Welcome to Rotterdam

Welcome to Rotterdam Must See City 2014 according to New York Times & Rough Guides Rotterdam is a true metropolis thanks to its position as the second-largest city in the Netherlands with a population of over 600,000.

Most of the urban area is built in polders with ground levels up to 7 meters below sea level.

Its skyline, showcasing distinctive landmarks including the Erasmus Bridge and the Euromast, can be seen from miles away. The Rough Guide and the New York Times ranked Rotterdam nr.

8 andnr. 10 on their lists of must-see cities for 2014, recommending the new De Rotterdam building designed by Rem Koolhaas and the Markthal indoor market. Rotterdam is an extraordinarily dynamic city featuring modern architecture, festivals, sporting events, unique shops and boutiques and cutting-edge art and culture.

It is a fantastic destination for a city break, as part of a tour or a business incentive trip.

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(Rough Guide) Koolhaas)

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Attractions / (Kijk-kubus)

World Heritage Kinderdijk-Site / (Kinderdijk) Kinderdijk’s 19 windmills are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as cultural monuments, making a visit here most certainly worthwhile. It is the only place in the world with so many windmills so close together in an authentic polder landscape. You can explore the beautiful nature or take a tour in the windmill with a guide. The quickest and most fun way to explore Holland’s canals and Kinderdijk is the Waterbus.

Three million people a year visit Rotterdam’s attractions. Whether it’s on the water, in the centre of the city, high in the air or out in nature, Rotterdam has something to offer for everyone!

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Cube Houses / How is it possible to live in a cube house, this oddly tilted cube on a pole?

One of these remarkable dwellings, known as the Kijk-kubus, is open to the public. This museum house is fully furnished with a handmade, custombuilt interior designed especially for the Kijk-kubus. A small exhibition with scale models, photo boards and viewing screens gives visitors extra information.

Art and culture / Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen / Visit Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen and travel through the history of art, from the early Middle Ages to the 21st century. There is something for everyone: from The Tower of Babel by Bruegel and Rembrandt’s famous painting of Titus to the Lips sofa by Dalí. The museum shows world-class masterpieces. Surrounded by the sensational temporary exhibitions they guarantee hours of enjoyment.

(Bruegel) Tower of Babel)

(The (Rembrandt) (Dalí)

Kunsthal Rotterdam / Kunsthal Rotterdam is a leading exhibition hall designed by Rem Koolhaas.

The Kunsthal presents a variety of exhibitions for a broader audience every year, ranging from fascinating photography, forgotten cultures and innovative design to breath-taking major shows by internationally renowned artists.

Koolhaas)

(Rem

Internationally acclaimed museums, excellent performance venues and premier dance and theatre companies guarantee a constant supply of high-quality art and culture in Rotterdam. Rotterdam’s museums offer a highly diverse range of collections and expositions: from modern art to historical artifacts, from architecture to photography and from historical ships to exotic animals.

Euromast / The Euromast is the highest observation tower in the Netherlands. At 100 metres, the tower provides a fantastic panoramic 360° view of the city and much further afield. In the modern brasserie you can enjoy lunch or dinner. Visitors who want to go even higher can take the Euroscope, a rotating elevator, another 85 meters to the top. Daredevils can rope slide or abseil from the top of the Euromast.

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Splashtours / Splashtours offers you a very different and exciting way to see Rotterdam.

A tour with this unique amphibious bus provides an unforgettable experience to visitors of all ages. In 60 minutes, you will first drive along the most exceptional and beautiful spots in Rotterdam.

Then comes the “splash”: the spectacular dive into the Maas River. The bus now proves to be a seaworthy vessel as well, which cruises on past the glorious skyline!

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Architecture /

Architecture tours with Rotterdam ArchiGuides / Take a bicycle tour past 100 years of architectural history. From the post-war city centre to Piet Blom’s Cube Houses, then on towards the spectacular Kop van Zuid island and back to the wonderfully designed Museum Park. During the twohour tour, an expert guide will provide you with interesting information on the architectural city of Rotterdam.

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Piet Blom Kop van Zuid (Museum

De Rotterdam On The Kop Van Zuid / De Rotterdam The Kop van Zuid is a peninsula, with the Maas River on one side and the Rijnhaven on the other. The Kop van Zuid features spectacular new architecture, including New Orleans, the highest residential tower in the Netherlands. Designed by Rem Koolhaas, De Rotterdam is the biggest multifunctional building in the Netherlands. The three linked towers are a ‘vertical city’ of high-class flats, a 4-star hotel, offices, shops, restaurants, fitness, parking and cultural functions.

