Rotterdam

City walks along the Maas and longer routes

Four signposted Rotterdam Rent routes run along the Maas in the city centre. They are 3.5, 5, 10 and 21 kilometres long and can be explored on foot, by bike or on skates. The different distances give you a clear idea of how long your route will be, without specifying a walking or cycling time. This means you can fit a shorter loop into your day as easily as a 21-kilometre route.

The Green Marathon Route is on a different scale: it is more than 42 kilometres long and runs through the city. Along the way, you’ll pass parks, singels, gardens, dike paths, country lanes, forests and agricultural land. Compared with the four Maas routes, it is not only longer but also connects a greater variety of landscapes. Which route is right for you therefore depends above all on how much ground you plan to cover and what kind of surroundings you’d like to experience along the way.

Harbour, ships and city views

Several experiences offer different perspectives on the harbour. A whisper-boat cruise run by the Maritime Museum takes you through the old city harbours, from the Leuvehaven via the Wijnhaven and Oude Haven to the Haringvliet. The cruise is weather- and skipper-dependent. Spido offers a 75-minute cruise on the Nieuwe Maas, passing container ships and historic shipyards. Both cruises bring the waterfront to life through specific harbour views, but differ in their stated routes and duration.

Portlantis explores the Port of Rotterdam as an interactive experience centre. Guided expeditions venture beyond the harbour fences by bus, boat or on foot. The centre’s red outdoor staircases lead to the panoramic level. At the Maritime Museum, a visit to the museum harbour begins at the Het Lage Licht lighthouse. Historic ships are also part of the experience: the steam crane “Simson” can be visited and was the largest floating steam crane in the Benelux in its day. The motorised sales vessel “Time is Money”, dating from 1962, can also be visited in the museum harbour.

History, architecture and culture

The Laurenskerk is the only surviving medieval building in central Rotterdam. You can climb the 365 steps of the Laurenskerk tower almost every day. The visit therefore combines a historic building with a specific physical challenge. The Kubuswoningen are also examples of Rotterdam’s landmark architecture. The Markthal, meanwhile, brings market stalls, shops and food and drink businesses together under one roof—a different way of experiencing the city, shaped by shopping and food rather than medieval architecture.

Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen welcomes visitors to its storage and work areas every day. Tours are available without advance booking and last around ten minutes. This short visit can be treated as a standalone activity, while climbing the Laurenskerk tower calls for a different kind of time and effort. Both experiences add to the city’s historical and cultural offerings in different ways.

Green spaces, wildlife and views

At Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum in Kralingen, collections of trees, shrubs, perennials, flower bulbs and tubers are spread across eight hectares. The grounds include English-style gardens, a developing forest garden, and a desert greenhouse with cacti and succulents. Workshops, markets and other activities take place there regularly. Diergaarde Blijdorp offers close-up encounters with wildlife in carefully designed habitats across eight themed areas. The zoo also contributes to nature conservation and the care of endangered animal species.

For a view across the city, the Euromast stands 185 metres high. The Euroscoop offers panoramic views from up to 180 metres above ground. Rotterdam brings together a wide range of experiences: views from great heights, the diversity of a botanical garden, the Maas routes and the historic harbour basins. When planning your trip, you can decide whether to focus on one of these or combine several.

Discover more destinations: Hoogvliet Rotterdam, Hoek van Holland, Pernis.

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