The Netherlands. You’ve dreamt of going for years, and now you’re going to make your dreams come true. Maybe you’re taking a cruise out of – or ending in – Amsterdam and want to spend a few extra days exploring the sites. Maybe you’re just going because it’s something you want to check off of your bucket list. Either way, you’re trying to decide exactly what to see.
Rotterdam versus Amsterdam. Is there really a difference? The Netherlands’ cities are an easy 80 km (50 mi) drive from one to the other. Rotterdam tends to have a more urban feel, while Amsterdam feels a bit more like a village. While both cities have a very similar population of around 1 million, Amsterdam’s is more concentrated. Amsterdam tends to be the more crowded and better known of the two cities, most likely because it’s the capital, is more cosmopolitan and is home to many world-famous cultural destinations.
These are the two largest cities in the Netherlands, and both are historic, beautiful and wonderful places to visit. So, let’s take some time to learn more about each one and what they have to offer. We’ll compare overall feel, cultural sites, architecture, cost of living and more.
What Amsterdam and Rotterdam Share – the Culture of the Netherlands
Before we dig into the differences of the two cities, let’s understand a little bit about what they share – being part of the Netherlands.
A Bit of Geography of the Netherlands
Some people mistakenly think that Holland and the Netherlands are interchangeable. They aren’t. Suggesting that Holland and the Netherlands are the same would be the same as saying that Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom are the same things.
Both Amsterdam and Rotterdam are part of the North Holland Province, one of twelve different provinces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. And yes, there is also a South Holland. In addition to North and South Holland, the other provinces are:
- Drenthe
- Flevoland
- Friesland
- Gelderland
- Groningen
- Limburg
- North Brabant
- Over Ijssel
- Utrecht
- Zeeland
There are also three islands that are part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands: Aruba, Curaçao, and Sint Maarten (the Dutch side of the island – the French side is Saint Martin).
Amsterdam vs. Rotterdam – A Cultural Tale of Two Competing Cities
While both cities are very multi-cultural, one feels more upper crust than the other. And one feels more down-to-earth and relaxed than the other. Nevertheless, the two cities are very much rivals when it comes to competing for prestige, your attention, and as many of your tourist’s dollars as they can get.
Both cities have large international ports, but Rotterdam’s port is the largest in Europe. In the first half of 2019, this port reportedly took in more than 240 million tons of freight and brought it more than €357 million ($466 million). If you truly want to understand how commerce works – the movement of massive amounts of freight, visit the Rotterdam port.
Overall Feel: Blue Collar vs. Cosmopolitan
Because of the size of its port, Rotterdam’s overall culture tends more toward a blue-collar feel. That’s not to say that there aren’t theaters, museums, and universities in Rotterdam, they simply haven’t taken over the entire city’s personality. Relaxed, laid back, artsy, and maybe even “cool” tend to be the terms that are thrown around when people describe Rotterdam.
Amsterdam, on the other hand, feels more cosmopolitan. As the capital, it has the stock exchange, as well as more museums, theaters, universities, and sports stadiums than Rotterdam. It is well known for its red-light district, LGBT hangouts, and marijuana-friendly pubs and coffee houses. (Interestingly, Rotterdam has all of these features too.)
Here’s how the two cities’ cultural opportunities compare:
| Amenity | Amsterdam | Rotterdam |
| Airports | 1 | 1 |
| Lakes and Rivers | Yes | Yes |
| Legal Gambling | Yes | Yes |
| Museums | 51 | 7 |
| Sporting Event Stadiums | 2 | a |
| Theaters | 55 | 8 |
| UNESCO World Heritage Landmarks | 1 | 1 |
| Universities | 10 | 4 |
Concentration of People
Amsterdam is significantly more crowded than Rotterdam. Amsterdam hosts about 12,710 people per square mile, whereas Rotterdam has approximately 7,880 people per square mile.
Both cities have a plethora of eateries, pubs, clubs, and shopping for you to enjoy.
Museums
If culture is what you’re looking for, there’s no better place to find it than in the local museums. It doesn’t matter what you want to see; you’ll be able to find a museum for it in one of the two cities.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s museum scene is epic. Of course, there’s the obvious of the Van Gogh museum, but did you know you can also see attractions such as:
- The Amsterdam Royal Palace,
- The NEMO Science Museum,
- The Believe It or Not Amsterdam,
- Madame Tussauds Amsterdam,
- The Ultimate Flight Experience,
- The Body Worlds Amsterdam, or
- The Moco, Rijks, and Stedelijk Museums along with several others?
