Rotterdam Travel Forum

Hi
I will be arriving in Rotterdam at the end of August 2007 on a cruise ship for the day with my fiance. I have already been to Amsterdam several times, so will give that a miss this time, and wondered if anyone could recommend things to do and see in Rotterdam.

- visit the centre of Rotterdam with the modern architecture
- town of Delft, easy accessible by train from Rotterdam
- Kinderdijk with famous windmills
(see for a picture of Kinderdijk: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/7c27b/312/

happy travels
jaap

There may be events on at the exhibition centre AHOY if you check your dates

Goto the Euromast and enjoy the lookoff view.

PJ

Exactly. I'd stay in Rotterdam if it's only a day and you'll be leaving before dinner anyway.

Definitely have lunch or tea at Hotel New York. You'll most probably be docking at 5 minute walk from there. HNY is the former headquarters of the Holland-America Line, and most appropriate to visit if you are coming with cruise ship.
www.hotelnewyork.nl.

Enjoy the view of the Erasmusbrug (which you will see from your ship, if docking where I think you will). Take a walk, cross that bridge, enjoy the skyline. On your way back, instead of crossing the Erasmusbridge again, you could take a watertaxi back across to HNY and walk to your ship.

Have a look at a suggested walk at http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/1907b/#TL

At the bottom right you see two towers in between which most large cruise ships dock. Which one are you coming on? Costa Allegra? Rotterdam? Arcadia? Princess? I just checked the schedule because I sometimes go look if it's a really big one :-)

Hi,
you can find useful info about Rotterdam and Holland in general here: http://www.movetonetherlands.com/

enjoy Rotterdam!

Yep ATLC has given nice tips. Hotel New York just 5 min. walk from the docking area is very nice for a cup of coffee outside.

Another nice thing is when you cross the white bridge (in Rotterdam we call it the Swan) on the other side of the bridge you have a beach. Its a beach set up next to the water. Very nice for a drink or some food and music and just relax a little bit.

From there just walk into the city centre and go to the Cubic houses. You can also enter one to have a look inside its very nice. There you will also see some other architecture. The Pencil (building in shape of a pencil) the library, the subway station and the cubic houses. If you walk to the right between the buildings you will come to the old harbour, a place full of cafes and very nice for a drink. The white old building that you can see from there (also from the cubic houses on the right) is the first "skyscraper" of Holland.

From there you can just walk around town and do some shopping if you like. Or you can go to Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Nice art museum.

Or go on top of the Euromast for a nice view of Rotterdam. That could fill a day. And instead of walking back just take the subway to your ship or the watertaxi. (Or go to our zoo to see our famous Bokito...)

If you want to see windmills you can see the 5 largest windmills in the world in Schiedam actually. Its just 15 min. by tram from Rotterdam city centre. (Schiedam is a city next to Rotterdam, but its just like the same city when going by tram only locals know for example when they are in Schiedam, you will not see the difference)

Just take tram line 1 (just 15 min.) and go out at stop Stadserf and from there its a 10 min. walk but very nice walk.

During that walk you will already see the windmills (they are in town).

In one of the windmills you can go inside (its a very huge windmill). Its EUR 2,50 entrance and the man who works there will explain you everything and guide you through the windmill. See how the windmill works etc. You can climb inside all the way to the top untill. On top you have a wonderfull view of Schiedam.

Its very nice and actually the closest to your cruise ship to see windmills and actually go inside all the way to the top (its very high).

And its so close to your cruiseship actually !

Have a look at their website www.schiedamsemolens.nl

Seeing the windmills along the canals in Schiedam is indeed a great idea. Schiedam will give you a little bit of 'Amsterdam' feeling.
If you do decide to go there, fit in a visit to one of the jenever (gin) distilleries with a tasting at the end. Schiedam is THE jenever town (brand Ketel 1 recommended).
When you've crossed the Erasmusbridge, take a metro or tram heading west to go to Schiedam.

p.s. on the website its says that groups from 10 people and up have a free guided tour. this is an extended tour. When just the 2 of you are in the windmill and going up to upper floors the miller will just come to you and explain everything to you and on the top floor he will let the sails go for your. Its free. (if you dont see him just wait a minute and he will come he is climbing up and down the stairs all the time..) But be aware the upper floors are hard to climb inside !! It gets smaller and smaller as you are reaching the top but its a very nice experience.

Just next to the windmill is the Jenever museum where you can see how our famous Dutch Jenever is made.

Yes tramline 1 to get there is stopping at the second stop when you cross the Erasmusbrug (the white bridge) Just walk over the bridge cross the street and walk straight ahead just after the next big crossing is the stop where tramline 1 stops. It will take you directly to Schiedam. (yes the old citycentre of Schiedam with the canals looks a little bit like Amsterdam)

Can I use the strippenkart there? If so how many zones I have to validate on the ticket?

Strippenkaart is used all over the country for metro, bus and tram. So yes.
Validation: always stamp off one strip more than the number of zones.
So for 2 zones: 3 strips.
If you don't know: ask the bus or tramdriver to stamp the strippenkaart.

For zones: http://www.ret-rotterdam.nl/uploads/files/zonekaart_jan_07_v2.pdf

Many thanks to you all for your postings, they are much appreciated.

You're welcome. Enjoy!

Enjoy your Rotterdam visit !!