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Rotterdam Culture & history

Our most recommended Rotterdam Culture & history

Rotterdam: "Remastered" Digital Art Audiovisual Experience

1. Rotterdam: "Remastered" Digital Art Audiovisual Experience

Experience the old Dutch Masters reimagined by the new Dutch Masters. Discover a new digital art audiovisual world created by the best Dutch digital artists.  March up with Jeroen Bosch's eerie creatures. Immerse yourself in the colorful scenes of Van Gogh and dance to the beats of Mondrian's "Victory Boogie Woogie." This unique 60-minute experience includes walking through a waterfall, making your own UFO fly on a gigantic LED screen, interacting with schools of fish and sailing through the clouds. The digital wonders of the world Over 1,500 square meters includes 60 state-of-the-art projectors, 50 loudspeakers, 15 km of cables, the largest indoor LED screen in Europe with 245 million pixels and a 20,000-pixels resolution.  Enjoy one of the best views of the skyline of Rotterdam from a terrace located under the Erasmus Bridge. Playground Create your own 3D digital art by drawing and scanning your image. It will be displayed on Europe's biggest indoor LED screen. Push the buttons to make Godzilla appear! Or maybe even rainbows, octopuses, rain, confetti and falling stars. Waterfall Enter the Digital World through the tide. Let waves of LED guide you through the waterfall and enter the dark. Blackout Alley It’s your first encounter with some of the creatures by Jeroen Bosch; get below the surface and hear the sounds of what lives underneath. Underworld Dive without the need for scuba equipment. Interact with thousands of fish and admire their serenity. Dripping Cave and Elevator Step out the water into the dripping cave and get into the elevator which will take you to the clouds. Overworld Walk through the clouds and gaze at the birds dancing in flocks. Step into the boat and sail over the clouds. Speculum: Eden, Paradise and Hell Enter the garden of earthly delights. Remastered Relax and enjoy the show! Earth Back to our planet. Let’s take care of it!

From Amsterdam: Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Full-Day Tour

2. From Amsterdam: Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague Full-Day Tour

See the best of Holland on a day-long tour that includes a visit to Rotterdam, and the old port with its charming yellow houses. Take a river cruise, visit the food market, stop in Delft and tour The Hague. Begin your tour with a drive to Rotterdam, famous for its modern architecture. During the city tour, drive along the banks of the river Maas, to the old port and the remarkable yellow cube houses. Embark on an amazing 1-hour river cruise and then visit the famous food market. Continue on to Delft for lunch (not included) and a visit to the Royal Delft Manufactory, the last remaining Dutch ceramic factory from the 17th century. Take a city tour of The Hague by bus, where you will see the beautiful Houses of Parliament, the working palace of the Dutch king, and the Peace Palace. The last stop, before heading back to Amsterdam, will be at the miniature town Madurodam.

Rotterdam: National Museum of Photography Entrance Ticket

3. Rotterdam: National Museum of Photography Entrance Ticket

Get entrance into the Nederlands Fotomuseum and walk through the photographed history of Holland. Admire millions of objects and archives that exhibit the heritage of the Dutch people and their country. For photography lovers and history buffs alike, take in the medium in all its forms, from experimental to contemporary with a self-guided audio tour. Arrive at the museum and download the Application for your self-guided audio tour. As you browse through the 5.6 million objects and 177 archives of Dutch photographers, learn about all the ways this place guards and preserves the photographic heritage of the Netherlands and how it is relevant to today's international context. Look through documented photos, twist your mind with the experimental section, and wander through history all the way up to present day. Enter into the Gallery of Honour of Dutch Photography, and witness 99 iconic works that together share the story of photography in the Netherlands since 1842. The Gallery shows the highlights, the innovations, and the great steps photographers have made, from the invention of photography to the unique technological innovations of today. In addition to the permanently shown Gallery of Honour, the museum presents exhibitions with works by major Dutch photographers, such as Ed van der Elsken and Johan van der Keuken.

From Amsterdam: Guided Trip to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague

4. From Amsterdam: Guided Trip to Rotterdam, Delft & The Hague

Your tour begins as you depart from Amsterdam on your bus and head to Rotterdam. Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and is quite famous for its architecture and commercial harbor. See Rotterdam’s imposing skyline, cutting-edge architecture, harbors, shipyards, and docks. After the harbor cruise, continue your city tour, which includes a stop at the famous Market hall and Cube Houses.  Then, head to the picturesque city of Delft, the birthplace and final resting place of Dutch master Johannes Vermeer. Known as the Princes’ City, it is also where countless members of the Dutch royal family have been buried for centuries. Enjoy some free time for lunch (not included) and discover Delft’s canal-streaked historic town center. It is packed with awe-inspiring historical monuments including the Old Church, the New Church, and the Town Hall. Visit De Delftse Pauw, a factory specializing in handmade Delft Blue pottery, which has been the most coveted porcelain since the 17th century.  Make your way to The Hague for a city tour. In addition to being the seat of the Dutch government, this city is also the home of the Dutch royal family and is the third-largest city in the country. See The Hague, where most foreign embassies in the Netherlands are located, as well as 150 international organizations, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Stop and take pictures at the Peace Palace, the Mauritshuis (featuring work by Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Andy Warhol), and the Binnenhof (the meeting place of the Dutch government). Finally, choose to add a scenic canal cruise in Amsterdam and see some of the city's top sights including canal houses from the Golden Age, the Westerkerk, and the Anne Frank House.