Rotterdam
Not to be outdone, Rotterdam has its own museum scene that is quite impressive:
- Museum Boijmans – Van Beuningen is the most famous art museum in Rotterdam,
- The New Institute will teach you about Modern architecture,
- The Chabot Museum,
- The Natural History Museum,
- The Dutch Museum of Photography,
- The Maritime Museum, or
- The Museum Rotterdam, among many others.
The Architecture of Amsterdam and Rotterdam
This is one area where the two cities are incredibly different.
Amsterdam’s architecture is very historical and honored. On the other hand, thanks to the Germans during World War II, Rotterdam’s oldest buildings date only to the beginning of the twentieth century as most of the city was destroyed in the war.
Amsterdam’s Architecture
Amsterdam was able to preserve most of its historic charm throughout World War II. When you visit, you will find incredible canals lined with multi-story row houses that each have their own story to tell.
Amsterdam is very much a biking city. In fact, it is considered to be the bicycle capital of the world. As such, it has entire parking decks with the sole purpose of housing bicycles. Why would they go to such extremes? Well, there are over 800,000 bicycles in Amsterdam – four times the number of cars in the city.
Fun Fact: If you’re wondering whether or not people get distracted while they’re biking around the city, the answer is yes. It is estimated that city workers have to pull between 13,000 and 15,000 bicycles out the 150 city canals every year. The lesson in this? Don’t drink (or toke) and drive… even if it’s your bicycle.
One might think that because it is the capital city that Amsterdam is very progressive in everything. That doesn’t seem to be the case, though. Many refer to Amsterdam as the “City of No.
Do you own a building and want to change it in some way? It’s unlikely your permit request is going to be approved. Why? The city’s architecture has relatively stayed the same since the 17th century when the canal belt was constructed. Since it’s considered to be a UNESCO heritage site, the city understandably requires the history of this area of the city to be preserved.
If you want to see some modern architecture in Amsterdam, you’ll still be able to by visiting the periphery of the city’s urban area.
Rotterdam’s Architecture
Unlike Amsterdam, Rotterdam was not spared during World War II. Most of its buildings were completely obliterated during the air raids Germany conducted in 1940.
One thing Rotterdam has been very intentional about during its rebuilding is to place plaques of red burning flames in the ground to represent the bombing fire line. In all, there are about 400 of these lights throughout the city.
Since it was starting with a nearly blank slate, Rotterdam rebuilt its city with a more modern approach to its architecture. It is known for several remarkable buildings such as the:
- Erasmus Bridge crossing the Maas River
- The 1960’s constructed observation tower, Euromast
- The Maastoren Skyscrapers which are 44 stories high
Rotterdam’s interesting Cube Houses provide a level of curiosity as they are tilted and securely attached to concrete pillars.
One of the historic buildings that survived the war is the Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk. This is an amazing example of Gothic architecture and house four organs – one of which is the largest organ in all of the Netherlands. Visitors are able to get inside this amazing landmark Tuesdays through Saturday.
If you want to see the building that was inspired by New York’s Waldorf Astoria, you can visit the Whitte Huis which was built in 1897-1898. This was the Netherlands ’ first skyscraper and was the tallest building in Europe for many years.
Rotterdam’s UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Van Nellefabriek (the Van Nelle Factory). This former tea, coffee, and tobacco factory closed in the 1990s but is still used as office space and an events venue.
When it comes to allowing new construction and approaches to modern thought, as much as Amsterdam tends to resist change, Rotterdam is known for embracing it and looking toward the future.
Is Rotterdam Less Expensive than Amsterdam?
It’s possible to go anywhere and find bargains, but they aren’t always worth the savings. If you’ve ever stayed somewhere that you pushed the dresser in front of the door, you understand that. With that in mind, let’s look at how the two cities compare when it comes to expenses.
Apartment Rental
If you’re looking to rent an apartment in the city center, you can generally get a one-bedroom apartment in Rotterdam for about $600 per month less than you can in Amsterdam. Why? There are many factors that go into the economics of real estate, but for the most part, it comes down to availability. Because Amsterdam’s city center is fully built up, and at capacity, there aren’t any room for new construction and/or improvements. Rotterdam, on the other hand, continues to grow.
Wages
On average, the wages you can earn in Amsterdam, are about $200 per month higher than what you can earn in Rotterdam, but if you can earn $200 per month more, yet your apartment costs $600 per month more, you actually end up ahead in Rotterdam based on those two numbers alone.
That said, unemployment is significantly lower in Amsterdam than it is in Rotterdam. Amsterdam’s unemployment rate is about 11% lower than Rotterdam’s.
