Peter’s personal recommendations for Rotterdam!
These are my personal tips -based on experience and research- for a great experience in Rotterdam! This resulted in a good list of tips! You can click on the bold text to get to the Google Maps location of the establishment.
Rotterdam is running through my veins.
And don’t forget to write me a review here of course 😉
Exploring / Food
Dutch Snacks & Sweets
Bars
Nightlife
Shopping
Museums
Parks / Historic Neighborhoods
EXPLORING / FOOD
Wilhelminapier
Take a stroll across the Erasmus bridge, towards the South and take a right at the end to appreciate the modern architecture of the Wilhelminapier. This part of Rotterdam is called ‘De Kop van Zuid’ (The Tip of the South). It includes many modern architectural marvels and gives you an introduction to the massive Port of Rotterdam. Take a break at the historic Holland-America Line headquarters, which is called Hotel New York today. Enjoy a lunch or cup of coffee at the hotel restaurant, with an amazing view over the city.
DUTCH SNACKS & SWEETS
Try a stroopwafel at the Markthal
Located on the Pannekoekstraat, at Tante Nel you’ll find excellent French fries, krokets and of course bitterballs (also vegan). A relaxed place with an excellent outdoor terrace
Bas Bakt (meaning; Bas bakes) is one of the best bakeries in town. Try their cheese tosti and don’t miss their “haverkoek”. You’ll love it.
Try a fresh herring at The Market Rotterdam, open on Tuesdays & Saturdays
Stop at Florentina for excellent cappuccino and hand made chocolate surprises. Also vegan. You must try the tiramisu.
(FOOD) MARKETS
Foodhallen Wilhelminakade
Great for alternative food and good beer. Open: daily from 12am – 11pm
Biological Market Eendrachtsplein
Your go-to choice for fresh, organic staples. Open: every Tuesday from 8am – 5:30pm
BARS
Bokaal
This bar on the Pannekoekstraat (Pancake Street) has a big choice of good beers and is always crowded.
Westerpaviljoen
Very old and nice Grand Cafe to meet locals. They have a wonderful terrace, for a drink on a sunny day.
Aloha Bar & Restaurant
A must-visit! The spot is magical: in a formeren tropical swimming paradise you can sip coffee or enjoy good beers with the best view of the river Meuse one can imagine.
NIGHTLIFE
Reijngoud
Party place near Witte de Withstraat. Very alive and great beer, plus a good outdoor terrace.
Bird
Very good dance venue for your jazz & disco moves.
Annabel
This is where to go for a wild night out, to see the latest dance & music acts.
SHOPPING
A lesser known gem, but great place to find vintage and second-hand clothing is the Pannekoekstraat.
MUSEUMS
Museum Rotterdam
This small museum located at metro station Coolhaven offers an excellent exhibition about life in Rotterdam during the Second World War. It includes a multimedia experience, which allows you to relive the devastation of the bombardment in the city. It is a unassuming and often overlooked museum, which does not only tell you the big stories – but also includes the lesser know stories, like the ‘forgotten bombardment’.
PARKS / HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS
Historic Delfshaven
I would not be a history student if I did not mention this historic treasure. This little area in the neighborhood of Delfshaven (also the place where I was raised) is one of the only parts of the city that survived the bombardment of 1940 and therefore retains many traditional elements. Visit one of the oldest churches in Rotterdam, famed for the Pilgrim Fathers, who left from this part of the city to the New World in 1620.