Rotterdam is a city that surprised me. In my research, I found that it’s a more modern city with very modern architecture. In general, that is just not my thing. However, as I traveled to Antwerp, Belgium to Leiden, Netherlands, I had to stop and transfer trains in Rotterdam. If I was coming through, I might as well stop and take a little time to explore this city, right? So I gave myself one day in Rotterdam.
I’m glad I did. Rotterdam was much more interesting than I thought it would be. Even with all of its modern architecture, it somehow all works together to give the city a cohesive look and feel.
The Best Things to See in Rotterdam
As always, this isn’t an exhaustive list. Instead, this list includes the most iconic buildings and sights in Rotterdam. And even better, it’s entirely possible to see everything on this list with just one day in Rotterdam.
Train Station
You’ll likely come through the train station at some point, but I think this is a good introduction to the city and it’s architecture. The train station is massive and it’s design is modern and in your face. In short, this is a perfect way to introduce yourself to the architecture of Rotterdam.
City Hall
Most of Rotterdam was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. That’s why the city is so modern—they had to rebuild everything after the war. While some cities decided to try to rebuild to match what the city looked like before, Rotterdam said, “nope” and built what you see today. It probably also helps that there are numerous architectural firms based in Rotterdam so they used this city to show off what they are capable of.
Back to City Hall. If you want to see the architecture of the city looked like before World War II, come here. This is one of the only buildings to survive the war. The Nazis spared this building because they’d need somewhere to serve as the administration building when they took over the city. But that doesn’t mean the building came out completely unscathed. If you look closely at the exterior, you’ll see plenty of bullet holes.
You can also step inside to get a glimpse into its beautiful interior. If you’re here later in the afternoon, you’ll probably see numerous couples getting married here.
Laurenskek (St. Lawrence Church)
While this isn’t the most exciting church I’ve visited in Europe, it feels wrong to include a list of things to do in a European city and not include a church. So if you’re going to visit a church with your one day in the city, why don’t you visit the oldest surviving building in Rotterdam? The inside isn’t super interesting, but you can check out the interior for only 3 euro. I was content to see the church from the outside (especially because all of my research pointed to a not-so-interesting interior).
In the courtyard in front of the church, you’ll find a statue of Rotterdam native Desiderius Erasmus. Make sure to stop and visit.
Throughout your time in Rotterdam, you’ll see several references to “Erasmus”. Desiderius Erasmus was a Dutch philosopher who lived from 1466 to 1536 and was born in Rotterdam. While Erasmus wrote about religion, humanism, and more, he also traveled, visiting Italy, Switzerland, England, and more. He believed in a being a citizen of the world, not a citizen of a single nationality. He of course talked about much more than that, but this is one of his teachings that stands out to me. It obviously stood out to many others as well since the European Union’s study abroad program is named after Erasmus.
Go Shopping
For something other than architecture, check out Linjbaan which is a pedestrianized shopping area. Linjbaan doesn’t just refer to one street, as there’s a network of several streets that make up this area.
You can also visit Beurstraverse which incorporates a little funky architecture into its shopping area. If you continue on, you’ll eventually hit Hoogstraat (or High Street), which is full of even more shops.
Market Hall
This breadbox shaped building is surrounded by a pedestrian shopping area and makes a great place to stop for lunch. Inside, you’ll find plenty of stalls, some selling fruit, others selling spices, and others that offer entire meals. Since this post is all about one day in Rotterdam, I recommend grabbing lunch here. It’s quick, easy, and you’ll have plenty of options.
Cube Houses
These 39 bright yellow houses were designed in the 1970s by architect Piet Blom and they seem to show up on every single list of “Things to Do in Rotterdam”. They are very unique and I’ve never seen any home quite like it, but it’s important to remember that many of these are actual homes and real people live here. Still, I think it’s worth popping over for a quick peek.
If you want to actually go inside, house #70 was turned into a museum to let curious tourists get a peak at what the houses actually look like inside. Once you get to the cube houses, you can follow the signs to the museum, or look for “Kjik-Kubis” on GoogleMaps.
Besides a museum, one of these cubes turned into a hostel. If you’re looking for a unique place to stay in Rotterdam and don’t mind a hostel, check out StayOkay Hostel Rotterdam.
