Think of the Netherlands and Amsterdam comes straight to mind, but Rotterdam, its lesser known neighbour deserves to be on the radar.
We aske our hotel product manager, Alejandro to give us all the goss on this unique city. Tell us about Rotterdam. Rotterdam is famous for reinvention and innovation. It’s a world port city that is now Europe’s largest trading seaport, the architectural jewel of the Netherlands and the second largest city in the country. The city was bombed to devastating effects during World War II and since then, like a phoenix, has risen from its ashes to become the proud owner of the Dutch sky.
Rotterdam skyline
What are the best things about the city?
Architecture
Rotterdam has an extremely modern skyline, full of countless architectural milestones like the Cube Houses, the Market hall and the De-Rotterdam building. There’s also a vibrant culture scene and an impressive range of festivals and events throughout the year.
Rotterdam Skyline with the gigantic ‘De-Rotterdam’ in the middle.
Rotterdam’s interesting Cube Houses
Festivals and Events
January is the time of the year when the IFFR (International Film Festival Rotterdam) is on; if you are a red carpet fan, I suggest you try star-spotting in the Rotterdamses Schouwburg or mingle with the International crowd in the bars along Kruiskade Street.
IFFR
Summer attracts visitors from all over the world who take part in the annual North Sea Jazz Festival. My dad, brother and I are in the music industry, so a family trip has already been scheduled for June. 😉
How do you get there?
If you’re coming from Australia, you’ll have to snatch a cheap flight to Europe. I fly from London City Airport to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. This is the easiest journey ever! London City Airport can be reached with public transport (DLR line) from central London. I live very close to the lastminute.com.au offices in the East End, so a sixteen minute ride is all it takes to get off the train and literally into the check in desk. No extra time. No extra money- now that’s what I call a smooth start to a clever city break!
Once landed, the transfer from the airport to the city centre is a fast bus ride into the iconic Rotterdam Centraal Train Station. From here, you can walk to your hotel, get the tram/metro lines or even get on a direct train to most major European cities.
Rotterdam Centraal Station
Where are the best places to stay?
I always try to get a quiet spot in the middle of the city and The Bilderberg Parkhotel Rotterdam delivers just that- a perfect location (metro stop Eendrachtsplein) next to the Museum park, shopping and nightlife hotspots yet totally safe for light sleepers.
Bilderberg Parkhotel main tower and adjacent garden.
I score a double room on the 10th floor with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sweeping views of the city which I’m happy to enjoy from my four star double bed after a bath with complimentary Ritual Spa amenities. It’s a hard knock life 😉
View from my hotel room, and self-reflection
In the mornings, a buffet breakfast is served in the restaurant and during the summer months, weather permitting, in the lush garden.
Rotterdam is very accessible and you can walk almost everywhere, however, if you need to stay by the Centraal Station, I recommend a room at The Manhattan Hotel which is opposite.
Where are the best places to eat?
The Dutch are known for producing delicious caramel waffles (stroopwafels) and I am known for devouring them, however, being in a world port city I have to try my other favourite food: fish.
Brunch
I meet with the rest of the team at the Restaurant Quartier Du Port where the enthusiastic cook tells me about the marinated Salmon with Lentils du Puy, Jerusalem artichoke and blood orange that I order and learn to cook at his in-house cooking studio.
Joost and his cooking studio
Lunch
After a rather epic Splashtour aboard an amphibian bus and a string of afternoon business meetings, it’s time to go back to basics as we go to hip Restaurant Tinto , a moored lightship-turned- eatery-nightclub for a late Spanish tapas lunch and a well-earned glass of Rioja. The ‘pescadito frito’ (small fried fish) was by far my favourite tapa.
Main course, mixed meat/fish tapas
Drinks and dinner
Rotterdam looks beautiful at night when city lights are twinkling and the best place to see them is from the The Euromast, the highest observation tower in the Netherlands.
Me at the viewing platform
I love it here; reasonably priced access and you can even grab a bite to eat at the Brasserie Euromast. The Brasserie offers local and international cuisine like grilled sea bass, salmon or veal. I decide to go for locally sourced sea bass and a bottle of Chablis to share with my trip friends.
Group dinner at the Brasserie Euromast restaurant, skyline in the background.
Any shopping tips?
My time in Rotterdam is activity-packed, but with the Bilderberg hotel being so close to the shopping action, I can’t resist a visit to the Witte De Withstraat boutiques and cafes. Two hours later I find myself on the other end of the street by the trendy department store De Bijenkorf. Everywhere I travel, I like to bring a vinyl back home for my record collection as well as something for my friends. There is something for everyone in Rotterdam and shops are open seven days a week.
My souvenir
Would you go back?
For me, Rotterdam is an unexpected surprise. A city offering world class culture, nightlife, shopping and where bus drivers make it all the way back to your hotel to return a lost wallet. Impressive, that’s how I define Rotterdam.
Me!
Plea to my boss: Can I start managing the Netherlands on-site, please?
Have you been to Rotterdam? Tell us about it in the comments.