By air
Rotterdam The Hague (RTM), ~6 km; Schiphol ~30 min by train
Europe · Netherlands
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Bold architecture on a great port
Getting there
Best time to visit
May to September — summer
Don't miss
The Cube Houses
The Markthal
The Erasmus Bridge
The Euromast
Things to do
The Cube Houses
The Markthal
A harbour cruise
The Erasmus Bridge
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Mlefter · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Layers
A quieter corner
The Fenix warehouse's spiral viewing tower in Katendrecht
Questions travellers ask
What are the architectural highlights of Rotterdam?
The Cube Houses, the Markthal, the Erasmus Bridge and the Euromast. Add a harbour cruise to see the port.
Where should I eat in Rotterdam?
At the Markthal's food stalls.
Which airport should I use for Rotterdam?
Rotterdam The Hague (RTM) is about 6 km away, or Schiphol is about 30 minutes by train.
Where can I get a different view of Rotterdam?
Climb the Fenix warehouse's spiral viewing tower in Katendrecht.
What months suit Rotterdam?
May to September, in summer. Bring layers.
About Rotterdam
- Riverside
Where it is
Rotterdam is the second-largest city of the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, on the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse) in the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, with Europe's largest seaport stretching west to the North Sea.
History
The city grew from a dam built on the Rotte in the 1260s and received city rights in 1340, and it was the birthplace of the humanist Erasmus. Its port boomed after the Nieuwe Waterweg to the sea opened in 1872; on 14 May 1940 German bombing almost completely destroyed the historic centre, and the city was rebuilt from the 1950s as a showcase of modern architecture.
People
Rotterdammers speak Dutch, and the port city is home to large communities with roots in Suriname, Turkey, Morocco, Cape Verde and the Dutch Caribbean. Summer brings the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Caribbean-style Summer Carnival, and Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium is the city's footballing heart.
Known for
- The Port of Rotterdam
- The Cube Houses
- The Markthal
- The Erasmus Bridge
- Modern architecture and the Euromast
Did you know?
From 1962 until 2004 Rotterdam was the busiest port in the world by cargo tonnage, until Singapore and then Shanghai overtook it.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.