Rotterdam

You will sail directly from the North Sea to the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam at Holland Amerika quay in the city center. An easy stroll over the spectacular Erasmus bridge gets you into town.

The railway station is only 5 minutes away by cab, or a nice stroll of about 25 minutes. Tram 23 or 25 are about 500 meter away, get off at Wilhelminaplein. Just use your foreign Credit Card (Maestro or Visa) to check in and use the same card to check out. This applies to all public transportation: Train, Bus, Metro etc. in the Netherlands. Do not forget to check in and out!

Taxi: about 10 Euro + extra for the suitcases. The ride is about 2-3 km. You have to ride over the Erasmus bridge (if not, they take a longer ride to cheat you).

It is about an hour away from Amsterdam Schiphol airport by train. Just use your foreign Credit Card (Maestro or Visa) to check in and use the same card to check out. This applies to all public transportation: Train, Bus, Metro etc. in the Netherlands. Do not forget to check in and out!

Printable map to take along.

This large and modern port city has risen from the ashes of World War II. In 1940, the Nazis threatened to flatten the city unless it surrendered. Rotterdam capitulated, but the Luftwaffe bombed anyway. Some of the city's architecture is spectacular!

Today, Rotterdam's most notable tourist attraction is the 605-ft-/184-m-tall Euromast Space Tower. Take the revolving, sit-down elevator to the top. From the tower you'll have a good view of the Erasmus Bridge, a modern suspension bridge nicknamed "the swan." The harbor, one of the busiest in the world, is a draw in itself, as is the nearby maritime museum. Another collection worth seeing is the Dutch, Italian and French art displayed at the Boijmans-van-Beuningen Museum. Half a day in Rotterdam is sufficient for most travelers.

The center of Rotterdam is very walkable.

Hop on/off Tram Line 10 brings you the best touristic spots of Rotterdam. Enjoy a sightseeing ride in a beautiful historic tram along the new Central Station, the Market hall, the cube houses, along the Erasmus bridge, over Coolsingel, the old western part of Rotterdam and historic Delfshaven. A ticket for a day is available on board. With this ticket, you can hop on or off at all the stops along the route.

The cruise port also offers a limited amount of shuttles to the Market Hall, an architectural designed masterpiece. Please check with your cruise line

All the year round Spido offers various fascinating harbor trips. The boats are across the Cruise Terminal, just cross the Erasmus bridge, a 10 minute stroll.

Amsterdam is only 1 hour away by train.

Nearby UNESCO Kinderdijk is a probably the best place in Holland to see working windmills. Take the Waterbus which is across the river, just under the Erasmus Bridge, to make for a very enjoyable trip. At the same time you can visit Dordrecht, a historic and pleasant real Dutch town. Each half an hour a boat will depart, just ask on board where you will have to change boats (Ridderkerk-Schans)

The major shopping area is around the Lijnbaan close to the dock as well as the train station.

Just opened in 2014 is the Markthal, A lively market hall which is bursting at the seams with fresh fish, warm bread, tender meat, countless different cheeses and freshly harvested vegetables.

Euros are divided into 100 cents. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and 1 and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 euros (note the pattern 1, 2, 5). Some shops do not accept large denomination notes, and many don't like the 1 and 2 cent coins, and so round cash amounts to the nearest 5 cents.

Credit cards are not as widely accepted in the Netherlands as in many other countries. Always enquire first if you want to pay by credit card.

Just about everyone speaks English in Rotterdam, and is proud of the fact. Many speak German and French too. If you are English speaking, speak English (unless you speak Dutch too): you are more likely to offend than do anyone a favor by trying out your French or German.

A common misconception is that Dutch is very close to German. In truth they are not mutually intelligible: Dutch people have to learn German at school, and in general they speak better English than German. German and Dutch are similar in the same sort of way that French and Italian are similar.

Free Wifi at the terminal and most restaurants, trains and train stations.

General Opening Hours of Shops: - Mondays from 13:00 to 18:00 (department stores often from 11:00) - Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 to 18:00 - Saturdays from 9:00 to 18:00 - Sunday opening hours: from noon to 17:00 in the city center (not all shops are open) - Late night shopping: every Friday until 21:00 in the city center