I love modern cities that are constantly evolving and where life never seems to stand still. Rotterdam is definitely one of them and one of my favorite cities in Europe – not least because of its excellent accessibility. The second largest city in the Netherlands can probably inspire almost everyone with its versatility, but as a tourist you are often faced with a little problem, because you do not know where to start. Of course, it is impossible to include all interests in one blog article, but to make your trip to Rotterdam a little easier, I have summarized some highlights and personal recommendations in this guide for you.

Cube houses

In general, you have to plan at least a whole weekend for Rotterdam. The famous cube houses, for example, are very suitable to start with. These creative cubes are not only an unusual accommodation option, but also one of the most famous photo motifs of the city. I stayed there in the Stayokay Hostel (with private room) and have to say that it convinces mainly because of the central location and low price, but you should not expect luxury there. The hostel is generally accessible, but due to the size, only triple rooms (and larger) are suitable for wheelchair users.

Market Hall and the White House

Incidentally, right next to the cube houses are the “White House” (the 1st skyscraper in Europe) and the large market hall. The roofed market hall is really a great place to try out delicious food. Whether food stores, restaurants, cafes or just stalls with fresh food, you will definitely satisfy your hunger here! During my visit I tried a Dutch fish dish “Kibbeling” (fried cod fillet pieces with sauce and fries) and can only recommend it.

Photo locations in Rotterdam

With renewed energy, you can then continue to explore the city and take great photos. But you don’t have to walk far, because with the city hall and the train station “Rotterdam Centraal” there are 2 more great photo locations in the immediate vicinity. A little further away you will find Boijmans van Beuningen, the most famous museum in Rotterdam. Even if you are not a big fan of museums, a short walk there will be worthwhile, because the building and the surroundings are already interesting from the outside.

Art and culture

However, if you are interested in art and culture, you don’t have to be satisfied with the Boijmans van Beuningen, because there is much more. In Rotterdam, there are art objects and street art actually almost on every corner, completely free on the streets. Want to see a few examples?

Santa Claus (called “Kabouter Buttplug” by the locals) by the famous American artist Paul McCarthy is not an ordinary Santa Claus. In fact, he holds a Christmas tree in his hand, which looks more like a well-known sex toy. McCarthy wants to appeal to our contemporary consumer society and for tourists Santa has become a popular photo motif.

“De vlecht” is a 6.5 meter high statue in the shape of a giant braid of hair. It was built for the International Women’s Day and is a sign for the social role of women.

The colorful Marathonbeeld sculpture with a total of 20 different colors, symbolizes the diversity of nationalities that participate in the annual marathon in Rotterdam.

Port city Rotterdam

Rotterdam has the largest harbor in Europe, so it is not surprising that many activities are close to the water. You have the possibility to take a harbor tour with different ships or to walk comfortably over the Erasmus Bridge, as well as the Willems Bridge. By the way, as soon as it gets dark, the bridges are illuminated and a completely different, but no less beautiful cityscape emerges. The best view of the port areas and the modern architecture of the city, you also get from the viewing platform on the Euromast (112 m high).

A city where people with disabilities are welcome

I could of course tell you more about the city here, but you should do something yourself and find out everything else on the spot 😉 However, I would like to emphasize one topic in particular and that is the accessibility in Rotterdam. I was really very positively surprised how well everything is planned and organized. Ground level entrances, ramps, elevators, etc. are everywhere and I never worried that I might not be able to see something. Of course, I was only on site for two days and had not used public transportation, for example, but I very quickly had the feeling that people with disabilities are welcome here and that attention is paid to the special needs of such people. This was also reflected in the public, because I had met relatively many wheelchair users on the streets. Additionally, when I stood somewhere in front of a staircase, it didn’t take long until very friendly pedestrians came and told me the way to a ramp. In Rotterdam, people are apparently not only talking about inclusion, but actually working on it, and some other cities and countries can definitely take an example.