My name is Amy, the blogger behind the cultural travel blog www.templeseeker.com and this week I am here in the Netherlands. We actually came over on the Hull to Rotterdam ferry, mainly so that we could bring Blake the dog with us! Everyone favours Amsterdam as a base in the Netherlands, but we’ve been to Amsterdam before and also worried that it was too hectic for the dog, so we decided to use Rotterdam as our base. So, today, I’m here to answer the question – Is Rotterdam worth visiting?
Is Rotterdam worth it?
I am totally loving Rotterdam – there is plenty to do and lots to discover. Rotterdam is flat and well laid out, making it accessible and easy to see by bike or on foot. It has a great food and music scene, along with good shopping and cafes. It is a very liberal and international city with a good cultural life, maritime heritage and modern architecture. You will be totally spoilt by the art galleries and museums here – don’t miss the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam. So, Is Rotterdam worth visiting? Absolutely!
Rotterdam – A laid back contrast to Amsterdam
If you have ever been to Amsterdam before, you will find that Rotterdam has some common elements, but a really different vibe. Like Amsterdam, Rotterdam has that liberal feel, with numerous bike lanes and stroopwaffles. As a pedestrian, you can move around more freely, without the fear of being mowed down by a drove of cyclists! It also has an excellent tram and metro system, making it really easy to travel within and beyond the city.
The main difference is that Rotterdam is not suffering from the over tourism that Amsterdam is. We didn’t see as many stag dos and hen dos, and not as much sex tourism. In Rotterdam, there is not a pedestrianised red light district and street sex work and window prostitution are not allowed. That’s not to say that sex work is not happening here – it is (prostitution is legal in the Netherlands), but it is not as glaringly obvious as it is in Amsterdam.
It’s a Port city, so is it really worth it?
Let’s face it, port cities are sometimes viewed as dirty, industrial and often un-cultured. Yet, Rotterdam has survived as a top maritime hub and a world-class gateway to Europe. Unlike some other port cities that I have visited, Rotterdam has streets that are clean and well-organised. It is a leading city in technology and engineering, whilst also retaining an artsy vibe. It is accessible from the UK by boat as I have mentioned, and due to it’s close proximity to the UK, the Dutch people speak excellent English, meaning that it is unlikely that you will find a problem with a language barrier.
Hull to Rotterdam – the Dog friendly boat from the UK!
For me, the fact that Rotterdam is a port city is a massive plus, because I can bring Blake dog on the ferry. My husband does the driving and we book one of the pet friendly cabins. The ferry crossing is approximately 12 hours, so you can take the night ferry and wake up in Rotterdam! It is an excellent option for those looking for dog friendly travel from UK to Europe.
Rotterdam – An Interesting history resulting in Modern Architecture
The history of Rotterdam in WW2 is quite harrowing. The 1940 Rotterdam Blitz on May 14, 1940, was the heavy bombing of the Dutch port by the Germans, during the invasion of the Netherlands. The Rotterdam Blitz killed over 1,150 people (711 in the main strike) and left approximately 85,000 homeless. This resulted in the majority of the centre being rebuilt and lead to a post-war decision to rebuild Rotterdam in a functional and modern style rather than recreating the previous medieval layout. This is why Rotterdam offers some extremely interesting modern architecture such as the Cube Houses (which combine Postmodern architecture and Structuralism into cube-like houses intended to look like trees in a forest), along with the massive Markthal and the striking Erasmus Bridge.
Historic Delfshaven – the best preserved part of the old city
Although much of the central area is full of modern architecture, there is a historical area further out in Delfshaven where you can see the tall traditional Dutch style riverside houses along the river Nieuwe Maas. Jump on the Metro to Rotterdam, Marconiplein for Delfshaven, and while you are there, try to leave some time to play in the pinball machine museum!
Rotterdam – Worth it for Weed!
It is true that weed is decriminalised here, and although you cannot smoke it out on the streets or sell it, there are plenty of cafes where you can get weed and enjoy it, without getting picked up by the police! Many Brits come over from the UK for a weekend in Rotterdam or Amsterdam where they can enjoy their weed in peace whilst on holiday. There are plenty of weed selling coffeeshops in Rotterdam including Coffeeshop The Reef (dive in and get high!), Coffeeshop ‘t Trefpunt (Meeting place in Dutch), Hunter’s Coffeeshop (Keeping the world high since 1985) and Coffeeshop Amigo. If you are eager to get high in Rotterdam, check out this a article on the best coffee shops in Rotterdam.
7 Reasons Rotterdam is Worth It!
- Modern Architecture – Don’t miss the Cube houses, the Fenix and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen.
- Historical houses in Delfshaven – picturesque tall Dutch houses alongside the canal.
