going to Rotterdam
 

HI. I'm going to Rotterdam this fall and just wanted to get any opinions/advice on where to stay, eat, what sites you liked or disliked? I've never been there, so anything would be interesting and helpful to me.
Thanks! :)

We've only done day trips to Rotterdam, so I can't help you with where to stay. However, we really enjoyed Rotterdam for it's post WWII architecture, particularly the Kijk Kubus (Overblaak #70). You can check out their website at:

www.kubuswoning.nl

Also in the same plaza is the "pencil building", Centrale Bibliotheek (kind of like the George Pompideu (sp) in Paris) and the Station Blaak train station.

You can cross over Blaak and walk around Oudehaven, where the White House stands - one of the few buildings that was NOT bombed during WWII. There is also the Optenlucht Binnenvaart Museum which has many boats you can view.

You can take a water cruise of the port, which we have never done because we're cheap ... instead we take the Water Taxi from Leuvehaven over to Hotel New York which only costs about E3.00. It's quite a ride! Hotel New York is where many Europeans stopped before they embarked on their ocean voyage to America. There is also a "Walk of Fame" around the Leuvehaven which is kind of fun to walk down and read some of the signatures of famous people who have visited Rotterdam ... Carlos Santana and Jackie Chan are the two that I remember at the moment. Speaking of Jackie Chan, if you rent the movie "Who Am I?" there are several shots of Rotterdam, particularly a fight scene around the Kijk Kubus.

You can take the tram from Hotel New York across the Erasmusbrug, or you can take the water taxi to Veerhaven, which is in the vicinity of the Euromast. We never had time to do the Euromast, so I can't comment, but I'm sure the views of the port are amazing.

Delftshaven is a lovely old area of Rotterdam where you can find many quaint shops and places to eat.

We've never had time to do any of the museums, so I can't comment on them, but there are quite a few.

If you have the time, I would suggest a day trip to Delft which is only 15 minutes away by train, and also a visit to den Hague which is right next door to Delft, accessible via train or tram #1 from Delft (you can use your strippenkaart).

If you do a "Search this Forum" for Delft and den Hague, you will find a wealth of information that's already been posted.

Enjoy your visit to Rotterdam and the Netherlands. It's a beautiful country which I'm sure you will enjoy. Safe travels and Peace.

Robyn

I forgot this last night - web site for Rotterdam.

www.vvv.rotterdam.nl

Peace, Robyn

HI. Thank you so much for your information of what to do in Rotterdam. I have written down the places, and will do further research on the sites you gave me. I can't believe how much there is to see & do. I'm not sure I'll have time for it all. You are very informative. I will be traveling there alone, so I want to make sure I have all the things completely in order , 'before' I get there. Thanks again.

Hi Raell35 -

In case you might not be aware of it, you can place your cursor on the thread on the right hand side of the screen, click on your right mouse button, then click on "print" and print out the contents of the thread. That way you don't have to write everything down. Enjoy your planning. Peace.

Robyn

We enjoyed the Delftshaven area. It is a charming area of Rotterdam that the Pilgrims sailed from to establish the Plymouth colony. There is a plaque on the old church, commemorating where they worshipped. It is a rare area of the city that wasn't bombed out during WW II and gives you a sense of the beauty of old Rotterdam.

Also there is a really good maritime museum. The section on the Port of Rotterdam, which is the busiest and one of the most automated ports in the world, is fascinating, and has interactive displays with English.

Enjoy!

Thank you!
:)

Just a 10-minute walk (along a canal dotted with major sculptural works!) from the central train station is the Museum Park, where you can find the Boymans van Beuningen art museum (great), the Netherlands Architecture museum, and the Kunsthal (modern art museum with big temporary exhibits). Check them out here:

http://www.alpharooms.com/guide_46337.aspx

http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/6fc73/4/da/

Hello! We are traveling to Rotterdam on business and plan on extending our stay in Rotterdam in order to tour local sights. We need help figuring out the best places to tour and/or take day trips. So far we have thought of Antwerp, Amsterdam, the Hague, Brugge, and perhaps Paris. What are your thoughts? Would you recommend a city in Germany close to the Netherlands border? Also, we are very confused about the train, bus, metro, and tram system--what's the best way to get around in the city of Rotterdam, to other Netherland cities, and to other countries. Where do you recommend we exchange money--I'm guessing into the Euro dollar? How safe is it for a young female to travel around Rotterdam alone? We appreciate any information you may have to offer.

I haven't stayed overnight in Rotterdam either, but loved the boat tour of the largest container port in the world and had a great dinner at Hotel New York, which has fabulous seafood in a lively atmosphere overlooking the port.