In Rotterdam, very different ways of reading the city’s history come together: as a story of migration, as a history of the port and seafaring, and through its visible architecture. Fenix, an art museum about migration, offers one perspective; the Maritime Museum Rotterdam presents the maritime present and past. It includes the Netherlands’ oldest and largest museum harbour, with historic ships and cranes.

Art, memory and architectural history

Migration is the focus at Fenix. The specific exhibitions may change, but the museum is dedicated to this subject. At the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, you can watch conservators at work through large windows. A guided tour can also take you inside a depot space; tour availability may vary. The Depot is the world’s first publicly accessible art storage facility belonging to a museum.

The Kunsthal Rotterdam also brings art together with a striking building: the iconic structure was designed by Rem Koolhaas. Each year, the Kunsthal presents around 25 exhibitions on modern masters, contemporary art, photography, fashion and design; the programme changes. At the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the semi-permanent exhibition “Kruispunt Rotterdam” places the collection in a contemporary context and complements it with new works by artists and Rotterdam residents inspired by the collection.

The Markthal puts the city’s history directly on display: 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 from the escalators and in the car park. The Laurenskerk offers another historical connection: it is the only surviving medieval building in central Rotterdam. Its permanent exhibition presents the building’s history through 20 themes.

Northwest of Rotterdam, the Van Nelle Factory was designed and built in the 1920s on the banks of a canal in the Spaanse Polder industrial area. It is considered an icon of 20th-century industrial architecture. Tours aboard the ss Rotterdam take visitors through authentic halls, decks, the bow and the wheelhouse, and offer an insight into more than 60 years of steamship history. Tour formats and the areas visited may change.

Harbour views and different kinds of tours

Portlantis offers a 75-minute cruise past the container terminals of Maasvlakte 2 towards Maasvlakte 1. The duration and route may change, so check the current tour options before your visit. On private cruises with Watertaxi Rotterdam, visitors choose their own duration and route through the historic and modern harbours. The options differ in practical terms: one offers a specified cruise duration and route, while the other lets you choose the time and distance for a private trip.

Every year, Rotterdam’s harbour is celebrated for three days during the first weekend of September at the Wereldhavendagen. There are more than 175 kilometres of cycling paths and good walking opportunities for exploring further around the harbour. Alongside organised cruises, cycling and walking offer different ways to discover the harbour area.

Gardens, animals and the coast

Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum is located in Rotterdam’s Kralingen district and covers eight hectares. Its grounds include English-style gardens, a modern food forest under development and a desert greenhouse. At Diergaarde Blijdorp, you can see animals including lions and penguins; animal populations change over time. The zoo is also a centre for nature conservation, education and sustainability. Its expeditions teach visitors about animals and plants, as well as nature restoration and species protection.

Distinctive flora and fauna can also be found in the Rotterdam harbour area, including seals, Nathusius’ pipistrelles and Scottish Highland cattle. Hoek van Holland, an area of Rotterdam, adds beaches, the sea and opportunities to walk in the dunes to these perspectives. The range of landscapes therefore extends from botanical gardens to the harbour area and the coast.

Urban development from above

At the Euromast, visitors can look down through a transparent floor. The ticket to the observation deck also includes an immersive, interactive experience about Rotterdam’s origins and development into a global city. Ticket inclusions may change; check the current details before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Rotterdam, Pernis, Hoek van Holland, Hoogvliet Rotterdam, Bodegraven, Zoetermeer, Schiedam, Zoeterwoude

Back to the regional travel overview: South Holland.