Around Rotterdam

Rotterdam itself has much to offer but is also the perfect base from which to visit typical Dutch cities, nature, beaches and many interesting attractions in the area. Rotterdamexperience offers services at unique and interesting sites around Rotterdam. As a stand alone destination or combined with Rotterdam.

Below you will find some interesting destinations:

SCHIEDAM: Jenever (gin) city, worlds tallest windmills
DORDRECHT: Hollands oldest city
GOUDA: Cheeses and stroopwafels
DELFT: Birthplace of painter Johannes Vermeer, Delft Blue ceramics
THE HAGUE: Royal city of peace and justice at the beach
THE DELTA WORKS: Impressive largest flood protection system in the world
UNESCO KINDERDIJK: 19 Iconic 18th-century windmills

… Schiedam …

In Schiedam you can smell, taste and see gin. Countless gin distilleries and roasters. The tallest windmills in the world and historic warehouses. With its old-Dutch city centre, distillers district, Schiedam is a surprising jewel in The Netherlands.

On the banks of the river, surrounded by greenery. Romantic canals, historic drawbridges that bridgekeepers still raise by hand. With lively bars, tasty restaurants and an inspirational cultural life, just 10 minutes away from Rotterdam. Many old warehouses, distilleries and roasting houses – once there were 392 active – have been transformed into residences, shops, restaurants, museums and galleries.

… Dordrecht …

Dordrecht may well be one of the country’s best kept secrets. Where else can you find a city on an island with plenty of culture, vibrant festivals, rugged nature of the Biesbosch National Park and polders and a rich past that you can still experience today among the thousands of monuments in the historic city centre?

Dordrecht is also a good shopping destination, with plenty of stylish clothing stores, unique speciality stores and countless shops that sell antiques, art and vintage items.

This year (2020),the city will be celebrating the fact that 800 years ago, Dordrecht was the first city to receive town privileges, making it the oldest city in Holland.

… Gouda …

Gouda, the historic city in the province of South Holland, is known world-wide for its Gouda cheese, its candles, pipes and delicious stroopwafels. But Gouda has much more to offer than that alone. As a matter of fact, Gouda has one of the most beautiful historic city centres in Holland, full of splendid monumental buildings to admire and ancient canals with attractive terraces and pleasant shops to promenade past.

Wander through narrow picturesque streets, visit the cheese market or the Sint-Janskerk -the longest church of the Netherlands with 72 big renowned glass stained windows, discover interesting museums, taste syrup waffles and cheese or stroll on over one of the most beautiful market squares in Europe with a historical town hall!

… Delft …

Delft is situated between Rotterdam and The Hague and is the city of the world-famous Delft Blue ceramics, the birthplace of the ‘Master of Light’ Johannes Vermeer, and has close ties with the Royal House of Orange. Many of the tourist attractions therefore have a link with one or more of these three icons.

Visit Delft and climb the 367 steps to the top of the New Church, the second highest church tower in the Netherlands, you have an amazing view out over the city and the surrounding area.

Not far from the New Church is the Old Church. Both churches have international allure because of all the famous people from Dutch history who have been interred within their walls.

A visit to Delft would naturally not be complete without a visit to one of the local earthenware factories, where you can see and experience the world-famous Delft Blue ceramics and pottery being made in the traditional way. In Museum Prinsenhof Delft you can discover the history of the Netherlands. Museum Prinsenhof Delft was the scene of one of the most important events in Dutch history: the assassination of King William of Orange. William of Orange moved into the Saint Agatha cloister in 1572, which was then renamed the Prinsenhof, and which eventually became the Museum Prinsenhof Delft.

And last but not least: get up close and personal with Johannes Vermeer in the city where this world-famous painter lived and worked his entire life. You can discover everything you want to know about the life and work of the master of light in the Vermeer Centrum Delft.

… The Hague …

Some places always remain dear to one’s heart. The Hague can be said to be one such place. The city of peace and justice. The city of the cosmopolitan and the beach. From new styles to old masters. From shops to palaces. From exotic cuisines to Dutch fishing harbours. From international jurisdiction to street savvy. The Hague will captivate you with its modern skyline combined with beautiful historical and royal buildings in the city centre. The Hague is the political capital of The Netherlands, with in the heart the Inner Court (Binnenhof) and the residence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

Like no other city in the Netherlands, The Hague offers a unique combination of city life and beach life. The city’s two seaside resorts – Scheveningen and Kijkduin – both boast lovely wide sandy beaches. Getting to the historic city centre only takes you 10 to 15 minutes. The Hague is a royal city where you might spontaneously encounter members of the Royal Family. You’ll also stumble upon the House of Orange; the many historical monuments, the presence of residential and working palaces and royal fares.

With the most historic sites per square meter in the Netherlands, The Hague oozes culture and history. Visit The Hague monuments such as the Binnenhof, Noordeinde Palace, and the Peace Palace. Discover Holland’s highlights and heritage in miniature at Madurodam or the largest painting in the Netherlands: Panorama Mesdag. Admire the exquisite works of Rembrandt, Vermeer and Mondrian at the Mauritshuis and Gemeentemuseum. The Hague is also perfect for a day of shopping, the shops in the historical centre are open seven days a week.

… The Delta Works …

The Delta Works, consisting of 13 sections, together form the largest flood protection system in the world and are definitely worth a visit. Experience this imposing project with a Delta Works Tour. Incorporating among others storm surge barriers, dikes, dams and sluice gates –, also referred to as one of the seven wonders of the world, the Delta Works illustrate how the Dutch deal with water.

If Holland didn’t protect itself against the waters, half of Holland would be submerged. Furthermore, they lie in a gorgeous environment with wonderful beaches, beautiful nature and many culinary spots.

Visit the real Delta area in the south western part of Holland, about 120 km south west of Amsterdam. Enjoy a specialised tour at the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier (and Deltapark Neeltje Jans) or Maeslant Storm Surge Barrier, one of the largest moving structures on earth. Driving over impressive dams of the Delta works in the south west we enter the province (state) of Zeeland hit by a severe flooding in 1953, which caused 1850 lives.

… UNESCO Kinderdijk Windmills …

Kinderdijk is a village in the the Netherlands’ South Holland province, known for its iconic 18th-century windmills. Its water-management network features 19 mills and 3 pumping stations, plus dikes and reservoirs that control flooding in the polder (low-lying land). Waterways, footpaths and bike trails crisscross the area, leading to the main visitors center and museums in preserved working windmills.

Anyone who has ever tried to dig a hole on the beach is familiar with the problem: the deeper you dig, the more water flows into the hole. In a sense, the western part of the Netherlands is like such a hole. Much of the land here lies below sea level, so we needed ditches, windmills,  sluices, and weirs to pump the water out.

Unesco World Heritage site Kinderdijk shows you how the Dutch have been living, struggling and working with the water that defines our country. Our famous polders used to be soggy peat bogs, and they would return to that as soon as we stopped draining these lands with the help of wind mills and pumps.