Walking Routes in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is flat and compact, so walking is the easiest way to see it. These four routes use real streets and places with published details. Keep to pavements, and watch for cyclists on the red-asphalt paths.

Route 1: Centraal to Kop van Zuid, about 4.5 km

Start at Rotterdam Centraal and walk down toward the Markthal, passing Timmerhuis, the OMA building. Walk through the Markthal (markthal.nl ), open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 and Sunday from 12:00, then continue under the Cube Houses above Blaak. The Kijk-Kubus at Overblaak 70 is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 and costs €3.50. Pass the Witte Huis by the Oude Haven, cross the Erasmusbrug on foot, and end at De Rotterdam and Hotel New York on Wilhelminapier.

Route 2: Delfshaven, about 2.5 km

Take the metro to Delfshaven, the old harbour district that was not bombed in 1940. You will see old canals, stepped gables and the Pilgrim Fathers church, because the Pilgrims left from here in 1620. The Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim at Aelbrechtskolk 12 is a city brewery for a drink afterwards. Tours there are mainly for groups of about eight or more.

Route 3: Museumpark

Walk the green park between the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the Kunsthal and Het Nieuwe Instituut. The Depot needs an online time slot and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00. The Kunsthal is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00. Nearby, Witte de Withstraat has galleries, and Kunstinstituut Melly (formerly Witte de With) is a contemporary art centre.

Route 4: a quiet route of remembrance

The German bombing of 14 May 1940 destroyed the centre, killed roughly 900 people and left about 80,000 homeless. This route is best done slowly and without photos of people.

  • Ossip Zadkine’s bronze The Destroyed City, from 1953, near Leuvehaven.
  • The Laurenskerk, the large medieval church that was badly damaged and restored.
  • The Brandgrens, markers and lights that follow the edge of the destruction in a loop of about 12 km. You can walk a short section near the Doelen.

Street art

Large murals fill parts of Afrikaanderwijk and Oude Noorden, many made for the ALL CAPS festival. Check locations before you set out, as walls change.

Tips

  • Wear waterproof shoes, because rain is common in every season.
  • Use trams or metro to skip long gaps.
  • The Euromast, open daily until 22:00, is a good finish for views.

Read more: Sightseeing in Rotterdam gives background on each building. A guided walk can be found on GetYourGuide .