15 Places That Make Rotterdam Worth Visiting

Written by Ross Jones in Uncategorized

You may be going to the Netherlands and looking for places to visit, or you may be looking to explore and enjoy somewhere you have never been. Rotterdam has a deep culture and numerous must-see places to visit and explore. Though it is not marketed as widely or actively as Amsterdam, Rotterdam is a wonderful seaside city with many maritime and land adventures to be had.

Here are 15 places that make Rotterdam worth visiting:

  1. Europort
  2. Maritime Museum
  3. SS Rotterdam
  4. Markthal Rotterdam
  5. Rotterdam Zoo
  6. Euromast
  7. Grot of Sint-Laurenskerk (The Church of Saint Laurence)
  8. Fenix Food Factory
  9. Kinderkijk’s Windmills
  10. Windmills of Schiedam
  11. The Witte Huis (White House)
  12. Museum Boijamans van Beuningen
  13. Nederlands Fotomuseum
  14. Natuurhistorish Museum Rotterdam
  15. Miniworld Rotterdam

Though this is not all-inclusive of the sights and activities available during your visit, these are the most enjoyable and educational places to add to your trip planning.  Below the description of the 15 places that make Rotterdam worth visiting, as well as a few sites to take in while you are visiting.

Is Rotterdam Worth Visiting?

Visiting a city that’s livelihood mostly comes from the sea may put many people off who are not maritime enthusiasts. But you will see that Rotterdam is not only for the nautical lovers but offers many more things for everyone to enjoy and experience.

If you research Rotterdam and things to do there, you are bound to find attractions and sites to visit even if you don’t have an interest in shipping or other marine-related activities.

Water-centered attractions are interesting and intriguing.  And there are also land adventures offering all you could possibly want to explore in any vacation. We’ll check out both in this guide, divided into the following categories:

  • Nautical Experiences
  • Art and Culture

The Nautical Experiences of Rotterdam to Enjoy: These are Must See’s

The seafaring can find seaside attractions worthy of interest spanning the globe.  For those who are in love with the sea, Rotterdam is a place you’ll embrace! Your desire to be a part of the see loving world will be fulfilled here.  The nautical history and present-day features of this city will appeal to any seagoing enthusiast may have.

1.     Europort: A Place of Shipyards and More

Europort will fill any maritime need the sea-loving individual may have.  Filled with naval vessels, inland shipping, cruise and ferries, superyachts, offshore specials, dredging, fishing vessels and workboats will enthrall any type of boat lovers.  The area will also offer information on the businesses there and job opportunities within the Rotterdam community.

Hours

Depending on the season and day you can visit Europort during the hours between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. 

Things to Do

Among the things to do at Europort include such things as:

  • Workshops to learn about all things ocean-related
  • Opening summits to include new and exciting structures and businesses
  • Start-Up Plaza where you can meet companies of the shipping world who are starting their ventures or looking for others to join their company to achieve the same goals
  • Exhibitors on Stage offers a look into how these seaside companies want to take their business and community in into the future of Rotterdam
  • The Job Route, offering vacancies in the companies of Europort
  • University innovations Euroports Programme offering innovations of the future

Many of these opportunities will supply excellent networking opportunities and a chance to learn more about your seaside interests.  Being a part of a learning environment for anyone interested in the ocean or that has the desire to share their knowledge and interest with the new coming nautical adventure is priceless.  For more information, pricing, photos, and more visit: https://www.europort.nl/visitor

2.     Maritime Museum for the Young and Old Adventurers Does Not Disappoint

The Maritime Museum Harbor offers access to working vessels and cranes.  If photographing these are not fulfilling enough, hop on one of the historical vessels offering boat trips in the summer.  

After enjoying a relaxing boat trip to explore the waters, you want your next stop to be the beautiful Lighthouse Maasvlakte Light that is open all year.  The lighthouse, as many of the other attractions, is interactive at the height of 66 meters.  It is the 12th tallest traditional lighthouse in the world.

