Rotterdam is the major European port and second largest city of the Netherlands. The city lies along both banks of the New Meuse River, which is a northern distributary of the Rhine River. It is Europe’s largest seaport and major logistic and economic centre. This city rose from the ashes after devastation in World War II. It is best known for its modern architecture, cultural life, maritime heritage and riverside setting.

When to visit Rotterdam, Netherlands

May to September is the perfect time to visit the city. At that time, the weather is very pleasant and most of the festivals of tourist interest take place during this season. There are numerous activities for the family to enjoy together in this vibrant city such as visiting the Rotterdam Zoo, enjoying a harbour cruise, trip to the fascinating Kinderdijk Windmill Village and enjoying food tasting or rooftop tours.

What to know about Rotterdam, Netherlands

Climate

Rotterdam has an oceanic climate with rainy days all year along. Summers are mild to warm, with occasional hot temperatures, while the winters are cool with frequent cold days. The temperature in Rotterdam can rise as high as 26to 30 in summers, and get down to an average of minimum 2 in the colder months such as December, January and February.

Transportation

The excellent public transportation services are the biggest way to get around Rotterdam and its attractions.

Ferries

Car hiring

Buses

Water taxis

Bike hiring

Metro

Trams

Taxis

Currency

Euro is the currency which is used in this city. If you are travelling to this city then you can use your credit cards as they are widely accepted throughout the country. However, it is advisable to exchange your currency at the exchange currency office or airport when visiting the city.

Language

Dutch is the official language and is spoken by many people in the country. Apart from Dutch, German, French, English and Spanish are the other foreign languages which are spoken in the city. About 90% to 93% of the population of the city understands and speaks the English language.

Bloemencorso Zundert Flower Festival

Bloemencorso Zundert Flower Festival is the largest flower festival in the world. This is one of the best festivals in the Netherlands which is held every year in the month of September. A lot of volunteers bundle their effort every year to build the most dazzling floral floats full of gorgeous dahlias to participate in the Zundert Bloemencorso, or flower parade. During this festival, there are all kinds of music and theatre performances for your enjoyment on Sunday and Monday. All the wonderful exhibits in this festival are crafted by volunteers. These volunteers are a group of people from a small builder community of the area and are called Hamlets. For almost 3 complete months, these people work hard to get the exhibits ready which are then paraded through the streets of the town. The flowers are decorated just a week before the parade in order to be fresh.

Best food to try in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Oliebol

It is a traditional Dutch and Belgian snack. It is a variety of dumpling made by using an ice-cream scoop or two spoons to scoop a certain amount of dough and dropping the dough into a deep fryer filled with hot oil. Flour, yeast, eggs, milk, baking powder, salt, sultanas, currants, raisins and zest are the main ingredients used for the preparation of its dough. The interior of this dish is chewy and soft, and the exterior is a bit crunchy. It is a true representative of comfort food at its best. It is mostly popular during the Christmas and New Year period.

Kapsalon

This is a very popular and delicious dish which was created in 2003. It consists of French fries topped with meat such as kebab or shawarma, various sauces such as garlic sauce, green salad and various types of cheese such as gouda. If you are a vegetarian, then a special version of this dish exists where falafel is used instead of meat. This dish has spread internationally in a relatively short time.

Places of Attractions in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Cube House

This place in Rotterdam is one of the most iconic attractions of the city. It is one of the fine examples of modern architecture, much of it inspired by the city’s waterside setting, as well as a response to the devastation of World War II. Architect Piet Blom designed the cube house in the late seventies by taking a conventional house and turning it by 45 degrees and then placed it on a hexagon shaped column. Each cube consists of three storeys and though not identical at all, their interior is quite similar. The first floor consists of a living room and a kitchen. Two bedrooms and a bathroom are on the second floor of the cube. And on the third and last floor you’ll find a last room which feels like an oven if you are visiting on a hot day. It has an amazing architecture which is worth visiting.

The Rotterdam Zoo

It is one of the oldest zoos in the Netherlands and was established in 1857. It has approximately 18,000 animals and over 600 species. It is best known for its successful breeding programs, highlights of which include a number of young elephants, as well as red panda, fascinating creatures to watch as they explore the large enclosures designed to resemble their natural habitats. If you are an animal lover then don’t miss out on this amazing zoo.

Euromast

It is an observation tower which was constructed between 1958 and 1960. It has been a national monument since 2010. It has a diameter of 9 metres and a wall of thickness of 30cm. The whole tower is a concrete structure. It offers some fantastic views and also great adventure activities. At first, it was 101 metre tall, and was the tallest building in Rotterdam. Then it lost its position for a few years. After a few years, Space Tower was built on the top of the building making it the tallest again in 1970. It attracts a lot of tourists every year.