- Parks and Greenary – Explore Museum Park, Het park and Dakpark (the largest rooftop park in Europe).
- Museums and Galleries – don’t miss the Maritime Museum and the Kunsthal Rotterdam.
- Vibrant food scene – enjoy your stroopwaffles, Kibbeling (Dutch fried fish) and Poffertjes here.
- Weed cafes – It is a great place to chill if you want some legal weed! Remember not to smoke it on the streets and use the recommended cafes such as The Reef, Hunters and The Amigos.
- Fantastic Shopping – Rotterdam Central district is great for shopping (clothes, make-up and alcohol all at decent prices). It has all the high street shops and labels that you would expect, such as Zara, Pull and Bear and H & M. Don’t miss Makthal, the Alexandria shopping centre, Koopgoot and the Forum (Foro De Rotterdam).
Rotterdam as a great base for onward Travel in the Netherlands
The localtion and transport network in Rotterdam makes it the perfect base for seeing the rest of The Netherlands, and even onward travel to other countries including Belgium and Germany. From Rotterdam, I visited The Hague, Delft, Gouda and Lieden as day trips. It is also possible to get to Antwerp (Belgium) in 45 minutes by train. Check out my other blog if you are interested in day trips from Rotterdam.
Rotterdam vs Amsterdam – which one is best to visit?
If you are looking for picturesque canals, a historical town centre and flower lined streets that you think of when you imagine a typical Dutch town, Rotterdam is not really it! It is a unique Dutch city and doesn’t conform to the norms of the Netherlands in terms of layout or architecture. If you have a limited amount of time in the Netherlands (such as a long weekend), then have a good think about the type of city experience that you would prefer.
If you have never been to Amsterdam before and are eager to see the Van Gough museum, Red Light district (De Wallen) and more of the tall Dutch style houses and flower lined streets, maybe start with Amsterdam and see Rotterdam on your next trip. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and one of my favourite European cities. Personally, I would not forgo Amsterdam for Rotterdam if I had limited time and could only choose 1 option. Some of the best architectural sights in Amsterdam include:
- Rijksmuseum and Centraal Station – Designed by Pierre Cuypers, these neo-Gothic/Renaissance masterpieces are must-sees for their grand façades and detailed interiors.
- Royal Palace of Amsterdam – A pinnacle of Dutch Baroque style located on Dam Square.
- Theater Tuschinski – A stunning Art Deco masterpiece with a breathtaking interior
- Historical Churches – St. Nicholas Basilica, De Krijtberg – Sint Franciscus Xaveriuskerk and Oude Kirk.
Saying that, you can also get a glimpse of some of the Dutch style tall houses in Delfshaven in Rotterdam – as I’ve mentioned, this is the historic area that was not heavily bombed during the Blitz. The beautiful Gothic Laurenskerk is the only medieval building in central Rotterdam to withstand the bombing of 1940. Rotterdam does have a lot of maritime history too – don’t miss the maritime museum and the SS Rotterdam!
Rotterdam is also less over-run with the stag and hen dos and sex-tourism that you find in Amsterdam. In many parts of Amsterdam, particularly the red light district, you will see tourists out of control because they can’t handle their booze or weed! It’s not a pretty sight. This alone makes Rotterdam as a base more appealing! As I have mentioned, Rotterdam does have weed cafes and a red light district, but it is much more subtle than in Amsterdam, with much of this activity going on behind closed doors and not so ‘in your face!’
Overall Verdict – Is Rotterdam worth visiting?
So, is Rotterdam worth visiting? My overall verdict is that Rotterdam is absolutely worth visiting! I loved the liberal vibe, eclectic mix of people and the organised cycle lanes. It’s a very forward thinking city with great museums and a lively music scene. The city is brimming with modern/futuristic architecture including the Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen), the Erasmus bridge and the Fenix (a Guggenheim-like silver structure art museum). If you are looking for a good place for arts, shopping or good co-working spaces, then Rotterdam is an excellent option.
Rotterdam is a very accessible by boat, plane and train, which makes it a good choice for a weekend getaway. The great train links mean that there are some amazing day trips from Rotterdam that you can do by train (The Hague, Delft and Lieden are great options). You can also visit Rotterdam as a day trip or overnight trip from Amsterdam (the train takes just 45 minutes).
Top Tip for Rotterdam
My top tip is to stay for 5-7 days in Rotterdam and use it as a base to do some day trips to more picturesque cities such as Delft and Lieden. If you were to have one week in Rotterdam, expect to spend a day exploring Rotterdam on foot, a day for the Rotterdam museums or art galleries and then 4-5 days of day trips to other local cities. For onward travel, download the NS train app here.
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