Attractions Nearby Rotterdam, Day Trips and Excursions

(Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands)

Those wishing to spend their entire holiday within the city of Rotterdam will find plenty of attractions to keep them fully occupied, although close by there is also much to explore. A city of canals, cultural attractions and nightlife, Amsterdam is the Dutch capital and just over one hour from Rotterdam, lying some 74 km / 46 miles to the north.

Another extremely popular day trip is the simply vast Biesbosch National Park, where various recreational attractions and activities present themselves. If you want to see traditional Dutch windmills, they don't come any prettier than those within Kinderdijk, close to Rotterdam. Saturdays in both July and August are particularly special times to visit Kinderdijk, since all of its 19 windmills will be in full operation, something truly unique and memorable.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is also known for its two universities, countless hash cafes and its world-famous Red Light District, which is always bustling with tourists.

The main sights tend to the clustered around Amsterdam city centre, such as the Leidseplein, the Rijksmuseum and also the Van Gogh Museum.

Eindhoven

Just over 100 years ago Eindhoven was nothing more than a small Dutch village. However, today Eindhoven is nothing short of a vibrant, multicultural city with a popular exceeding 200,000 people. Located around 113 km / 70 miles to the south-east of Rotterdam, Eindhoven's many attractions include the large collection of 20th-century paintings at the Stedelijk Van Abbemuseum, a sprawling nightlife district known as the Het Stratumseind, and seasonal national league football matches.

Dordrecht

Dordrecht lies at the meeting point of the Oude Maas River and boasts a series of charming canals and a busy port. The town is full of character and enhanced by its plentiful 17th- and 18th-century architecture. To see the main attractions in Dordrecht, take a walking tour, starting from the Visburg bridge across the Wijnhaven. For here, the views of the town hall are excellent. Dordrecht is a mere 25 km / 16 miles from Rotterdam and lies to the south-east.

Biesbosch National Park

Biesbosch National Park is simply vast and encompasses an area exceeding 17,300 acres / 7,000 hectares. Standing alongside the meandering banks of the Nieuwe Merwede River, the Biesbosch National Park is approximately 59 km / 37 miles to the east of Rotterdam and is also close to Dordrecht. The main attractions here include nature trails, boat tours, kayaking and canoeing, and a visitors centre, with displays relating to the ecology and history of the Biesbosch National Park itself.

The Hague (Den Haag)

The Hague is extremely close to Rotterdam and can be reached in just over 20 minutes, making this an exceedingly popular day-trip destination. Den Haag's main attractions include the grand museum known as the Mauritshuis, the magnificent Binnenhof parliamentary buildings, the Peace Palace (Vredespaleis), the miniature world at Madurodam, and the acclaimed Panorama Mesdag, which is an unusual art exhibit situated at the northern end of the Noordeinde.

Kinderdijk

The windmills have long been the number one attractions within Kinderdijk and with almost 20 windmills in total lining the canals, the town has recently been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors from Rotterdam will find that Kinderdijk is sited 26 km / 16 miles to the south-east and features over 4 km / 2.5 miles of walking trails, which pass the dykes, windmills and visitors centre.