Rotterdam: Art, Harbour and Coast

Art, Collections and City History

Fenix is an art museum about migration. The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen offers a different way to experience art: it is the world’s first publicly accessible art depot belonging to a museum. Through large windows, visitors can watch conservators at work; a guided tour also provides access to a depot space. The availability of these tours may vary. At Kunsthal Rotterdam, the exhibition programme is housed in an iconic building by Rem Koolhaas. Kunsthal presents around 25 exhibitions a year on modern masters, contemporary art, photography, fashion and design; the programme changes.

The Maritiem Museum Rotterdam is dedicated to the maritime present and past through contemporary exhibitions. It includes the oldest and largest museum harbour in the Netherlands, with historic ships and cranes. Those interested in the history of shipping can also explore the ss Rotterdam: guided tours tell more than 60 years of steamship history. Visitors can see authentic halls, decks, the bow and the wheelhouse; tour routes may change.

At Laurenskerk, the only surviving medieval building in central Rotterdam, a permanent exhibition tells the story of the building through 20 themes. With its semi-permanent exhibition “Kruispunt Rotterdam”, Wereldmuseum Rotterdam places its collection in a contemporary context and complements it with new works inspired by the collection, by artists and people from Rotterdam. The museum also offers several bookable guided tours; booking arrangements may change.

The Markthal is another place where the city’s history meets the present: its distinctive arch stands near the Rotte, at the site where Rotterdam was founded in 1270. Medieval finds from the construction period can be seen inside, by the escalators and in the car park. At the same time, the Markthal is a major food hub with more than 100 different food and drink outlets; the number may change. Northwest of Rotterdam, in the Spaanse Polder industrial area on the banks of a canal, the Van Nellefabriek was designed and built in the 1920s. It is considered an icon of 20th-century industrial architecture.

Harbour, Ships and Maritime Perspectives

A Portlantis harbour tour lasts 75 minutes, passes the container terminals at Maasvlakte 2 and heads towards Maasvlakte 1. The duration and route may change, so check the latest information before your trip. On private tours with Watertaxi Rotterdam, visitors can choose the duration and route through the historic and modern harbours themselves. Tour formats and booking conditions may also change.

Keringhuis explores historic floods, the Delta Works and the Netherlands’ preparations for the future. At Euromast, Rotterdam’s history meets an interactive experience: every ticket to the observation platform includes an immersive experience about Rotterdam’s origins and development into a global city. Visitors can also look down through a transparent floor. Ticket inclusions may change.

A regular date for harbour enthusiasts is Wereldhavendagen. The Port of Rotterdam is celebrated for three days every year on the first weekend of September. If you’d like to plan your trip around the event, check the dates of the next edition in advance.

Gardens, Animals and Coast

Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum is in Rotterdam’s Kralingen district and covers eight hectares. Its varied garden areas include English-style gardens, a modern food forest in development and a desert greenhouse. Individual plant displays may change. At Diergaarde Blijdorp, nature conservation, education and sustainability are as much a focus as the animals. Visitors can see lions and penguins, among other animals; the animal population changes over time. On expeditions, they can learn more about animals and plants, as well as efforts to restore nature and protect species.

The Port of Rotterdam area also offers nature experiences: it has more than 175 kilometres of cycle paths and opportunities for walking. Its distinctive flora and fauna include seals, Nathusius’ pipistrelles and Scottish Highland cattle. In Hoek van Holland, by contrast, the focus is on the beach, the sea and walks in the dunes. This makes it possible to choose different priorities for your trip without reducing art, the harbour and the coast to a single experience.

Choose the Focus of Your Stay

When planning a hotel stay, it helps to start by deciding which interests matter most: museums and architecture, maritime history and harbour tours, or time at the beach and in the dunes each lead to different travel plans. The official Rotterdam City Card offers unlimited travel on public transport and at least 25% off attractions, museums, tours and restaurants. Benefits and participating venues may change, so check the latest conditions if you’re considering the card for your plans.

Discover more destinations: Pernis, Hoek van Holland, Rotterdam, Hoogvliet Rotterdam, Rijnwoude, Liesveld, Korendijk, Waddinxveen.

For the overview of the wider region: South Holland.