Rotterdam, the Netherlands | City guide for expats
Rotterdam is the second biggest city in the Netherlands by population, and undoubtedly its most modern. Its complete rebuild after World War II, coupled with its industrial and maritime nature, means that Rotterdam stands alone in the Netherlands as an industrial yet cosmopolitan city.
Rotterdam city guide
If you want big city lights and buildings more than four storeys high, Rotterdam is the place for you. Strategically located at the delta where three major rivers join near the North Sea, Rotterdam took advantage of its natural features to build a port that is now the biggest in Europe. It’s a port that brings not only physical wealth into Rotterdam, but also the accompanying jobs, international residents and prestige.
The history of Rotterdam
Rotterdam was born of the water, formed in about 1260 AD when a dam was built on a muddy fenland river, the Rotte. Three rivers join at the same site, in a messy tangle of waterways and islands, before pouring out into the North Sea. These three rivers, the Rhine, the Meuse and the Scheldt, are all major waterways in Europe, with the Rhine in particular providing navigable shipping access from the Netherlands, through Germany and into Switzerland. Before long, Rotterdam was a thriving town, with much river traffic passing through its port.
Slaves and colonies
The port grew and grew, and in the 17th century, became a major part of the Dutch trans-Atlantic slave trade. At least 5 percent of all trans-Atlantic slaves were traded by the Dutch, which equates to about 500.000 people.
Rotterdam was also a seat for both the Dutch West India Company and Dutch East India Company, which traded with, settled in and exploited regions in South America, the Caribbean and Asia, primarily Suriname and Indonesia.
Modern shipping and expansion
King William I of the Netherlands banned the Dutch from taking part in the slave trade in 1814, as part of a treaty with the United Kingdom, which had already stopped its participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. In return, the Dutch received back some of the colonies that had been lost to British control. Only the trade was banned at this point, and slavery in Dutch colonies persisted until 1863.
While this reduced ship traffic, Rotterdam continued to thrive and grow. However, the natural silting of the many waterways between the city and the sea was causing alarm and slowing shipping. In 1863, construction began on a massive canal to connect Rotterdam directly to the North Sea. The Nieuwe Waterweg (literally, the New Waterway) took nine years to build, finally opening in 1872. This massive infrastructure project paid off in spades, making Rotterdam easily accessible to some of the biggest ships of the day, as well as able to handle enormous quantities of traffic.
In this era, some of the most extravagant and forward-thinking buildings in the whole country were constructed. The most famous of these is the still-standing Witte Huis. It was built in 1898, in what was then the cutting-edge Art Nouveau style, and modelled on the new designs coming out of New York; it was 10 storeys tall and purportedly the first skyscraper in the whole of Europe.
Spies and bombs
The Netherlands remained neutral during World War I, and Rotterdam’s easy accessibility from Belgium, Germany and the UK meant that the city became a hotbed of spies and dirty dealings. Both the British and the Germans headquartered their foreign espionage services in Rotterdam, and recruited plenty of willing Dutch citizens, who, thanks to their neutral status, could travel freely to any country. Several Dutch citizens ended up being executed in the Tower of London as German spies.
During World War II, the Netherlands intended to remain neutral again, but the German army invaded on May 10, 1940. The Dutch resisted more fiercely than the Germans had expected, and so after five days of fighting, Hermann Goering ordered for Rotterdam to be carpet bombed to break the resistance. At least 1.150 people were killed, and 85.000 more were left homeless. The Dutch surrendered the next day, but it was too late for Rotterdam, whose medieval centre was completely destroyed.
Into the future
While some cities painstakingly restored their old buildings in the postwar era, there was little nostalgia among the Dutch for the old Rotterdam, and the idea of reconstructing the old city was never seriously considered. Instead, while the destruction and loss was mourned, it was also taken as a unique opportunity to build a bright, new, modern city.
Reconstruction began in earnest in 1946, and by 1950, Rotterdam port was once again known as one of the best in Europe. Enthusiasm about the new Rotterdam dipped a little in the 1960s, with residents complaining about an impersonal and boring feel to the city, but since then, Rotterdam has become known worldwide for its innovative architecture that brings fun and wonder to its streets.
Some highlights include the Markthal, a horseshoe-shaped building with offices and a street food market hall, the striking Erasmus Bridge over the Nieuwe Maas, the world-famous tilted Cube Houses, the shining Museum Boijmans van Beuningen Depot, and even Rotterdam Central Station itself.
Today, Rotterdam still feels like a city constantly trying to push itself forward to see what the future holds. It’s the centre of logistics and shipping in the Netherlands, but also of architecture and design.
Groups and clubs in Rotterdam
As the second biggest city in the Netherlands, Rotterdam is home to enough people that there is always a group you can join. Whether it’s travel, volunteering, football or singing you’re interested in, Rotterdam has some fellow devotees. Explore some of the various clubs and groups in Rotterdam.
Jobs in Rotterdam
Unsurprisingly, the biggest employers in Rotterdam are shipping and logistics companies. If you have an interest in ensuring things get from A to B in the most cost-effective and efficient way possible, this is a city in which you can thrive. The ports also provide secondary job opportunities, such as customs police and water management operatives.