Orleans)

(New De Rotterdam

The Markthal indoor market / Markthal The first indoor market in the Netherlands opened its doors in Rotterdam on October 1st 2014. A lively market hall, the size of a massive football pitch, which is bursting at the seams with fresh fish, warm bread, tender meat, countless different cheeses and beautiful flowers.

More than 4.000 colourful tiles cover the inside of the spectacular roof structure and forms the largest artwork in the Netherlands. The Markthal has been named the modern version of the Sistine Chapel. A true experience, open 7 days per week until 8 p.m.

Within just a couple of square kilometres in the city centre, you can get a complete overview of modern architecture from the twentieth century. Striking pre-war buildings which were spared during the bombing include City Hall, the post office and the Witte Huis. Periods of innovative and daring architecture followed, with a particularly prominent peak after the war, as can be seen from the Cube Houses, the Schouwburgplein, the Erasmus Bridge and more recently, De Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas, Rotterdam Central Station and the Markthal indoor market. The skyline of Rotterdam has no competition in the Netherlands.

(Schouwburgplein) (Erasmus Bridge) De Rotterdam Markthal

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8 Rotterdam Central Station / The new Rotterdam Centraal railway station is an attractive and dynamic public transport hub, acting as the international gateway to the centre of Rotterdam. On the city centre side the station exhibits a new grandeur that is in keeping with the dimensions of the imposing high-rise buildings that characterize the entrance to the city.

City on the water / The ss Rotterdam / “ The steamship Rotterdam was the most prestigious flagship of the HollandAmerica Line; she sailed out on many world tours and cruises between 1959 and 2000. The vessel was a masterpiece of cutting-edge 1950s design. Life on board was like living on a film set, carefree and chique. Today the ship has returned where she belongs; in the port of Rotterdam. The legendary ship exudes the atmosphere of bygone days, but offers a sea of new opportunities. You can visit to eat, drink, shop, sleep, party or just stroll the decks.

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Rotterdam is the Gateway to Europe. It is currently Europe’s largest and one of the top 5 most important ports in the world. The city is situated almost 7 meters below sea level. To this date Rotterdam embodies more than 400 years successful experience in trade and shipping. The region is one of the most important engines driving the Dutch economy and defines the character of this city on the Maas.

Spido / Spido welcomes you aboard for a voyage of exploration through the port of Rotterdam. Departing from the base of the Erasmus Bridge, Spido sails out on an exciting cruise almost every day the whole year through. Enjoy the imposing architecture as well as the numerous harbour activities that make Rotterdam one of the largest ports in the world.

An unforgettable experience in just 75 minutes!

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Shopping / Rotterdam is the place to be for the latest discoveries in the field of fashion and interior design. Rotterdam is the city with the youngest population in the Netherlands. Logically, there are many trendsetting stores in and around the city centre. Most of the shops in the city centre are open seven days a week.

The nearby Donner is the largest bookstore in the Netherlands. The store houses Dutch and foreign literature and reference books, magazines, games, DVDs, music and more.

The Meent and surroundings are rapidly developing into one of Rotterdam’s most prominent and dynamic shopping areas. One of the trendy concept stores is SuperTrash by Olcay Gulsen with a seemingly infinite range of ultra-feminine clothes: soaring stilettos, silky-soft trousers and tops.

Bijenkorf

(Marlies Witte de Withstraat

Dekkers)

Special Stores / Bijenkorf, the most luxurious and exclusive department store in the Netherlands, is located in the city centre of Rotterdam. De Bijenkorf only sells quality merchandise from well-known Dutch and foreign brands. These include lingerie designer Marlies Dekkers’s Undressed label. The work of this world-famous Rotterdam native is also for sale in her store on Witte de Withstraat.

De Bijenkorf

Donner 11 DVD Meent SuperTrash

Olcay Gulsen

Dining and nightlife / Tai Wu / Known for its fresh, tasty and authentic Chinese food, this Chinese restaurant is very popular with Chinese locals. The menu offers a wide selection of classic cuisine, and the staff suggestions reveal excellent culinary surprises.

Blender / Blender In the cultural heart of Rotterdam, the Witte de Withstraat, you will find Blender, a stylish cocktail bar and restaurant that also is a club where you can dance the night away. The industrial interior of Blender as well as the carefully selected cocktail menu, reminds you of hotspots in New York. This all-in-one nightlife concept is a great place for going out.

Blender de Withstraat

Holland Casino Ultralounge Purple / Ultralounge Purple is a trendy lounge where famous DJs regularly man the tables. The cocktail bar, wine lounge and restaurant make the casino an even more appealing location and a unique hotspot in town.