Pencil Building
This is just a quick photo-op but it’s a uniquely shaped building. Once you see it, it’s no surprise that it’s referred to as the Pencil Building.
Rotterdam Library
This library is a blocky building with yellow tubes. Looking at it, you wouldn’t think that it’s a library, but that’s exactly what it is. Walk inside and look up at its atrium and the many levels.
Old Harbor
This is a modern recreation of the old harbor, but this can still be a fun area to walk through. If you didn’t grab lunch at the Market Hall, consider stopping here at one of the many restaurants and cafes that line the riverfront. It will likely take longer than a quick meal at the Market Hall, but lunch on the riverfront may end up being a more memorable experience for your one day in Rotterdam.
Williams Bridge
While not as famous, nor as picturesque, as the Erasmus Bridge, the Williams Bridge can still be worth a visit, if only because it puts you right on the river front.
The Riverfront and the Parade of Flags
I walked along the river from Williams Bridge to the Erasmus Bridge, which I really enjoyed. The sun was out (finally!) and it was a beautiful day. Along the river, you’ll pass flags for nearly every country on the Parade of Flags, which is supposed to have a flag for representing the nationality of every citizen in Rotterdam. I had fun testing my flag knowledge as well as taking in the views of the surrounding area. Plus, you’re walking right near the river, so it was an enjoyable walk, especially if it’s a nice day.
Erasmus Bridge
Perhaps there’s no more iconic symbol of Rotterdam than the Erasmus Bridge which spans the Maas River. It’s a bold design with a 450 foot tower on one end of the bridge. The bridge is relatively new, opening in just 1996. But even in this short time, it’s become a symbol of the city.
Leuvehaven
If you’re into maritime history, this should be a stop on your list. There’s the Havenmuseum (Harbor Museum), but you can also wander along the open air collection. You can also visit the Maritime Museum as well.
I only had one day in Rotterdam, so just wandering past the open air collection was enough.
Bonus: The most ridiculous statue
At Eendrachtsplein, which is a small square in Rotterdam, you’ll find a statue that was created by American sculptor Paul McCarthy. It’s named “Santa Claus”. I think it’s supposed to be Santa Claus, or possibly a gnome, holding a Christmas tree, but it’s definitely open to interpretation. See if you can find it on your visit to Rotterdam. Then form your own opinions on what you think it is.
Getting Around Rotterdam
You can walk to everything on this list in Rotterdam, but it will be a long walk. If you do everything on this list in an efficient loop, you’ll still be walking nearly four miles. I had no problems with this, but if you don’t want to walk that much, consider cutting out some of the areas around the riverfront. Or take one of the many trams in the city to help you get around.
There are also bike rentals throughout the city, but on some of the pedestrian only streets, you must get off and walk your bike down the street.
How Long Do You Need
I did everything on this list in just under four hours. If you don’t have that much time, you could probably be more efficiently than me. I paused halfway through my tour, backtracked to the Market Hall for lunch, and then had to get back to where I was. But I think a half day is sufficient. If you plan to go into any of the museums (Cube Houses, Maritime Museum, St. Lawrence Church, etc.), give yourself more time.
Luggage Storage
If you’re like me and are just visiting Rotterdam while transferring between two cities, there is convenient luggage storage at the train station. It’s nearby tracks 15 and 16, and it cost me 7 euro to store my large backpack for 24 hours (even though I didn’t need the full 24 hours).
Final Thoughts
Rotterdam has a very different feel to the rest of the cities I visited in Netherlands. The city is full of modern architecture, rather than endless (but still picturesque) canals. For that reason alone, I’m glad that I added one day in Rotterdam to my time in the Netherlands.
Continue Your Adventure
Amsterdam: The capital of the Netherlands is full of amazing museums, canals, and so many fun things to do. Learn how to spend one perfect day in Amsterdam.
Delft: For a smaller town away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam, consider a visit to Delft.
Leiden: Like Delft, Leiden offers a smaller town away from the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam. Plus it makes an excellent base for exploring the area.
Keukenhof: Learn how to plan your perfect visit to the stunning Keukenhof Gardens or take a photo tour of these fantastic gardens.
Netherlands Travel Guide: Start planning your adventure with my Netherlands Travel Guide.
Itineraries: For those with limited time, try a long weekend in the Netherlands. For those with more time, try my 10 Days in Paris, Belgium, and Amsterdam itinerary.