Cost of Living
Here are some examples of how expenses compare in the two cities.
- In general, the cost of daily groceries, eating out, and petrol is comparable between the two cities.
- Public transportation, however, costs more in Amsterdam. A monthly bus pass in Rotterdam will cost about $82 as opposed to $107 in Amsterdam – said differently, you’ll pay $25 less per month in Rotterdam than you will in Amsterdam.
- Theater tickets will also cost you a bit more in Amsterdam – an average of $132 for two tickets as opposed to about $105 for two in Rotterdam.
But Where Do You Go to See the Windmills and Tulips?
It isn’t a shock to find out that the Netherlands is the largest exporter of tulips in the world. With a projected annual tulip crop of over three billion – yes, BILLION, tulips, it’s no wonder why the Netherlands is the tulip capital of the world.
They export nearly two-thirds of all of the tulips grown – mostly to Germany and the United States.
To be able to see the windmills and tulip fields, you’ll need to leave both cities, but you can easily find day-trip tours from either Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
The Most Popular Spots for Tulips and Windmills
Although it’s obvious that you can see the windmills any time of year, to see the tulips in their full glory, you will want to visit sometime between mid-March to mid-April. Just like most other places in the world, Spring means probably rain showers, so bring your galoshes and umbrellas.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular places to visit:
1. Keukenhof
The most famous and most photographed garden is in Keukenhof, where there are over seven million bulbs planted, resulting in over 800 different types of tulips.
Known as “the Garden of Europe,” Keukenhof is one of the largest flower gardens in the entire world. Not only will you find amazing tulips here, but it is also the home of the largest lily show in the world.
More than 800,000 people visit the garden every year and considering that tulip season is a fairly short season, that means those crowds are mostly there during the same one-to-two-month time frame.
Keukenhof is centrally located between the two cities – 26 miles from Amsterdam and 24 miles from Rotterdam.
2. Noordoostpolder
If 800 different varieties of tulips aren’t enough for you, perhaps you’d prefer to visit Noordoostpolder, the home of more than 2,000 different varieties of tulips.
Located in the province of Flevoland, the annual tulip festival on this small island of Schokland is held during April and May.
If UNESCO World Heritage sites are important to you, don’t miss this lovely island.
A lovely bus ride of about 52 miles from Amsterdam or approximately 93 miles from Rotterdam will get you to this beautiful spot.
3. Hollands Kroon
If you’re interested in something a little more off of the beaten path, try Hollands Kroon. Located in the Anna Paulowna area, you will experience old farmhouses and windmills scattered around the flower fields that will take you back in time hundreds of years.
It’s about 34 miles north of Amsterdam and 67 miles north of Rotterdam.
4. Medemblik
Perhaps the thought of riding a historic steam train that will take you on a special route to view huge tulip fields in the towns of Medemblik, Hoorn, and Enkhuizen is more what you are interested in. If that’s the case, you’ll want to arrange a tour to Medemblik.
It’s not far from Amsterdam at approximately 29 miles. It’s slightly farther from Rotterdam at 64 miles, but a tour bus would let you take in the countryside while you sit back and let someone else do the driving.
5. Kinderdijk
If you’re traveling at a time outside of typical tulip season, or perhaps you just don’t care if you see any tulips, perhaps Kinderdijk is for you.
Another UNESCO World Heritage site, Kinderdijk, is the home to 119 historic windmills that were built circa 1740. They were built as part of a larger water management system intended to prevent flooding. Since about 26 percent of the country is below sea level, water management is critical to their survival.
Kinderdijk is about 59 miles from Amsterdam, but only 14 miles from Rotterdam. For avid bikers, taking a bike tour to Kinderdijk is a beautiful way to see the countryside.
Canals and Waterways in the Netherlands
Typically, when one thinks of romantic boat trips down a canal, Venice, Italy, is what comes to mind.
Surprisingly, Amsterdam’s 62 miles of canals surpass the canals in Venice. In fact, Amsterdam is known as the Venice of the North. More than 1,500 bridges link about 90 islands and the primary land of the city. The majority of Amsterdam’s canal system was built in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age.
Amsterdam’s Canals
As you explore Amsterdam’s canal system, you will see the narrow, multi-story row houses that line the waterways. Historically, the government charged the homeowner’s taxes based on the front-width of their house. To combat this approach, one savvy homeowner built his house to be only 2.02 meters (6.6 feet) wide and 6 meters (19.7 feet) deep.
