Destination Rotterdam: An Innovative and Cool City
Here’s a list of things to do and places to visit in Rotterdam.
A lot of people think the only city worth visiting in Netherlands is Amsterdam. I beg to differ. If there’s one city that’s worth visiting in Netherlands, it’ll be Rotterdam. Sure, Amsterdam is known to be the fun and controversial capital city of the country, but Rotterdam has much more substance – it is fun, and an inviting cool city.
Known as Europe’s largest port city, with rich maritime history, Rotterdam is a contrast to that old-world Europe with its innovative and futuristic architecture. The welcoming culture – from nightlife and flourishing food scene with hip hole-in-the-walls bars and traditional restaurants, to art-dominated streets, made me appreciate this city more than Amsterdam.
Where I Stayed
WHERE I STAYED: Inntel Hotels Rotterdam Centre, a 4-star luxury hotel
WEBSITE: https://www.inntelhotelsrotterdamcentre.nl/en/
RATES: $106/night to $212/night
TIP: BOOK IN ADVANCE, they can get very full during peak season
ADDRESS: Zalmstraat 1 Leuvehaven 80, 3011 EA Rotterdam
PH: 31 (0)10 413 4139
Here are top things to do and places to visit in Rotterdam:
Markthal
Or Market Hall is a soaring residential and office building with an indoor market hall consisting wide array of shops, restaurants and bars. The inside of this impressive 40-meters high dome architecture shows a ceiling with colorful arts of fruits, flowers, vegetables and fish. The concept is like that of Reading Terminal Market in Philly. However, Markthal is much more innovative and offers a more vibrant atmosphere for food and drinks. Truly a food paradise.
While I was there, I tried Bitterballen, a Dutch food usually made up of beef or veal. Click here to read more about Bitterballen.
The Cube Houses
Rotterdam is actually known for innovation. The city is continuously exploring innovative ideas in terms of architecture. One of these pretty cool architectures is The Cube Houses. And just like the name implies, these are series of houses shaped in cubes. The houses are not big at all, it’s meant for a compact urban housing. And yes, people actually live there. There’s an open house of on one of the cubes there.
Witte Huis or White House
This is a significant building. It was once Europe’s tallest building, and one of the few buildings in the city to survive the German bombing of WW II. Because of its amazing history, this building is a National Heritage Site in Rotterdam.
Erasmus Bridge
Also known as “The Swan” because of it’s architecture feature – with pale blue pylon. Drive by the Erasmus Bridge and admire an impressive cable-stayed bridge that stretches 802 meters – making it the second largest bridge in Netherlands. This bridge is centrally located in Rotterdam.
Kinderdijk’s Windmills
If there’s one iconic symbol that’s truly reflective of what Netherlands is known for, it’s the windmills. And to find the real, authentic windmills preserved from 18th century, you have to visit Kinderdijk. They have 19 perfectly preserved windmills. This site is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This beautiful, charming village is great for biking, strolling.
Rotterdam Centraal Station
Another unique, modern architecture is Rotterdam’s Central Station which was opened in 2014. Because of its triangular shape that points towards the sky in an angle, it has become famous spot for tourists to check out.
Food Scene
There’s something vibrant and friendly when it comes to the food scene in Rotterdam. There are strips of restaurants and hip bars in the city center – from traditional Dutch favorites, Balkan ,Spanish, Italian, American, to exotic Indonesian dishes. And I must point out that overall, these streets are much cleaner compared to Amsterdam.
Lastly, just explore the city
I managed to have a scenic stroll close to Inntel Hotels where I stayed. Since the hotel is at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge, you’ll discover great spots all around.
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Hi, I'm Shar! I started the outbounder as a place to share my adventures as I explore different places around the world, my love for different kinds of food, and a passion to capture a moment in time through photography.
