Rotterdam

Go to Rotterdam for postwar architecture, one of Europe's largest ports and a lively riverside city with museums, food halls and cafés.

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Rotterdam is a port city in South Holland and the second-largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam. It sits on the Nieuwe Maas near the North Sea. The city center was largely destroyed by German bombing on 14 May 1940, so much of what you see today is postwar architecture, from the covered Markthal opened in 2014 to the tilted Cube Houses by Piet Blom, built in 1984.

The port is one of Europe's largest, and the city's modern architecture, riverside setting and lively culture are the reasons to go. Trains from Rotterdam Centraal serve Amsterdam, Schiphol, Den Haag and Utrecht. Spring and early summer are the drier, sunnier months, and summer temperatures usually stay below 20 °C on average.

Rotterdam in five

Walk the architecture routeThe Markthal, the Cube Houses, the Erasmus Bridge and the old harbor are all within a 30-minute walk of Rotterdam Centraal.
Take the water bus to KinderdijkThe Waterbus runs from the Erasmus Bridge area toward the Kinderdijk windmills, a UNESCO site.
Use Rotterdam as a base for the westDelft and The Hague are short NS rides away, so one hotel here can serve both. The Hague or Rotterdam? compares the two cities.The Hague or Rotterdam
Coming from Brussels? EES is already doneRotterdam sits on the Brussels line. Non-EU visitors who entered Schengen at an earlier stop were registered in the Entry/Exit System there, which replaced stamps in April 2026.

Things to do in Rotterdam

See all attractions in Rotterdam

Sight · RotterdamKralingse Bos

Sight · RotterdamCruise Terminal Rotterdam

Museum · RotterdamKunstinstituut MellyFriday visits are free after 6 pm; the museum stays open until 9 pm that day.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to RotterdamPut the places you like in Rotterdam on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Schiphol (AMS), about 30 min by train; Rotterdam The Hague (RTM)
Getting there: Trains from Amsterdam in about 40 min, from Brussels in about 1.25 hours
Getting around: Metro, trams, water taxis and walking
Best base: Centrum near the station, or Kop van Zuid across the river
Time needed: 1–2 days

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days

Best
Good
Mixed
Poor

JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low3°Cold, grey
FebruaryRain12 rainy daysHigh8°Low3°Cold
MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Chilly
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh14°Low6°Mild
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Mild, long days
JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Long light
JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh23°Low15°Warm
SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low13°Mild, calmer
OctoberRain14 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Wet, windy
NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Wet, windy
DecemberRain14 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low4°Dark, wet

Average daily high and low in Rotterdam, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Rotterdam

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 7°
Humidity: 88%
Wind: 13 km/h
Chance of rain: 12%

Rotterdam

06:03 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+1

Today11°7°12%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 12%.
Wed10°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
Thu9°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Fri9°3°0%Friday: Clear. High 9°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sat8°2°14%Saturday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 14%.
Sun9°4°14%Sunday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 14%.
Mon8°3°10%Monday: Fog. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 10%.

Updated 01:41 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8933 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 3, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Rotterdam

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Day trips by train

Before you go to Rotterdam

Train tickets from RotterdamAmsterdam, The Hague and BrusselsRead the guide

Harbor cruises and toursWater taxi, Kinderdijk and the portCompare day trips

eSIM for a Dutch city breakLive train times and tap-in ticketsRead the guide

Travel insurance for RotterdamCovers missed trains and lost bagsRead the guide

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Rules for Rotterdam, checked

Many nationalities can visit the Netherlands visa-free for short stays in the Schengen Area. Check your status with the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) at ind.nl before you book.Source
Dutch law requires everyone aged 14 and over to carry valid identification, and police can ask to see it. Carry your passport or ID card when you go out.
Declare cash and other money above the EU limit when you enter or leave the EU. Check the current amount with Dutch Customs at belastingdienst.nl before you travel.Source
Cannabis is sold in licensed coffeeshops under tolerance rules for adults. Buying from street dealers is illegal, and the rules are strict.

Plan around Rotterdam

All of the Netherlands

Regions, rail, entry rules and money

Read the guide Amsterdam

Canals and museums, about 40 minutes away

Read the guide Utrecht

The rail hub between the two big cities

Read the guide Brussels

Direct trains south in about 1.25 hours

Read the guide Is a Eurail pass worth it?

When point-to-point tickets win

Read the guide Schengen 90/180 rule

Counting days across the Benelux

Read the guide The Hague or Rotterdam?

Which city fits a first Dutch trip.

Read the guide

Rotterdam FAQ

Is Rotterdam worth visiting?

Yes, for modern architecture, food halls and the harbor. It feels very different from Amsterdam and is 40 minutes away by train.

How do I get to Kinderdijk from Rotterdam?

The Waterbus runs from central Rotterdam toward Kinderdijk. Check the timetable, which is reduced outside summer.

How many days do you need in Rotterdam?

One day covers the architecture and the harbor. Add a day for Delft, The Hague or Kinderdijk.

Is Rotterdam better than Amsterdam?

They suit different trips. Amsterdam has canals and old-master museums, Rotterdam has postwar architecture, a working harbor and a more modern feel. Most visitors base in Amsterdam and come for a day; stay a night to see the harbor lit up.

How far are the Markthal and Cube Houses from Rotterdam Centraal?

Both are about 10 to 15 minutes on foot, near Blaak station. The Erasmus Bridge and the old harbor are a little farther, still within a 30-minute walk, so a day on foot or by tram covers the architecture route.