In addition to the historic row houses, you’ll likely see:
- The city’s historical center
- The Skinny Bridge (a double draw bridge)
- The Golden Bend (the former glory area of the rich and powerful)
- The Rijks Museum
- The Anne Frank House – among other sights
Rotterdam’s Canals
Canals aren’t limited to Amsterdam, though. Rotterdam has also been built with intentional design around its canal system. Similar to Amsterdam, Rotterdam has beautiful tours along the canals that will provide a sense of history and wonder.
The Rotterdam canal tours will take you through:
- A sculpture route,
- Their former monumental prison complex that has since been turned into apartments and gardens,
- Stately mansions,
- The former Heineken brewery,
- A portion of the city which, in the 15th century began as a leper colony (don’t worry, you’re safe), and
- The Sparta Stadium, which is the Netherland’s the oldest football club.
Houseboats Along the Canals
While we’re talking about the canals, you’ll be interested to know there are over 2,500 houseboats anchored in Amsterdam’s canals alone. Most of them are located in the city center, and about 80 of them are available for rent to tourists.
Depending on the size of the houseboat you’re interested in, and how fancy you want to get, rental prices tend to be somewhere between $90 per night to in excess of $1,400 per night.
There’s even a houseboat museum you can visit in Amsterdam.
Knowing that Rotterdam is home to the largest port in Europe, it won’t come as much of a surprise that you can rent houseboats in Rotterdam too. Aligning with what we’ve already seen of the costs between the two cities, renting a houseboat in Rotterdam is also less expensive than Amsterdam.
In Rotterdam, you can rent a houseboat for between $60 to more than $800.
If you’re looking for an experience different from the typical hotel or apartment rental, perhaps you should consider a houseboat.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam Climates
Considering that both cities are below sea level and are not very far apart, it probably won’t come as a big surprise to find that their climates are almost identical.
The average temperature for both cities is a temperate 50.9 degrees Fahrenheit, with an average high of 57.6 degrees Fahrenheit and an average low of 44.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are always going to be exceptions and spikes, but these averages paint a picture of a cool climate. Add the average 83% humidity rate, and you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a sweater or jacket and dress in layers.
If you think the climate will keep titans of industry away, you might want to reconsider that thought. Amsterdam’s cosmopolitan atmosphere is a draw for the bohemian and billionaire alike. The upper crust in Amsterdam tend to live in the South Borough.
Getting Out of Both Cities
There are lots of sites to see in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Hague
Perhaps you are interested in global politics. If that’s the case, then a visit to The Hague may be in your future.
Known as the Royal City of the Netherlands, the third-largest city of the Netherlands, The Hague, is not only the country’s seat of government, it is also the host of the International Court of Justice – the United Nation’s main judicial arm. It is also home to most of the foreign embassies housed in the country.
Only 32 miles from Amsterdam and 13 miles from Rotterdam, this is an easy trip to add to your visit to the Netherlands.
Delft
Are you hoping to come home with some authentic blue and white Delft pottery? Then going to Delft is definitely going to be on your list of things to do. Delft is located between Rotterdam and The Hague.
Maybe Delft isn’t about pottery for you; rather, it’s about your science and technology fascination. If you want to know more about Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and Martinus Beijerinck, you can learn about their contributions to bacteriology, microbiology, protozoology, and virology.
Gouda
A 42-mile drive from Amsterdam or a 12-mile drive from Rotterdam will get you to Gouda. If you love cheese, a visit to this city is definitely something you want to add to your plans.
Not only is it famous for its aged dairy treat, but it is also known for its syrup waffles (stroopwafels), candles, clay pipes, and incredible glass windows in St. Janskerk. You’ll be thrilled to know that like many of the other Dutch cities, Gouda is also ringed by canals.
So. Which City is Better – Amsterdam or Rotterdam?
Both cities have a lot to offer everyone. In fact, both cities offer a lot of the same amenities. If you’re looking for museums, eateries, theaters, nightlife, history, a multi-cultural environment, and peaceful, beautiful canals, you can’t go wrong with either Amsterdam or Rotterdam.
One thing we did find is that if you want to spend less on your vacation, or your new living arrangement, you probably want to consider Rotterdam over Amsterdam. If you’re thinking of moving, though, make sure you have a job first because we also found that the unemployment rate is much higher in Rotterdam than it is in Amsterdam.
Regardless of where you go, you will, without a doubt, find that you will have a wonderful experience. The rivalry between the two cities that dates back to the 13th century when they both were granted city status may even provide you some interesting conversations with locals.
Don’t miss the amazing sights of the bicycles stacked four and five-deep on the sidewalks and the incredible bicycle parking garages.