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Rotterdam

Innovation is the mantra in the Netherlands' second city, and the locals embrace it with an enthusiasm that makes a visit here an exciting proposition.

Best Things to Do

Attractions

Must-see attractions for your itinerary

Van Nelle Fabriek
Rotterdam
Designed and built between 1925 and 1931, this modernist World Heritage–listed factory northwest of the city centre is an icon of 20th-century industrial…
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
Rotterdam
The roll-call of artists represented in the collection of Rotterdam's pre-eminent fine-arts museum is stellar and spans multiple periods and movements:…
Huis Sonneveld
Rotterdam
When company director Albertus Sonneveld decided to commission an architect to design a contemporary home for his family, the obvious choice was Leendert…
Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU
Rotterdam
Good things often come in small packages, and so it is with this small but excellent museum sheltered under a bridge on the Coolhaven. An eight-minute…
Markthal
Rotterdam
One of the city's signature buildings, this extraordinary inverted-U-shaped market hall was designed by local architecture firm MVRDV and opened for…
Kunsthal
Rotterdam
This dynamic cultural institution in Rotterdam's main museum enclave is known for its constantly changing and inevitably thought-provoking exhibition…
Deliplein
Rotterdam
Once home to the largest red-light district in Europe, Katendrecht is now one of Rotterdam’s culinary hotspots. The Deliplein is a small plaza right…
National Jenevermuseum Schiedam
Rotterdam
Housed in an 18th-century distillery, this museum is dedicated to the industry that Schiedam is best known for: production of the traditional Dutch gin…

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Attractions

Top picks from our travel experts

13 top things to do in Rotterdam: Architecture, culture and plenty of gin

Curated by Virginia Maxwell

Urban Espresso Bar
Rotterdam
Could this be Rotterdam's best cafe? The coffee here is definitely a cut above most of its competitors (Giraffe beans, expert baristas), as is the food …
Kaapse Brouwers
Rotterdam
Beloved for its live-jazz nights on Fridays from 8pm, this craft brewery in the Fenix Food Factory brews a bitter, ale, IPAs and stout. Its on-site Kaapse…
Fenix Food Factory
Rotterdam
Almost everything in this vast former warehouse is made locally and sold by entrepreneurs making their mark on the food scene. They include Booij…
Markthal
Rotterdam
One of the city's signature buildings, this extraordinary inverted-U-shaped market hall was designed by local architecture firm MVRDV and opened for…
Museum Boijmans van Beuningen
Rotterdam
The roll-call of artists represented in the collection of Rotterdam's pre-eminent fine-arts museum is stellar and spans multiple periods and movements:…
De Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Designed by OMA, whose star architect Rem Koolhaas is a Pritzker-winning local hero, this 'vertical city' with its three interconnected towers was…
Overblaak Development
Rotterdam
Designed by Amsterdam-based architect Piet Blom and built between 1978 and 1984, this mind-bending development facing the Markthal is marked by its pencil…
Museum Rotterdam '40-'45 NU
Rotterdam
Good things often come in small packages, and so it is with this small but excellent museum sheltered under a bridge on the Coolhaven. An eight-minute…
nhow Bar
Rotterdam
If Rotterdam had a ‘best view from a cocktail bar’ award, this bar on the 7th floor of the De Rotterdam building would be the clear winner. Action unfolds…
Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim
Rotterdam
The sight of bubbling copper vats and the heady scent of hops greets you at this vintage brewery abutting the Oude Kerk. Here you can take a voyage…
Erasmusbrug
Rotterdam
A symbol of the city, this graceful pylon bridge dubbed 'the Swan' was designed by architect Ben van Berkel and completed in 1996. It spans 802m across…
Brouwerij Noordt
Rotterdam
Situated in an old fire station (enter through the laneway off Zaagmolenkade), this brewery with its enormous onsite brewing tanks serves 20 tipples on…
Urban Guides
Rotterdam
Based in the Schieblock, this group of passionate Rotterdammers offers a selection of architecture-focused outings, including a one-hour boat tour on…
Hopper
Rotterdam
Roasting its own coffee using single-source beans and offering both espresso and AeroPress styles, this industrial-chic cafe has its own on-site bakery,…
Van Nelle Fabriek
Rotterdam
Designed and built between 1925 and 1931, this modernist World Heritage–listed factory northwest of the city centre is an icon of 20th-century industrial…
Bokaal
Rotterdam
In a bokaal (trophy) location at the heart of the enclave around pedestrian Nieuwemarkt and Pannekoekstraat, Bokaal has an indoor bar and a huge all-day…
Man Met Bril
Rotterdam
Rotterdam's first artisanal coffee roastery (there are now 12), Man Met Bril sources direct-trade, 90% organic beans from across the globe and then roasts…
Tante Nel
Rotterdam
Differing from traditional patat (fries) stands in a number of crucial ways, Tante Nel has pleasant street-side seating where its many and varied regulars…
De Witte Aap
Rotterdam
Anchoring this artist-filled 'hood, the fabulous 'White Monkey' is always crowded with locals. The front opens right up and a huge awning keeps inclement…
Eurotrash United
Rotterdam
This excellent brewery is the brainchild of Arno Coenen and Iris Roskam, the artists responsible for the enormous Cornucopia work on the inside of…