Kunsthal Rotterdam museum Minutes Time and Energy for Art

Many travellers' but glimpse of Rotterdam is through the train window en route from Amsterdam. But with a palpable free energy, creative spirit and urban regeneration that are cementing its status as one of Europe'southward hippest, well-nigh happening destinations, the netherlands' second-largest, skyscraper-filled city makes an eye-opening stopover. Discover this irrepressible port urban center's highlights on a 24-hour sojourn.

Striking architecture, cutting-edge fine art and hip dining spots makes Rotterdam a must-run into city © Prasit Rodphan / Shutterstock

Morn

Coffee hittingIf you lot've hopped off the train at the urban center'due south hitting stainless-steel-encased Rotterdam Centraal Station and are in need of caffeine, duck into Man Met Bril. Located in the Hofbogen, nether the erstwhile Hofplein rail track, this place does the best coffee in Rotterdam. You can appreciate the whole coffee-making process here: from roasting and grinding to savouring an expertly fabricated espresso.

Culture fix Once yous've had your caffeine fix get cultured at Rotterdam'due south finest museums, all within a curt stroll of each other. Masterpieces fill up ane of holland' richest fine art repositories, the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. Rembrandt, Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Brueghel the Elder are among the masters represented here, along with Van Gogh, Monet, Mondrian, Magritte, Dalí and a wealth of Renaissance art. Also check out the diverse art and design exhibitions that take place at the Kunsthal Rotterdam.

For an injection of culture, check out the the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen © Leonid-Andronov / Shutterstock

Architecture, design, digital civilisation and way fans will want to observe out what's on at the Het Nieuwe Instituut, a merger of kingdom of the netherlands Architecture Institute, kingdom of the netherlands Establish for Pattern and Style, and due east-culture institute Virtueel Platform.

Breaking developments in contemporary art are showcased in experimental exhibitions mounted past the Witte de With, Centre for Gimmicky Art. Its namesake street on which information technology's located, Witte de Withstraat, is easily Rotterdam'due south coolest, with an explosion of fashion and design boutiques, cafes, restaurants and confined.

Afternoon

Market tiffin Serving up everything from Moroccan tapas and local charcuterie to pungent international cheeses and some very tasty fries, the Fenix Food Factory embraces its past as a port warehouse receiving the finest wares from effectually the world. For a taste of everything on offer, grab a Plankje van Katendrecht (food board) and fill it with nibbles from the most appetising vendors. Launder information technology all down with a Kaapse Brouwers beer or a overnice glass of cider whilst taking in the view from the bustling port-side terrace.

People enjoying the sunday at the Fenix Food Factory in Katendrecht, Rotterdam © Iris van den Broek / Shutterstock

Maritime explorations Europe's biggest, busiest port is a defining part of Rotterdam's seafaring heritage and raw industrial appeal. Discover the urban center's – and country'due south – maritime history at the Maritiem Museum Rotterdam, where displays include model ships. To see the real affair, just s of the Maritiem Museum, wander the quays alongside the Haven Museum's historic boats. And to really get a sense of the scale of the port's colossal cranes and containers, take a fascinating 75-infinitesimal harbour tour with Spido.

Borrel Segue from the afternoon to the evening in style by boarding a h2o taxi from Veerhaven or Leuvehaven beyond the Nieuwe Maas shipping aqueduct to the Hotel New York, the Holland-America passenger-ship line's resplendent former HQ. Enjoy borrel (drinks) at its timber-panelled basis-floor bar, its panoramic terrace lit past oversized lampshades, or in its brand-new NY Basement bar/eating house.

In that location'southward no better way to navigate your fashion around this maritime urban center than on a water taxi © mihaiulia / Shutterstock

Evening

Dinner with a view From the Hotel New York, it's a brusque stroll along the Wilhelmina Pier to the gleaming glass Rem Koolhaas-designed 'vertical city' De Rotterdam (you can't miss it; information technology'southward holland' largest building). Its street-level restaurant, HMB, is a highlight as much for its front-row views of Rotterdam's most recognisable bridge, the white cable-stayed Erasmusbrug, locally dubbed de Zwaan (the Swan), as information technology is for its boundary-pushing flavor combinations (sweetbreads with white beans and peanuts, for instance). Soak upwardly more than water views over a post-dinner drink on De Rotterdam's seventh-floor cocktail bar terrace.

Bully entertainment For a night of good music, head to Bird, an intimate venue in a viaduct arch of the Hofbogen – the one-time station of the disused Hofpleinlijn railway (other cultural and creative spaces here include cutting-edge restaurants, blueprint boutiques and Dutch experimental electronic trip the light fantastic music label and vinyl shop, Clone). De Hofbogen is connected over the train tracks to the city centre by the wooden Luchtsingel (air canal) footbridge, which was crowd-funded by the sale of inscribed planks.

Dance and theatre accept to the stage at the Schouwburg, Rotterdam's master cultural complex. If clubbing is more than your thing, head to legendary clubs similar the 6000-chapters Maassilo, inside a century-old grain silo.

Take the Luchtsingel (air canal) footbridge to the cultural spaces under the arches of De Hofbogen © MarkoV87 / Shutterstock

Where to stay in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is brimful with fantastic accommodation options across all cost categories. For designer digs, endeavour the harbour-side Mainport which promises amazing skyline views. Bazaar jewels include the suite hotel Pincoffs in the former customs firm, and A Small Hotel on uber-hip Witte de Withstraat, with six Tex-, Zen- and Coco-themed rooms. Amazing Dutch-design-meets-vintage-furnished hostels, including Rex Kong Hostel, also on Witte de Withstraat, with creative person-created rooms and a roof garden, and hip Hostel Ani & Haakien, with a chilled, homey vibe (and adorable resident true cat), just 600m from Rotterdam Centraal Station. The newly built Educatee Hotel also doubles up as a seriously cool student residence and the surprisingly suave CitizenM is just two minutes from Station Blaak.

Getting there

Train Fast Thalys trains run to/from Paris (2½ hours), Brussels (1¼ hours) and Amsterdam (42 minutes), which also has high-speed Nederlandse Spoorwegen (NS) services.

Air Rotterdam is a breeze to reach past air. Holland' huge international airport, Schiphol, is equidistant by train to both Rotterdam and Amsterdam (20 minutes each). Rotterdam The Hague Drome, serving over 40 European destinations, is less than 6km northwest of Rotterdam, attainable by double-decker or inexpensive taxi.

Ferry P&O Ferries operates an overnight ferry every evening (xi¾ hours) between Hull, UK and Europoort, 39km west of fundamental Rotterdam, linked by bus. Stena Line has daytime (viii¼ hours) and overnight (ix hours) crossings between Harwich, U.k. and Hoek van Holland, 31km northwest of Rotterdam, connected by railroad train.

Last updated in December 2017.

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Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/striking-architecture-maritime-history-and-cutting-edge-art-24-hours-in-rotterdam

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