  • Within the museum, there are over twenty-five unique objects obtained over six centuries of Rotterdam history.  Maritime Museum’s collections include a Corpus Cristi exhibit and Joan Blaeu sea charts.
  • If you have ever wondered how sea employees do their amazing jobs, take part in the Offshore Experience, and see what it is like to live and work three kilometers under the ocean’s top.  If you want to feel what it is like to stay aboard a tall ship with 12 passenger decks, tropical swimming areas, and tennis courts, the Sea Palaces are the place to stay.
  • Are you traveling with your family?  The Sea Monster Exhibit for ages 4 and up explores 6 of the most known sea creatures of all time: Nessie, the Kraken, The Giant Crab, Mermaids, a Turtle so big it was once thought to be an entire island, and of course the what that swallowed Jonah. And for children between ages 4-10, meeting Professor Splash offers interactive learning from a seagoing captain and his friends.

For more details follow this link: https://www.maritiemmuseum.nl/en

3.     SS Rotterdam: A Passenger Ship Turned Meeting Place

The SS Rotterdam made its first voyage to New York in 1959, carrying 1200 passengers that included a crowned princess. 

This huge vessel now offers packages for entertaining while enjoying the beautifully decorated interior especially during their seasonal events.  Christmas is decked out for Royalty and has equally fascination accommodations through each season.  https://ssrotterdam.com/

While this wraps up the most interesting nautical attractions of Rotterdam, we have many more attractions to explore for our land lovers.

Art and Cultural Attractions to Check Off Your List

When you think of a seaside city for a vacation you never think of the land adventures you may meet.  Rotterdam has these as well in abundance.  You will enjoy many different attractions that may have not come to mind when you explored the possibility of a vacation at Rotterdam.

4.     Markthal Rotterdam the Marketplace of All Marketplaces

Markthal Rotterdam is a one of a kind marketplace with a semicircular structure graced with hand-painted artwork by Arnon Coenen of fruit, plants, insects, and even flowers all above the numerous shops, restaurants, bars, and 70 other businesses.

This is the site of the first covered marketplace in the Netherlands next to the Black Station and parallels the Laure Skerk along River Rotte.  The site was originally built as an underground tunnel added to the aesthetics of the market.  This allows deliveries to be unseen and avoids any disruption of the shops.

Each shop tenant has to sign a Green Lease Agreement to promote the energy efficiency of the structure.  Not only does this building offer a large and unique marketplace, but on the upper floors, there are 102 rental apartments and 126 owned apartments with private elevator access.

5.     Rotterdam Zoo/Diergaarde Blijdorp

The zoo offers more than any other.  Known for the Botanical Garden, Oceanium, and endangered species breeding programs of a high success rate, the zoo is indispensable.  Within are themed sections of the zoo, such as the Chinese Garden and Malayan Forest.   Many of these enclosures offer interactive learning.

Most people enjoy a day at the zoo, but you will not find another like Rotterdam Zoo.  Even with all the unique experiences offered in the Rotterdam Zoo, they offer many discounts to entrance rates.  As one of Europe’s most beautiful zoos, the addition of discounts is something you will appreciate. Some highlights of the zoo include:

  • Species: The species available for viewing are astounding.  The endangered species give you a chance to see animals that may not otherwise be available to see other than in photos.
  • Planned Day: A day at the zoo is given a whole new meaning when you walk through the entrance to receive an activity program & map, or to meet the little train that takes you to the restaurant to enjoy breakfast.
  • Oceanium: Want to enjoy your stroll through the zoo?  You must include the Oceanium where you can walk on a seabed.  At the bottom of the sea, along the coastal region, you will meet plenty of marine life and coastal creatures from fish to king penguins.
  • Animal Interactions: Meeting the keepers of these creatures and watching them feed are interestingly amazing.
  • Close Encounters:  You have the opportunity to meet special animals or rare plant life.
  • Botanical Gardens:  You may enjoy the Chinese Garden or Explore the Mongolian Steepes & Crocodile River.
  • The Animal Enclosures:  There are countless animal enclosures with amazing species of both animals and plants.  These also offer interactive elements as part of the experience.

