Rotterdam for Couples: Waterfront Evenings
Rotterdam suits couples who like water, lights and design more than old-world charm. Evenings are best, when the bridges and towers are lit. The places below have published details. Prices are in euros.
Evening one: the skyline
Cross the Erasmusbrug on foot toward Wilhelminapier as the sun sets. On the south side, Hotel New York at Koninginnenhoofd 1 stands in the former Holland America Line headquarters, facing the river and the Rotterdam skyline. It is both a hotel and a restaurant.
For height, the Euromast is open daily from 09:30 to 22:00. A general ticket is €17.50, or €13.50 online, and the Euroscoop lift to 185 m is part of the complete ticket at €19.00 online. The brasserie at the 100 m level offers a table with a view, and you can ask about bookings at euromast.nl .
Evening two: dinner after art
The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen at Museumpark 24 serves dinner at Renilde on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings by reservation, and the Depot lists a package of entry plus dinner at €70 to €90. By day the mirrored building opens Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00, and every visitor needs an online time slot. Its roof garden has birch trees.
Staying on a ship
On Katendrecht, the SS Rotterdam is an old ocean liner now used as a hotel. Its Captains Lounge is open every day from early morning to late evening. Day visitors can take the 1.5 hour Uitwaaien & Zwaaien tour of the decks, bow and bridge for €13.45 per adult.
Slow walks
- Delfshaven: the one old harbour quarter that survived the bombing in 1940, with canals, stepped gables and the church the Pilgrim Fathers left from. The Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim at Aelbrechtskolk 12 is a good place for a drink.
- Veerhaven: quiet quays with historic ships in the Scheepvaartkwartier, next to Het Park.
- Kralingse Plas: woods and a large lake for a late afternoon walk, or a canoe if you bring your swimming certificate.
Food on Katendrecht
The Fenix Food Factory at Nico Koomanskade 1025 has a cheesemaker and the Kaapse Fenix taproom, which opens at 12:00 Tuesday to Sunday and closes at 23:00 on Friday and Saturday. For lunch, the Markthal has stalls under the arch of apartments.
Tips
- Reserve the Depot dinner early, as it only runs three evenings a week.
- Bring layers, since the river wind can be cool.
- Use the Rotterdam metro and tram back to your hotel after dinner.
Read more: Rotterdam Multi-day Trips helps build a weekend. For rooms, try Booking.com .