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What makes Rotterdam unique?
- Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second city, is both innovative and inspiring.
- The city is known for its cutting-edge design and iconic architecture.
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What is Rotterdam known for?
- Rotterdam is famous for its incredible waterways and café culture.
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What are some must-see attractions in Rotterdam?
- Some of the most prominent sights include:
- Museum Rotterdam
- Cube House
- Het Park
- Market Hall
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1. Arboretum Trompenburg
Located in the Kralingen District, Arboretum Trompenburg is a wonderfully landscaped botanical garden featuring a big selection of trees, bulbs, shrubs, perennials, and tubers. It is an ethereal paradise for plant aficionados and hiking enthusiasts. Visitors can walk through this peaceful and relaxing garden on their own with a paper guide or they can opt for a guided walk with one the arboretum’s tour guides. They offer two styles of guided walks – For Children and Culinary Walks. The latter includes edible and nutritious delights prepared with ingredients from the garden. The former is only available during the summer months. Several notable annual events like the Christmas Market also take place at Trompenburg each year.
Honingerdijk 86, 3062 NX Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-2-33-01-66
2. Chabot Museum
The Chabot Museum was created in the honor of renowned Dutch sculptor and impressionist painter, Hendrik Chabot. The museum, housed in a New Objectivity-style, white, monumental villa created by famed architect G.W. Bass in 1938, features an invaluable collection of Chabot works. He is most well-known for painting landscapes, farmers, and gardeners of the Netherlands, as well as the refugees and people who had to go into hiding during World War II. His collection of drawings, paintings, and sculptures can be separated into four categories – landscapes, animals, figures, and portraits. Several of his contemporaries and present-day expressionist artists are also displayed. Tours are offered by reservation only to groups of 12 to 20 people.
Museumpark 11, 3015 CB Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-4-36-37-13
3. Cube House
What is today considered an eye-catching piece of architecture, the Cube House was actually the solution to a perplexing zoning issue the city of Rotterdam faced in the 1970s. Small parcels of land on the southeast and northwest sides of Blaak Street were residentially zoned, but were also somehow required to be connected. The city contracted architect Pier Blom to create a housing complex that resides above the busy road. His design, features 38 standard units and two super cubes. Each of these slanted cubic residences are held up by hexagonal pillars. The Cube House Show Room was converted into a museum, which is open to visitors every day for a nominal fee.
Overblaak 70, 3011 MH Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-4-14-22-85
4. Diergaarde Blijdrop
Diergaarde Blijdrop , also known as Rotterdam Zoo, is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands. It has been home to various species of plant, marine, and animal life for more than 160 years through its various wildlife exhibits, botanical garden, and aquarium called Oceanium. The aquarium is home to various species of marine life found in the North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean, Antilles, Falklands, Galapagos, Sea of Cortez, Californian Kelp Sea, and Bass Rock. Wildlife exhibits are separated into three continents, Asia, Europe, and Africa, and then broken down and displayed by region. Tufted deer, Fishing cat, Finnish forest reindeer, Western lowland gorillas, and Nile crocodiles are just a few of the animals featured here.
Blijdorplaan 8, 3041 JG Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-9-00-18-57
5. Dutch Pinball Museum
Housed in an old storage house, the Dutch Pinball Museum is filled to the brim with approximately 70 pinball machines and gaming memorabilia from the 1900s to the present day. Unlike most museums, the space has a hands-on approach. After visitors pay a nominal fee, they have unfettered access to all the gaming machines. But it’s not all fun and games, the pinball machines are also there to educate. Each one displays its year of production, as well as a few intriguing anecdotal facts about its history. The museum is set up by decade starting with machines created in 1900 and ending with the present year.
