A few hours in Rotterdam
 

We will travel from Brussels to Amsterdam late this month and plan to stay in Rotterdam for a couple/few hours. I am wondering if there is anything worth the short stop?

The windmills at Kinderdijk is certainly a big attraction, but the public transport will take over 2 hours for return. An option is to rent a car, but we dont even need to rent for a whole day. To make it cost-effective, maybe we could drop the car in Amsterdam?

Another question, our train ticket is Eurostar from London to any city in Dutch. We can stop over at Brussel for up to 24 hours, then take almost any train to Dutch. Could anyone confirm once we leave the trainstation at Rotterdam, we need to buy another ticket for intercity travelling from Rotterdam to Amsterdam?

Thanks in advance.

From Rotterdam it's indeed a logistical operation to get to Kinderdijk. But not from Dordrecht, which has frequent train connections with Antwerpen (some direct, some with a change at Roosendaal). Check at http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home
The bus stand next to the railway station in Dordrecht has frequent busses, taking some 45 minutes. Check at http://9292.nl/en#. For destination fill out »Kinderdijk« and choose the option with »Molenkade Molenbezoek«.
You can continue to Rotterdam (or back to Dordrecht) by ferry, which with good weather is fun, but also more complicated.

If you only have a few hours in Rotterdam, do visit the Markthal.

It's my understanding that with the Any Dutch Station option you have to complete your journey within 24 hours of arriving in Brussels. You cannot use the Thalys trains.

We will definitely visit Markthal! It is very unique.
About the Any Dutch Station option, if we get off the train at Rotterdam, can we board the next train to Amsterdam again for free? or we have to purchase the train ticket? (i know we cant use Thalys trains)

@tonfromleiden, thanks for the very good idea. Did not think of (know) transferring at Dordrecht. But we also want to see Markthal in Rotterdam. We need to do more planning regarding the train ticket cost and time.

I don't know if you'd have to buy another ticket, probably not as long as you're within the 24 hours. If your ticket is checked during the trip to Rotterdam, ask the conductor if the ticket is valid from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, if you change trains in Rotterdam.