History · Rotterdam · Netherlands
6 historic sites to see in Rotterdam
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: F.Eveleens, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Delfshaven, SS Rotterdam and Fenix. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 9–9 hours across 4 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 9–9 hours
- Areas
- Delfshaven, Katendrecht and Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier
Historic sites in Rotterdam
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Neighbourhood · Delfshaven
1.Delfshaven
A walk along the harbour takes in old ships, cafés and a brewery.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Couples
Historic site · Katendrecht
2.SS Rotterdam
Tours visit the engine room, the bridge and the 1950s public rooms.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Architecture
Museum · Katendrecht
3.Fenix
Its rooftop is reached by the Tornado, a spiralling double staircase of wood and steel with views over the river.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier
4.Wilhelminapier and Hotel New York
At the tip, Hotel New York occupies the line's former headquarters, and the waterfront looks back across the Maas to the centre.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Couples
Museum · Centrum
5.Maritime Museum Rotterdam
Near the Leuvehaven, the Maritime Museum covers shipping and the port, with interactive galleries, ship models and an outdoor harbour of historic vessels and cranes, plus a large hands-on play area for children.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Centrum
6.Laurenskerk
Lawrence's Church is the only remaining medieval building in the city centre, a 15th-century Gothic church that was badly damaged in 1940 and restored after the war. Inside are large organs and the tombs of Dutch naval heroes; tower tours are sometimes offered.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Delfshaven | Delfshaven | 1.5–2 hours |
| Katendrecht | SS Rotterdam and Fenix | 1.5 hours + 2 hours |
| Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier | Wilhelminapier and Hotel New York | 1 hour |
| Centrum | Maritime Museum Rotterdam and Laurenskerk | 2 hours + 45 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 1 low cost, 3 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Delfshaven; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Delfshaven and Katendrecht): Delfshaven → SS Rotterdam, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Katendrecht and Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier): Fenix → Wilhelminapier and Hotel New York, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Centrum): Maritime Museum Rotterdam → Laurenskerk, at least 3 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still cold and short days; a good month for museums and the Depot.
- March: highs of 10°C (50°F), about 11 rainy days, quiet crowds. Days lengthen and terraces start to reopen on sunny afternoons.
- January: highs of 6°C (43°F), about 12 rainy days, quiet crowds. Grey, damp and windy, but museums are quiet and hotel prices low; the film festival brings energy late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Centrum — Shopping streets, Rotterdam Centraal and the Markthal around Coolsingel and Blaak
- Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier — Towers, the Erasmus Bridge and the old Holland America Line quays across the river
- Katendrecht — A former sailors' quarter turned food and culture peninsula on the Maashaven
- Delfshaven — Historic canal-side houses and the Pilgrim Fathers' church in the west
More of Rotterdam
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Rotterdam?
Delfshaven. The historic harbour of Delfshaven survived the 1940 bombing and keeps gabled warehouses, the Pilgrim Fathers' Church where the Pilgrims worshipped before sailing to America in 1620, and the De Distilleerketel windmill.
+Which of these are free in Rotterdam?
Delfshaven and Wilhelminapier and Hotel New York.