Rotterdam 2-Hour Grand Walking Tour

5. Rotterdam 2-Hour Grand Walking Tour

Meet your guide by the spectacular new gate of Rotterdam, the recently built Central Station. On this 2-hour walking tour you will be introduced to the history and the character of the port city and the chronology of its post-war reconstruction. Enjoy a walk through the city center and visit architectural icons and national monuments such as the Groothandelsgebouw, the Lijnbaan shopping area, the neo-classical City Hall and the contemporary Timmerhuis. In the stunning new Markthal, or indoor market, you’ll stop for a 10-minute break. Afterwards, your walk continues along the River Maas with amazing views of the Head of South, which is a new development on the south bank. The tour ends at the Erasmus Bridge – the symbol of modern Rotterdam.

From Amsterdam: Rotterdam and The Hague Tour in Spanish

6. From Amsterdam: Rotterdam and The Hague Tour in Spanish

Depart Amsterdam and journey by bus to explore the seat of power in the Netherlands in the elegant city of The Hague, where highlights include the royal Noordeinde Palace and the government buildings of the Binnenhof. Continue to the Mauritshuis Museum, where art by Rembrandt and Vermeer is on display and then see the headquarters of the International Court of Justice at the Peace Palace. You then journey to Rotterdam, known for its innovative architecture. On arrival, look at The Man without a Heart sculpture by Ossip Zadkine, built to reflect on the destruction of the city during World War II. See the only medieval building still standing in the city, admire the interesting Cube Houses by Piet Blom and go to the old port area of Oude Haven. Marvel at the food on display in the historic Markthal and stroll along the banks of the River Meuse to get a panoramic view of the city's skyscrapers. Get some free time in Rotterdam for lunch and before making your way back to Amsterdam.

Rotterdam: Wereldmuseum Entry Ticket

7. Rotterdam: Wereldmuseum Entry Ticket

Book your entry ticket to the Wereldmuseum in Rotterdam to experience a world-class collection comprised of more than 83,000 artifacts representing cultures in the past up to the present. Witness over 100 years of collecting by Rotterdammers for Rotterdammers. Experience this magnificent collection and the museum in a new light thanks to being reorganized and remodeled in 2019, ensuring that all the facilities are of the highest standard. Enjoy an experience perfect for the whole family with the newly developed and now fully reopened children’s museum. Along with its thousands of cultural artifacts on display, contemporary fashion, contemporary art, design, and items from popular culture will eventually be added to the collection. Wereldmusuem is located in one of Rotterdam’s most iconic buildings: the majestic building by the Maas River, originally built for the Royal Yacht Club. The members of the club’s board, including scientist and globetrotter Elie van Rijckevorsel, originally used the building to display objects they had collected on their travels. Van Rijckevorsel’s collection largely formed the basis of Wereldmuseum’s collection. Over 50% of Rotterdam’s residents have culturally diverse roots. The traditions and customs they brought with them a century ago have become increasingly integrated into local culture and are an integral part of the wonderfully diverse city that Rotterdam has since become.

Rotterdam Maritime Museum: Entrance Ticket

8. Rotterdam Maritime Museum: Entrance Ticket

At the Maritime Museum Rotterdam, go on a journey through the maritime past and present in modern exhibitions for adventures large and small. Listen to the stories, admire the prize exhibits from the museum's leading collection or join in some of the numerous activities: visit the Offshore Experience to go on a challenging search for energy, visit "Professor Splash" for kids aged 4-10, and discover the enormous effect that shipping has on our daily lives. The museum is located in one of the oldest and largest museum harbors of the Netherlands, where you can visit historic vessels and cranes, and experience how the world's leading port developed in this area. All the historic vessels and cranes are maintained in working condition and are just waiting to be explored. For 140 years, the museum has been able to keep welcoming new generations, infusing them with a love of the maritime world.

Rotterdam Architecture Walking Tour

9. Rotterdam Architecture Walking Tour

On this compact and informative 2-hour walking tour your guide will take you to see the most important architectural features of Rotterdam. From the newly built central station you’ll head out to see icons such as the Lijnbaan, the Timmerhuis, and the Markthal. Your guide will show you aspects of the daily life of the city and also tell you about its history. Nearly every building and every corner that you pass has a story to tell! You’ll also be introduced to the riverside area, where you’ll see the new development along the south bank and end by the Erasmus Bridge, the symbol of modern Rotterdam.

Rotterdam: UNESCO Van Nelle Factory Guided Tour

10. Rotterdam: UNESCO Van Nelle Factory Guided Tour

Follow your professional guide as you become acquainted with one of the true marvels of Modernism - Rotterdam's own Van Nelle Factory. Discover the industrial building both inside and out as you learn about the site's architectural and cultural importance. Learn from your experienced and wonderful guide as they bring to life the architecture, production process, and the history of the factory's transformation. Discover the roots of a modern marvel that has its origins in the production of coffee, tea, and tobacco. Observe why the Van Nelle Factory has been a Unesco World Heritage since 2014 as you take in its progressive design in which air, light, and space gain an entirely new role in architecture. Gain access to the intimate Chabot Museum for international expressionism. Enjoy a tour that celebrates Rotterdam Modernism 'With Chabot to Van Nelle'.

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What people are saying about Rotterdam

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 446 reviews

On this occasion we chose to go to Versailles on our own. This way gave us more opportunity to enjoy the surroundings of Versailles at our own pace and more calmly. Buying the ticket in advance prevented us from making a long line to enter. With the excellent public transportation system that the city of Paris has, it is very easy to get to Versailles with a ticket in advance.

We had a great time with our wonderfull and extremely knowledgable guide Tania, who also gave us little insides of the city that are not commonly known. A private tour as we were a group of 2 :-) We had a great time.

Varied and enjoyable tour. Great tour guide, working in most languages.

Very informative and enjoyable at the same time. Highly recommended!

Great mix of classic and modern. Definitely a unique experience.