Shopping · Rotterdam · Netherlands
Shopping in Rotterdam
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Rotterdam's centre is one of the country's main shopping areas, mixing high-street chains on the Lijnbaan with independent design, vintage and concept shops in the Cool district. Best souvenirs: Aged Gouda, Stroopwafels and Dutch design.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Aged Gouda
Where to shop
Lijnbaan
One of Europe's first purpose-built pedestrian shopping streets, opened in 1953, with fashion chains and department stores.
Beurstraverse (Koopgoot)
A sunken shopping passage linking the Lijnbaan to the Hoogstraat beneath Coolsingel.
Nieuwe Binnenweg and Meent
Independent boutiques, vintage shops and design stores.
Van Oldenbarneveltstraat
Upmarket fashion and concept stores between the Lijnbaan and the Cool district.
Markets
Binnenrotte market
A huge open-air market next to the Markthal, usually held on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Markthal
Indoor food stalls and shops open daily under the painted ceiling.
What to buy
Aged Gouda
Vacuum-packed Dutch cheese from the Markthal or market travels well.
Stroopwafels
Packs of caramel wafers from markets and bakeries.
Dutch design
Homeware and gifts by Dutch designers from shops in the Cool district.
Jenever
A bottle of Schiedam jenever in its traditional stone or glass bottle.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Centrum
Markthal
MVRDV's horseshoe-shaped market hall, opened in 2014, wraps apartments around a vaulted food hall.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Food
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Street · Cool and Witte de Withstraat
Witte de Withstraat
Rotterdam's best-known going-out street runs from the Museumpark towards the Maritime Museum, lined with galleries, design shops, bars and restaurants serving everything from Dutch snacks to Surinamese, Turkish and Japanese food.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Art
- Shopping
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Bitterballen, Stroopwafel, Dutch cheese and Jenever. Brown cafés and bars, especially around the Oude Haven and Witte de Withstraat. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Centrum | $$$ | Shopping streets, Rotterdam Centraal and the Markthal around Coolsingel and Blaak |
| Cool and Witte de Withstraat | $$$ | Galleries, terraces and restaurants between the centre and the Museumpark |
| 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 |
| Kralingen | $$ | Villas, a lake and the university campus in the green east of the city |
| Oude Noorden | $$ | Local cafés and independent shops along the Zwaanshals and the Rotte |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in EUR. Service is included. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good table service is appreciated but not expected.
- Greet staff with 'Goedemiddag' or 'Hallo' when entering a shop.
- The Rotterdam Welcome Card combines transport and attraction discounts if you plan several paid visits.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- January: International Film Festival Rotterdam (usually late January to early February)
- February: International Film Festival Rotterdam continues (early February)
- April: King's Day — street markets and parties (27 April)
- July: North Sea Jazz Festival at Ahoy (usually mid-July)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping and families
Centrum
Shopping streets, Rotterdam Centraal and the Markthal around Coolsingel and Blaak
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Rotterdam?
Aged Gouda, Stroopwafels, Dutch design and Jenever.
+Where is the best shopping in Rotterdam?
Lijnbaan: One of Europe's first purpose-built pedestrian shopping streets, opened in 1953, with fashion chains and department stores.
+What are the best markets in Rotterdam?
Binnenrotte market and Markthal.