Rotterdam is a lively place in the evenings. The city boasts a wide range of cafés, restaurants and clubs located in the city centre, as well as in areas such as the Scheepvaartkwartier, the Oude Haven and China Town. The culinary experiences on offer in the cafés and restaurants of Rotterdam encompass the full spectrum of global cuisine. The city centre is always bustling with life and it is home to a wide variety of great entertainment venues.

Scheepvaartkwartier

(Oude Haven)

DJ

Hotels /

Rotterdam offers a varied range of hotel accommodations with over 4,300 hotel beds in the city of Rotterdam alone and far more in the greater Rotterdam area. The hotels of Rotterdam vary from simple to highly luxurious. Business people, conference-goers, tourists, architecture aficionados, film freaks, art connoisseurs, newly-weds – Rotterdam has just the room for anyone who spends the night in the city. For more information on the hotels in Rotterdam, visit the website www.rotterdampartners.nl

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Hotel New York Restaurant / The beautiful building that houses Hotel New York, was the former headquarters of the Holland America Line. Nowadays Hotel New York is a true meeting place for Rotterdam’s citizens as well as tourists. On the ground floor is a caférestaurant where you can have breakfast, coffee, lunch, dinner or just a drink.

Hotel New York is also famous for their oyster bar with a fine collection of fresh shellfish every day. The terrace on the waterfront is the perfect place to enjoy the beautiful view on the Maas.

Accessibility / Rotterdam’s strategic location makes it very easy to reach. There is a direct connection to the city from a lot of European cities in many countries via Schiphol Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport.

Rotterdam has an excellent network of metro, bus, train and boat connections and since the addition of the highspeed rail line Intercity Direct, Thalys and DB, you can reach Rotterdam even faster from Schiphol (only 26 minutes) Paris, Brussels, Antwerp and Frankfurt.

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Highlights 2015-2016 / 2015-2016 Rotterdam Museum Night /

ABN AMRO Marathon Rotterdam /

2015 03, 2016 03 Over 40 museums and galleries open their doors. Besides the permanent exhibitions the night includes many special tours, workshops, performances and other surprises.

2015 12/04, 2016 10/04 The biggest one-day sporting event in the Netherlands brings the very best athletes in the world to Rotterdam. Huge crowds line the course, cheering the runners on towards the finish line.

North Sea Jazz Festival /

International Film Festival Rotterdam / 2015 21/01 - 01/02 2016 20/01 - 31/01 Twelve days of films, exhibitions, debates and unforgettable parties!

Hundreds of filmmakers present their work to a large and devoted audience in many screening venues. Most films are screened in their original language version with English subtitles.

ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament / 2015 09/02 - 15/02, 2016 08/02 - 14/02 One of the leading tennis tournaments in the world. World-class tennis players and the activities on Sports Plaza and Tennis Plaza guarantee an exciting event for every sports fan.

Tennis Plaza

Sports Plaza

Rotterdam was voted Festival and Event City of the Year for three years in a row- and with good reason. It is abundantly clear that Rotterdam richly deserves this title: the popular, lively summer festivals rock the city to its foundations, visitors from all over the world come to Rotterdam for its cultural festivals. Moreover, European and world championships are held regularly in Rotterdam City of Sports such as the World Championships of Table Tennis.

2015 10/07 - 12/07, 2016 07 World-famous jazz festival that encompasses the past, present and future of jazz. From traditional New Orleans jazz, free jazz and avant-garde jazz to electronic jazz. North Sea Jazz also includes blues, funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop and Latin.

R&B, hip-hop

IFEA 2010

Rotterdam Unlimited / 2015 24/07 - 26/07, 2016 07 During this event Rotterdam will be transformed in one big summer party with colourful music, dance, theatre, performances and of course the Summer Carnival street parade. And the best thing: it’s for free!

City Racing Rotterdam / 2015 08, 2016 08 Experience Formula 1 live in the streets of Rotterdam! This unique racing event in the city centre offers spectacular demonstrations by first-class national and international race cars and drivers.

F1

World Port Days / 2015 04/09 - 06/09, 2016 09 Get a glimpse behind the scenes of the largest harbour of Europe and its industrial area. With spectacular demonstrations on the water, impressive ships and exciting port excursions.

ROTTERDAM PARTNERS / P.O. Box 23514, 3001 KM Rotterdam The Netherlands T +31 (0)10 790 01 40 E leisure@rotterdampartners.nl www.rotterdam.info/cn