Rotterdam City Walk: From the River Rotte Dam to a Modern Metropolis

Unlike Amsterdam with its preserved canal houses, Rotterdam embraced innovative architecture and bold design choices after the devastating bombing in 1940.

On this walking tour, we’ll trace the city’s transformation from a medieval settlement to a modern architectural metropolis with the largest port in Europe. It’s no coincidence that Rotterdam is included in the prestigious New York Times list of ‘52 Places to Go’!

Starting in front of Rotterdam Central Station and ending at the futuristic Schouwburgplein, we’ll stroll along canals and harbours, and circle our way around the city centre. You’ll discover hidden gems, such as the inner garden of the City Hall and the small markings in the pavement that trace the 1940 fire border. Of course, we’ll also touch on the fun stuff and the things that many visitors miss!

As we go, you’ll find plenty of spots to grab a bite or a beer, and I’ll point out public toilets along the way.

On this 90-minute walking tour, you’ll have a chance to:

● Marvel at the mirrored exterior of the Art Depot, where 150,000 artworks from the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen are stored in plain view
● Wander inside the spectacular Market Hall with its food stalls and colossal ceiling mural
● Stroll through a forest of Cube Houses, a daring 1970s architectural experiment by Piet Blom
● Admire St Lawrence Church, Rotterdam’s only surviving medieval building with its distinctive flat-topped tower
● Soak up the creative spirit of Witte de Withstraat, a lively street packed with galleries, street art, buzzing cafés and restaurants
● Discover the White House, Europe’s first ‘skyscraper’ from 1898 that miraculously survived the 1940 bombing while serving as a secret espionage centre during WWI

By the end of this tour, you’ll have learned about Rotterdam’s medieval origins, wartime devastation and remarkable rebirth. Whether this is your first visit or not, you’ll discover new things and appreciate this beautiful city even more.

Please Note: This tour partly overlaps with my other Rotterdam tour (starting near 123 Wilhelminakade, close to the Cruise Terminal). Choose whichever you prefer.