However, there are plenty of other jobs available in the city too, from arts and culture openings at one of its many museums and galleries to coders and hospitality workers. Check out our job board for the latest vacancies for expats in Rotterdam.
Housing in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a city of neighbourhoods. Each one has its own vibe, its own facilities and, in some cases, even its own football team! Make sure you visit each district to see which one feels right for you. Once you know, you can find the perfect place to move into in our housing listings.
Sights and activities
Rotterdam is a great place to spend a weekend; there is simply so much to see and do. Whether you want to take in some high culture or get on the dancefloor, you can do it in Rotterdam. Here are just a few of the top things to see and do in Rotterdam:
Museums and galleries
Rotterdam is jam-packed with a wide variety of museums and galleries, including some that are truly world-class. The most Rotterdam of them all is the Maritime Museum, which covers the history and predicts the future of shipping and maritime trade.
The unpronounceable Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is home to an incredible art collection, with its most famous piece being The Tower of Babel by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, but there are also many works by great Dutch and Flemish artists, including Hieronymus Bosch, Rembrandt and van Eyk. The museum also houses an impressive collection of surrealist art.
The museum has over 154.000 pieces, most of which are never seen. To try to rectify that, they have built the Depot, which is a place that the public can also access their archives and see some of the pieces not formally on display, and also a shining architectural marvel.
For cutting-edge modern art, you want to take a trip to the Kunsthal, and if you’re more interested in architecture and design, the Nieuwe Instituut will keep you happy for hours. The newest museum in Rotterdam opened in 2025 and is the FENIX, which takes a creative look at migration and what it means on both a personal and state level.
Get on the water
Not your regular canal cruise for visitors to Rotterdam; the city is far too practical about its water for that. However, you can get yourself place to place using the fast and efficient water taxi service. With 50 stops across the city and a simple zone-based fare system, the water taxi is easy to use - just book on the app or the website and jet off in style.
Take in the view
Thanks to all those modern new skyscrapers, Rotterdam is a city with a real skyline. One of the best ways to experience it is with a trip up the Euromast. This 186-metre-high tower was the tallest building in the whole of the Netherlands until 2021, when fellow Rotterdamer De Zalmhaven overtook it.
As well as offering impressive views across the city, the Euromast also has a glass floor for those with a head for heights, and a restaurant for a lunch, dinner or high tea that you won’t forget.
In the summer months, you can even abseil down the tower. As it’s the highest abseil in Europe, it’s not one for first-timers!
Get wild
Rotterdam Zoo, also known as Diergaarde Blijdorp, is one of the oldest and best city zoos in the Netherlands. Located just a few minutes’ walk from Rotterdam Centraal train station, this huge animal park houses around 550 different species.
You spend your day wandering between different habitat types, from the African Plains through Asian Corridors to the Caribbean Coast and much more. The zoo is heavily focused on conservation and breeding programmes, and is a pioneer in animal welfare and husbandry.
Annual events
Rotterdam is the Dutch city that never sleeps. Parties, conferences, cultural happenings and more are always keeping its streets busy and its people happy. The full list of what’s coming up in Rotterdam is on our events page, but here are a few annual highlights to whet your appetite.
Summer Carnival
February and March might be a great time for carnival in Rio de Janeiro, but in the Netherlands, it’s a difficult time to enjoy a street party. Rotterdam keeps that carnival celebrations on hold until the warmer months, when it holds the Summer Carnival, and it’s everything you want. Fantastic costumes, catchy beats, street parties and a Carnival Queen and King.
As well as the parade, where over 2.500 dancers strut their stuff, a huge Mercado springs up, selling South American and Caribbean foods and drinks, as well as fashionable clothing and accessories. The main street festivities are all free, but there are also plenty of late-night after-parties. Be warned, though: tickets get snapped up like lightning.
World Port Days
World Port Days is the one weekend a year when the public gets to take a look at the port that does so much to make Rotterdam the rich and multicultural city it is.
You can take a tour of some of the biggest ships in the world, or stay on dry land and watch incredible demonstrations out on the water, such as helicopter rescues or jet-ski displays.
There is music and fun for all ages, and for those who are actually really interested in the nitty-gritty of port logistics, there are also seminars and presentations by various shipping companies.
Hidden Gardens
Rotterdam doesn’t have a huge amount of public green spaces, so the Hidden Gardens weekend is a great opportunity to enjoy some nature in the big city. Around 60 private gardens and green spaces open their gates and let everyone in to admire their flowers and enjoy some fresh air.
Rooftop Days
The brainchild of one of Rotterdam’s innovative architecture companies, Rooftop Days sees the rooftops of Rotterdam city centre become accessible to the public for one weekend every year. Rooftop Days not only gives you the chance to get on top of some of the most iconic buildings in the city, but also gives architects a chance to show how useful rooftops can be, both in terms of using valuable space and in pursuit of sustainability goals.
The experiences are free, but do book a timeslot as the queues can get quite long!
Dutch city living
Rotterdam might not be the capital of the Netherlands, but it is its big, modern, bustling city. If you want to visit a city that would feel at home alongside New York, London or Berlin, Rotterdam is it. Multicultural, innovative and exciting, Rotterdam shows off all the best sides of the Dutch.