The zoo offers as many activities as you could possibly want to explore at a zoo.  You have the opportunity to take part in guided tours.  If you want a group experience, you may have a guided tour, a children’s party, or even a photo workshop.  Above all zoos, this one is unique and exciting.  It will not disappoint you.   https://www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/nieuws/

6.     Euromast: The Tallest Building in Rotterdam

Fashioned after the New York skyline, The Euromast offers much more than cocktails, brunch, a deli, and dinner. 

  • Tours: You can take guided tours to stay in their state-of-the-art hotel offering a view of the entire city.
  • Abseiling:  Jump over the edge and abseil down the tower.
  • Elevator choices:  You can take the 30-second elevator from the ground floor to a 100-meter destination or to go even higher, take the Euroscoop, a rotating glass elevator offering panoramic views as you travel to heights of 185 meters.
  • Ziplining: From 100 meters, you can zipline to the ground in 15 seconds flat for the adventure-seeking souls.
  • Free Kids Activities: This amazing structure even offers a free kids club on Sundays, school holidays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays in the deli free of charge.

Within the amazing heights of this building, you will enjoy many fun activities.  https://euromast.nl/en/

7.     Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk: The Church of Saint Laurence

  • Tombs:  The church known for the 17th-century tombs of Johan van Brakel, Witte de With, and Egbert Kortenar.  The church has much more to offer than the tombs. 
  • Entrance Wonder:  With the “War and Peace” inspired brass doors, you will see the horrors of war and the beauty of peace.
  • Storybook-Museum:  A museum full of stories, music fragments, sculptures, and amazing images.
  • Musical Sights and Sounds:  Within the church’s walls are housed two famous organs one of which is the largest organ in the Netherlands.  Not only are there the organs but also a brass Choir.
  • Baptismal:  The scene of the Baptismal of Hands Petri from the 1960s is available to enjoy as well.
  • Activities:  The church offers festivals, concerts, an organ festival, and an amateur organ evening.  This attraction can also be rented for anything from Stock Market meetings to Wedding celebrations.  https://laurenskerkrotterdam.nl/

8.     Fenix Food Factory for All of the Foodies

Once an old port warehouse, the local entrepreneurs banned together to transform the warehouse into a market of fresh products and crafts, all locally made.  The Firma Biten BBQ and Jazz at Kaapse Brouuers are a wonderful way to emerge yourself in the local culture or maybe a Friday night or Sunday afternoon you may want to listen to live Jazz.

Among the shops, you can enjoy the vast cheese selections, fresh produce, or even amazing coffee.  This interesting venue may even be rented for events, parties, or nuptials.  http://www.fenixfoodfactory.nl/en/about/

9.     19 Kinderdijk’s Windmills

With 743 years of heritage, the windmills were built for water management and all its attractions are run by unpaid volunteers. 

You can enjoy guided tours, the Blokweer Museum Mill, Nederwaard Museum Mill, Widboom Pumping Station, an auxiliary pumping station, and De Fabriek Tour Boat for a slow-moving adventure to experience the mass windmills from the water.

The website offers a phone app and information on where to eat, drink, and even spend the night. https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/provinces/south-holland/the-windmills-of-kinderdijk.htm

10.  The Schiedam Attraction: Windmills of Schiedam

The building of the 50 mass windmills began in 1710.  Built to supply grain to the Jenever industry, these windmills are the largest in the world at 30 meters tall.  Only 8 of these massive grain providing structures still stand.

