Things to do
Things to do in Rotterdam
The Netherlands' second city rebuilt itself as an architecture laboratory: cube houses, the Markthal arch, Europe's biggest port — and a food scene that out-cooks Amsterdam.
Photos for Rotterdam are still on their way. Every listing below is real.
Top things to do in Rotterdam
The Manhattan on the Maas: bold architecture, the port, and Markthal.
- Markthal — The arched market hall: the Sistine-Chapel ceiling, the food stalls below, the apartments above.
- Cube Houses (Kubuswoningen) — Piet Blom's tilted cubes: the show cube museum, the architectural icon.
- Erasmus Bridge — The Swan: the cable-stayed bridge — the city's symbol, best at night.
- Euromast — The 185m tower: the panorama, the Euroscoop ride to the top.
- Delfshaven — The historic harbour the bombs missed: the Pilgrim Fathers' church, the old lanes.
- Museum Boijmans / Depot — The art museum's Depot: the world's first publicly accessible art storage — the mirrored bowl.
- SS Rotterdam — The 1959 flagship hotel-ship: the tours, the restaurants aboard.
Free things to do in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is generous if your budget isn't. All of these cost nothing or close to it:
- Erasmus Bridge (crossing) — The bridge: free.
- Delfshaven — The old harbour: free.
- Markthal (browsing) — The hall: free to browse.
- Het Park — The park by the Euromast: free.
- Cube Houses (exteriors) — The cubes from outside: free.
- Water taxi (not free) — The water taxis are the fun splurge.
Festivals & the religious calendar
The town's own festivals:
- Carnaval (Rotterdam) (February/March) — The southern city's carnival: parades, the port-city version.
- North Sea Jazz (July) — The world's great jazz festival at Ahoy: three days, the legends.
- Summer Carnival (July) — The Caribbean street parade: the tropical Rotterdam.
- King's Day (27 April) — The orange madness, Rotterdam-style.
And the national calendar:
- King's Day (Koningsdag) (27 April (26th if Sunday)) — The whole country turns orange: street markets, canal boats, parties in every city. The biggest national party of the year.
- Sinterklaas (5 December) — The Dutch gift-giving evening — distinct from Christmas, with poems and surprises; the December run-up fills shop windows.
- Carnaval (February/March (pre-Lent weekend)) — Big in the southern provinces (Noord-Brabant, Limburg): parades, costumes, three days of organized chaos.
- Liberation Day (5 May) — Bevrijdingsdag: freedom festivals in 14 cities, concerts and ceremonies marking the end of WWII in the Netherlands.
Exact dates are confirmed yearly — check local listings before booking around a festival.
Sports: Football
Feyenoord: De Kuip (the Tub) — the most atmospheric stadium in the Netherlands, the Legioen's wall of sound. The Klassieker vs Ajax is the national fixture. Sparta Rotterdam (the Castle) is the oldest pro club; Excelsior completes the city's three.
The port is the other arena: the World Port Days (September), the rowing on the Maas. Cycling: the city's flat and fast.
Tickets: official site
What's new in Rotterdam
The Depot keeps new exhibitions opening. The Feyenoord stadium plans evolve — check the club site. North Sea Jazz's July dates are confirmed yearly.
Submit your event
Running something in town? Dayfari lists community events free — gigs, markets, fundraisers, club nights, temple and church programmes. Submit your event and it can appear in the town feed within a day. No account needed to suggest; the Dayfari team reviews every submission.
Common questions
How many days do I need in Rotterdam?
Two full days covers the highlights above. Add a third for the day trips — see our day-trips guide.
What can I do in Rotterdam for free?
Plenty — see the free list above. The town's festivals and markets are the other great free shows.
When is the best time to visit Rotterdam?
Time it for a festival if you can — the calendar above is the cheat sheet. Otherwise, the shoulder seasons dodge the crowds.
More to explore in Rotterdam
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