot from the Leuhaven district by crossing the Erasmus Bridge, by metro via lines D and E (Wilhelminaplein stop), or by tram via lines 12, 20, 23 and 25 (Wilhelminaplein stop).
Address: Rotterdam, Netherlands
From $ 22