3 Best Hotels in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Spacious high-ceilinged rooms at this boutique hotel, housed in a lovely old customs building in the trendy Kop van Zuid district, are individually furnished, tastefully modern, and manage a respectful nod to the surroundings–rooms at the front overlook the Maas River and the iconic Erasmus Bridge, and there is a handy water taxi jetty across the street.

An atmospheric standout on Rotterdam's business-oriented hotel scene occupies the former twin-towered, waterside headquarters of the Holland-America Line, offering individually decorated rooms with high ceilings that contrast with the modernist, vaguely nautical decor, and excellent views. The enormous restaurant seats 400 but somehow maintains an intimate café atmosphere, although those in the know delight in afternoon tea but don't stay for dinner. Other amenities include an oyster bar, tea salon, and water taxi connecting the Kop van Zuid with the city center (€4.50 one-way).

This modern chain hotel, with all the usual amenities for visitors, business folks, and tour groups looking for a reliable name, has one major plus: the location, right in the middle of downtown. During the International Film Festival at the end of January, the hotel often hosts some of the notable participants, thanks in part to its top facilities, a number of suites, and meeting rooms.