The area boasts art and culture.  The Theater Aan De Schie has public access musicals, various shows, cabarets, dance performances, theater, and even opera performances.  There is something for every musical and acting enthusiast to enjoy at the Theater Aan De Schie.

  • Much like the Theater Aan De Schie, The Ruimte in Beweging has performing arts to enjoy, but it does not stop there, it also offers amazing visual arts as well.
  • Nearby you will find Stedelijk Museum Schiedam full of modern and contemporary art.  If you are in the mood to be a part of the art lover’s scene, there are several art galleries you may visit while in the vicinity of the Windmills of Schiedam.

With so much to do, you may find that you need to stay at one of the hotels to enjoy the cultures’ food and drink and continue your explorations over more than one day.  https://www.angloinfo.com/blogs/netherlands/south-holland/hollywood-2-holland/the-windmills-of-schiedam/

11.  The Witte Huis (The White House): A Historic Survivor of World War II

Though photos could never do justice to the magnificent and impressively large building made of Iron, Steel, and Cement uncommon for buildings of the time, you will definitely want to capture many images with your camera.  The splendor of The Witte Huis only adds to the amazement of this building surviving the attacks in the area during World War II.

The Art Nouveau Style building raises 141 feet or 42 meters from the ground to the top of the 10th floor.  It is, in fact, the first high-rise building in all of Europe.  Even though buildings of the time were built using wood, this one did not for fear of fire damaging the structure giving it plenty of strength to stand the test of time.

It has become a National Heritage Site and the first hoogbouw in Europe listed as a Rijksmoniment.  This beautifully impressive monument survived The Battle of the Netherlands in May of 1940.

To take in its full beauty, you may want to see it from the water or to view the sites on the water; you can sip on a drink and admire the old houseboats. https://en.rotterdam.info/locations/het-witte-huis-1/

12.  Museum Boijamans Van Beuningen: One of The Most Important Museums of Art in the Country

When you think of museums around the world to visit, these 10 usually top your list.

  • The Smithsonian
  • Le Louvre
  • The Acropolis Museum
  • State Hermitage
  • The British Musium
  • The Prado
  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • The Vatican Museum
  • The Uffizi Gallery
  • Rijksmuseum

Of all the mentioned above, the Museum Boijamans van Beuningen should be in their company.  Offering over 150,000 objects of art, you will find major works by the world’s most beloved artists.  Below are 10 names everyone everywhere will recognize for their importance in the art world.

  1. Pablo Picasso
  2. Rembrandt van Rijn
  3. Salvador Dali
  4. Vincent van Gough
  5. Claude Monet
  6. Hans Collart
  7. Leonardo da Vinci
  8. Martial Raysse
  9. Balthus
  10. Hans de Wit

This is an extremely small part of the artists’ works contained in the Museum Beijamans van Beuningen.  Searching the museum website offers pages of artists and examples of their work, and those I have included are on the first few pages. 

Explore the webpage further to see what other artists are included with examples of their artwork. This museum offers both permanent exhibitions but also supplies a traveling collection they share containing around 500 masterpieces within eleven exhibits at eight other neighboring museums. 

Your trip and desire to be exposed to the art world will not be complete without visiting the Museum Boijamans van Beuningen.  https://www.boijmans.nl/en/collection/artworks

13.  Nederlands Fotomuseum: A Stop for Everyone Who Takes Photos or Enjoys Viewing Photography

The Nederlands Fotomuseum has both permanent and temporary exhibits full of photography.  While you may tour temporary exhibits on Sunday afternoons, you can take an entire museum tour offering a much more detailed visit of the permanent collections the Nederlands Fotomuseum shares its visitors.

There are also plenty of accessible activities such as short story contests, Urban wildlife photography workshops, and you can even learn how to make your own cameras during your visit. 

For your coffee needs, you can enjoy a cup of coffee at the barista from opening until 10 minutes before the closing of the museum; you do not even have to buy an entrance ticket to enjoy this early morning necessity.