Paul Nijghkade 19-K, 3072 AN Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-62-1-46-46-97
6. Euromast
Located in Rotterdam, Euromast is an iconic observation tower designed by renowned architect Hugh Maaskant and constructed between 1958 and 1960. It was specifically developed for the Floriade of 1960 and became a national monument in 2010. It stands at just under 607 feet tall with an observation deck at little over 328 feet that offers gorgeous 360-degree views of the city. There is also a revolving glass elevator that takes people to the top of the mast. On the observation deck there are two hotel suites available for booking, and a brasserie/cocktail bar beneath it for scenic dining. Thrill-seekers can book a weekend trip to zipline and rappel up and down the tower.
Parkhaven 20, 3016 GM Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-4-36-48-11
7. Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk
Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk is a historic Protestant church built between 1449 and 1525; it is all that remains of the medieval city of Rotterdam. At the behest of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, it underwent a full restoration that was completed in 1968. Its design features include magnificent bronze doors created by iconic Italian sculptor Giacomo Manzu, a vault for Dutch sea heroes, four organs, and several elegant chandeliers. The main organ boasts 7600 pipes, making it the largest organ in the Netherlands. Special guided tours are offered April through October; they include climbing the 213-foot tall Laurenskerk Tower, which offers picturesque views of the city.
Grotekerkplein 27, 3011 GC Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-4-13-14-19
8. Het Park
Het Park, the park closest to the Euromast, is the second oldest park in Rotterdam after the Old Plantation. It was designed around 1850 by renowned landscape architects and father and son duo, Jan David Zocher Jr. and Louis Paul Zocher. It has since been expanded and updated several times throughout the years, and was declared a national monument in December, 2010. Het Park boasts several lush themed gardens, memorials, statues, and buildings, including the Norwegian Church built in 1914, Euromast, and Mansion ‘De Heuvel, built between 1750 and 1800. Prominent statues include; Hendrik Tollens built by Jean Theodore in 1860 and Queen Wilhelmina created by Charlotte van Pallandt in 1968.
Westzeedijk/ GR, Parkkade, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-1-40-10
9. Kunsthal
A world-famous example of modern architecture, the Kunsthal was designed in 1988-89 by renowned architect, Rem Koolhaas in partnership with Fuminori Hoshino, an architect from the Office of Metropolitan Architecture. Officially opened in November, 1992, this dynamic cultural institution garnered international attention for its use of innovative materials, steep ramps, and the position of its main entrance. Nicknamed the ‘collection-less’ museum, Kunsthal provides spacious flexibility with its group of halls and galleries that allow for several exhibits and activities to coexist either on their own, or as a unit. Exhibits change regularly but have included Maaskant Drawings, Objectivity: The Art of Useful Things, and Reaction: 100 Years of Kinetic Art.
Museumpark, Westzeedijk 341, 3015 AA Rotterdam, Netherlands, Phone: +31-10-4-40-03-00
Best Time to Visit
Places to Stay
Tips for Visiting
Spring (March-May) – Mild weather and blooming tulips.
Mainport Hotel – A luxury waterfront hotel with a spa.
Visit the Keukenhof Gardens – A short trip from Rotterdam to see stunning tulip fields.
Summer (June-August) – Warm and perfect for outdoor exploration.
Hotel New York – A historic stay in the former Holland America Line headquarters.
Take a Spido Harbor Tour – Explore Rotterdam’s modern skyline and Europe’s largest port.
Fall (September-November) – Crisp air, fewer crowds, and cultural events.
The James Hotel – A stylish boutique hotel in the city center.
Visit the Kunsthal Museum – Enjoy world-class rotating exhibitions in an architectural masterpiece.
Winter (December-February) – Cold but festive with holiday markets.
nhow Rotterdam – A modern hotel with breathtaking city views.
Experience the Rotterdam Christmas Market – Enjoy festive lights, local treats, and seasonal shopping.
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. Arboretum Trompenburg
- 2. Chabot Museum
- 3. Cube House
- 4. Diergaarde Blijdrop
- 5. Dutch Pinball Museum
- 6. Euromast
- 7. Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk
- 8. Het Park
- 9. Kunsthal