A multi-faceted city with layers of history, Rotterdam is one of the most intriguing cities in the Netherlands. Get to know the city, from its reconstruction after World War II to its busy cargo port on this 4-hour private tour available in the morning and afternoon.
Meet your guide in central Rotterdam and discuss your preferred sites, as the exact itinerary of the 2.5- to 3-hour walking tour can be tailored to your interests. Some of the top attractions you should not miss include as follows:
In the borough of Rotterdam Centrum, stop by St Lauren’s Church, a 16th-century church that was heavily damaged in a 1940 bomb attack but has been restored to its former grandeur. Also known as the Great Church of Rotterdam, this is the city’s sole remaining medieval structure. Enjoy a spectacular view of the city from its spire.
Stroll through Museumpark, home to a number of museums including the Chabot Museum, the Natuurhistorisch Museum Rotterdam, the Netherlands Architecture Institute, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Kunsthal museum and Villa Sonneveld.
Check out the Cubic Houses built by renowned architect Piet Blom. Step inside these unique high-density housing cubes, architectural projects of post-war Rotterdam, which are tilted on hexagonal poles.
Visit the Old Harbor (Oude Haven), Rotterdam’s historic harbor that dates back to the 14th century. Now a lively waterfront lined with fine restaurants and cafés, Old Harbor is ideal for an afternoon stroll.
After your walking tour, head to the Port of Rotterdam for your 75-minute cruise. Rest your feet and soak up the city skyline and views of the harbor shipyards, docks and shipping containers, as well as the Rotterdam steamship, the former cruise flagship of the shipping company Holland America Line.
Hear about the port’s history, which transformed Rotterdam into a major harbor city, eventually becoming the largest port in Europe (it was the world’s busiest until 2002 when until Singapore snagged the title, followed by Shanghai). Your tour ends back at the port.