The learning activities are not only offered to children in primary school but reach as high as the higher education sector of the educational world.  Among these multiple age-appropriate learning activities, you can attend the Summer School Ed van der Elsken.

For those who are unsure if they want to visit the Fotomuseum, you can visit their webshop to purchase many different books, photo prints of many of the photos displayed, and even packaging material to keep or send your collection and test out the Fotomuseum before your visit.  https://www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/activiteiten-workshops/

14.  Het Natuurhistorisch- Natural History Museum Offers More Than Natural History Displays

The Natural History Museum holds more than 400,000 objects to explore, including Skeleton Ele Phat Ramen, the giant remains of an Asian Elephant who was once housed in the Blijdorp Zoo. You may also view The Babinet of Dr. AB van Deinse, Floral Exhibits, Primal Whales from Zeeland, and more.

The museum offers audio and walk-in tours, nature consultations for the city visitors and residents, and activities for the children.  Such activities for children include treasure hunts and the question, are sea monsters real?  With the searches for sea monsters, they try to answer this question.

The museum is not only a display of natural history but also contributes to policymakers and city dwellers with their research and data collections.  You may enjoy any special occasion or event by renting space in the museum making the gathering informative and enjoyable. http://www.hetnatuurhistorisch.nl/

15.  Miniworld Rotterdam is Just as it Sounds: A Mini-World

The indoor theme park of 650 meters, includes thousands of scale-models of Rotterdam.  It truly is “Rotterdam in miniature” and is continuously expanded.

  • Tours:  The guided tours available offer a behind the scenes exploration.  These background scenes show how they handle traffic control, the model studio, and what happens behind the miniature world.  Guides will be happy to tell you all about the Shadow Station, model building, and the control technology required to keep this immense display of miniatures running.  The guided tour is a wonderful inclusion in any children’s parties, group visits, or company arrangements.  But the fun does not end there.
  • Scavenger Hunts:  You may also take part in a paper quest Scavenger Hunt where you will be given a list to check off full of details in the mini-world and hidden treasures or often overlooked scenes.  You will even search out answers to questions about the Miniworld and the areas it includes only offered there.  Not only does the Scavenger Hunt encourage you to be interactive but makes the visit fun as well.
  • Host a Gathering:  Your special gatherings enjoyed at the Miniworld Rotterdam can include guided tours and Scavenger Hunt.  With the possibilities available, hosting celebrations or gatherings which you can include catering services, would be parties to remember.
  • Themes of Miniworld:  You can enjoy Britain, Rotterdam in Miniature, Port of Rotterdam, and Harbor and Water.
  • Special Projects:  You can enjoy Miniworld in Trainz, The tub, Sparta Stadium The Castle, and From Ghent barracks.

The online site offers the ease and convenience of buying your tickets and packages without leaving your home, making entrance easier so that you can get straight to the good stuff. 

This online shop also gives you the opportunity to purchases visitation packages, miniatures of the exhibits, books, DVD’s and you can also create a mini-you to add to the world you are going to be exploring.  You may also buy many different subscriptions to the Miniworld online.

http://www.miniworldrotterdam.com/

Final Thoughts About Visiting Rotterdam

Rotterdam is well worth exploring with fun activities and interactive learning experiences for all interests and age groups.  From land to sea, you will find every inch of Rotterdam has something to admire and explore.

The 15 places to make Rotterdam worth visiting are only a few of the sights and sounds available to any who visits the amazing city.  From interactions, learning, sight-seeing, photo opportunities, museums of all sorts, historical attractions, live music, theater, foodie attractions, sight-seeing and vessels, you will not run out of things to do in the city of Rotterdam.

While many other places spanning the globe are well-known tourist destinations, none will offer you the wide variety of places to visit and things to experience in a single vacation.  Whether you obsess over the sea-loving lifestyle or you are enthralled by art and culture, you will find spectacular places to visit during your trip to Rotterdam.

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