The Netherlands is a land of bicycles, windmills and a land of tulips! If you are going to the Netherlands, and especially to the capital of Amsterdam, it is worth considering a one-day trip to Rotterdam in your plans. You can get there by FlixBus, just go to https://www.flixbus.nl/ and buy a ticket. The journey from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to Rotterdam Central Station takes about an hour. On the way, you can admire the local landscapes and relax before exploring this beautiful, modern city!
Our day in Rotterdam
Once we are there, it is worth taking a walk around the modern center. Here we have Erasmus and Kop van Zuid waiting for us. Erasmusbrug, also called “Swan”, is one of the most recognizable bridges in the Netherlands. It connects the historic center of Rotterdam with the modern district of Kop van Zuid and stretches over the Maas River. Its length is 802 meters. It is an ideal place for a walk, from which you can admire the panorama of Rotterdam. Every year, various events take place here, including the famous Marathon in Rotterdam.
Kop van Zuid is a modern district with a business and cultural center. Here you can admire the impressive skyscrapers, such as De Rotterdam by the famous architect Rem Koolhaas. While in this district, it is worth seeing Hotel New York, the former headquarters of the Holland America line, from where ships used to depart to the USA. In Kop van Zuid, there is also the Fenix Food Factory, where you can taste local cuisine. It is a must-see for lovers of modern architecture!
After intensive sightseeing, we can go for a brunch in Markthal, a colorful market hall with local delicacies and a beautiful ceiling. Inside you will find numerous stands with local and international delicacies, restaurants and shops.
Another place worth noting is Kubuswoningen, or “Cube – House”. This is one of Rotterdam’s most unique attractions. The buildings are cube-shaped, and each symbolizes a tree, and together they form the “forest of urban trees.” While on site, we can take a look at the Kyk-Kubus Museum and see what life looks like in this unusual building.
Next, we go for a walk to Delfshaven, the historical district of Rotterdam, where we can admire the charming canals and drink coffee in one of the atmospheric cafes by the water. At the end of the day, a cruise through the port of Rotterdam, one of the largest in the world – takes about 75 minutes and offers amazing views of the city and ships.
After such an intense day full of impressions, we of course return by FlixBus to Amsterdam;-)