With its cobbled lanes and quaint canal houses, Amsterdam exerts Old World appeal. But just about 30 minutes away by high-speed train sits its more daring, innovative neighbor, Rotterdam.
After Word War II, when the city’s historic center was heavily bombed, this port city in the Netherlands chose an idiosyncratic path — redesigning from scratch and embracing the inventive and, sometimes, the whimsical. Also woven into the fabric of the city is a strong sense of environmental consciousness. Which is no wonder, considering it sits below sea level, making it prone to flooding.
For clients who want to get wrapped up in Rotterdam’s cool vibes for several days, here are some of the top activities, eateries and hotels to recommend.
Go Surfing
RiF010 is the place for avid surfers to either catch some gnarly waves — some of which are nearly 5 feet high — or for newbies to take lessons in the more mellow section of this artificial urban surfing spot. It’s even eco-friendly, relying on renewable energy. For a super chill experience, clients can hang out, dine or drink in the plant-bedecked beach hut, where they may even be able to watch a competition.
Visit Cultural Venues
In the 19th century, travelers arrived at Rotterdam’s docks, or locals boarded ships and emigrated to other parts of the world, and the Fenix museum uses contemporary art to explore this theme of migration. At the building’s multistory core is a polished-steel spiral staircase, symbolizing the shifting viewpoints of a migrant’s journey.
Clients will be awed by the exterior and interior of The Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, by far a most unusual art storage facility. The mirrored panels on this bowl-shaped building reflect the sky, clouds and surrounding greenery, while the soaring atrium is full of glass display cases and pedestrian bridges that seem to float.
The Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is a striking architectural landmark.
Credit: 2026 Iris van den BroekThe industrial buildings that comprise Brutus Art Space house some supremely avant-garde works, including in the adjacent sculpture garden. Here, artists can create pieces that are too massive, too complex or too controversial, and they're given free rein to experiment — even in cave-like spaces. Upcoming events include an all-day music festival on June 27, the largest solo exhibition to date in the Netherlands by artist Santiago Sierra from Sept. 19 to Dec. 13, 2026, and “Armchair Anarchist,” an exhibition from Atelier Van Lieshout that runs until mid-December.
Connect with Rotterdam’s Green Sensibilities
Visitors can savor walks through the slim, rectangular Keilehaven Tidal Park that re-creates a bit of how the city’s waterfront landscape functioned before urbanization. Travelers will see the high and low tidal patterns and maybe even wildlife such as foxes and beavers in this green space set on the bank of the New Meuse River.
More than three dozen cows roam about the airy, top tier of the three-story Floating Farm moored in Merwehaven, one of Rotterdam’s old harbors. Clients walk up a short ramp to access this sustainable dairy farm that produces (and sells) milk, butter, yogurt and cheese.
Travelers can see more than three dozen cows that roam about the Floating Farm.
Credit: 2026 Guido PijperDuring a fine day, travelers can unwind at Dakpark Rotterdam, a 0.75-mile-long expanse set 30 feet above the pavement on the rooftops of a shopping center. Not only are there panoramic skyline views; there are also opportunities for picnics on the grass, jogging, bicycling and roaming through the numerous gardens.
Dine Indulgently
Visitors to Rotterdam love watching the boat traffic from one of the window-facing tables at River Bar, where the views of the Nieuwe Maas River are stunning. Some of the venue’s dishes, such as raw or au gratin oysters, are even inspired by the maritime location.
Dinner at Restaurant Renilde — a Michelin Guide-recommended eatery located at The Depot of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen — is a sensory experience, from its tree-studded rooftop location with arboreal views to the dishes accented with colorful edible blooms. The ever-changing, multicourse menu includes selections sure to satisfy both vegetarians (such as beetroot tartare) and omnivores (guinea fowl with truffle sauce).
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Notk offers a variety of wine and food options.
Credit: 2026 NotkRestaurant Rotonde, which has received a Bib Gourmand and a Michelin Green Star, focuses on locally sourced ingredients for its creative, plant-based menu, which may include dishes such as grilled shiitake with walnuts and sauerkraut. Clients should settle at the bar facing the hearth that turns out delectable sourdough bread.
Xīn, meanwhile — another Michelin Guide-recommended venue — is hardly a typical Chinese restaurant, thanks to chef Alexander Wong, who puts a twist (or two) on the traditional. Clients should expect the unexpected here, such as a fried taro dumpling with osetra caviar and shrimp toast topped with langoustine and lardo (cured meat).
Savor Local and International Wine
At Juni, a warm and welcoming wine bar, the focus is on pairing wine with unique Dutch cheeses — think: goat cheese from Friesland and cow cheese from South Holland. With the help of one of the unpretentious sommeliers, clients will readily find a cheese to suit their palate.
Oenophiles will be more than satisfied with the choices at Notk. The inventory includes more than 250 bottles, including some unusual ones, such as wine from the Penedes region of Spain that conveys an earthiness, and a variety from the volcanic soils of the Azores that, aptly, has a smoky quality. Suggest the homemade gnocchi here to clients.
Stay in Style (and Comfort)
Coffee-loving travelers will delight in the low-key, informal Man Met Bril Koffie Hotel that’s set within an airy, upscale coffee bar and roastery. Room service delivers lattes and other coffee beverages to all 15 simple rooms, each featuring local artwork.
The Usual Rotterdam has 209 guestrooms, including The Usual Plus and The Studio.
Credit: 2026 Wouter van der SarWith its green rooftop and focus on using sustainable materials, The Usual Rotterdam will readily satisfy the eco-conscious traveler who also cares about contemporary design. Of its 209 guestrooms, the most spacious are The Usual Plus and The Studio.
For the ultimate in pampering, point clients to the eco-friendly Haven Hotel Rotterdam, Curio Collection by Hilton, a five-star, 215-room accommodation. Guests who book one of the Spa Suites will be thrilled by the in-room sauna and whirlpool tub, as well as the harbor views.
