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Guide to Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Rotterdam
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RotterdamRotterdam
After WWII, the city of Rotterdam needed a complete rebuild. One of several areas caught in the center of battle between Hitler's forces and the Allies, was leveled nearly entirely. Immense investment followed, and soon the city was on its way to becoming a newer, greater symbol of Dutch beauty. Today, rarely anyone in Rotterdam discusses the historic incidents that took place upon their land decades prior, but a few visits to the city's museums will answer any multitude of questions one may carry while in the Netherlands. In addition to being home to historic items of national importance and value, the galleries of Rotterdam have attained what one would call a satisfying and diverse collection of priceless canvases, pottery, and sculpture. Though similar in size and architectural attraction to its more popular sibling and also capital of Holland, Amsterdam, the people here seem a bit more laid-back and even its most peculiar-looking boulevards are pleasant to stroll - for some, of course. As is common in Holland, Rotterdam has its share of promiscuity-infested districts, but certainly not to the effect of that which runs through Amsterdam. Overall, Rotterdam is a colorful center of youth and vibrancy, and after all, this is Holland. Come to Rotterdam for the scenery and the activity, or simply for the pigtails. Book your flight to this morsel of the Netherlands today!
When to go:
Spring is the season of choice for travelers with Rotterdam in their sights. The gardens are in bloom, the heat has months yet to arrive, and its dry stints are nearly equal to those of summer. Both June and August will give you the best array of outdoor cultural happenings, and events typically trickle into autumn, leaving you three seasons for which to debate about what time of the year to visit. If you'd like to put your new scarf to use you can visit anytime in winter, when snowfall is enough to allow accumulation yet not enough to keep you indoors.
Getting there and around:
European cities are always at the top of the agenda at Rotterdam Airport, and as the general rule applies, the further from the city one gets, the more connections dwindle toward nonexistence. At 17km (10mi), the distance between airport and city is not small, and ordinarily at the height of the workday (as well as weekends) the terminal, as well as the roads leading to and fro, are rather congested, so reserve an hour of extra time if your flight arrives or departs when the sun shines. The Dutch countryside is far from flat, but the founders of Rotterdam struck gold when they found a plain in the midst of mountains and valleys. Being a flat city, Rotterdam is one of the most bicyclist-ridden (no pun intended) places in the world, and with so many paths for one to choose from, why not rent one to get around for yourself? The cost of doing is far less than that of either utilizing the bus system or traveling via taxi, and the Dutch have always been avid environmentalists, so it's just sensible to fit in.
Attractions:
Rotterdam may not be the largest or most popular city around the globe, but if one about this green machine is for certain, it is the record its port holds. Europoort, as it's known to the maritime world, simply must be seen to be believed. Stretched out over 48km of coastline and bay, the Europoort is home to hundreds of warehouses, piers, and anything else imaginable that may (or may not) pertain to the 'water world'. Especially a beautiful sight in the evening, it's recommended that you carry along one of those picture-creating contraptions during a stroll here.
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