Relaxing & parks – All our local tips

During the filmfestival 27 January – 07 February 2010 Japanese production designer/filmset-designer Yohei Taneda, known as the production designer of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Volume 1, has been commissioned by Sculpture International Rotterdam (SIR) to design a temporary facade for the Monisima Cube at Kruiskade 2 in Rotterdam. Can’t miss it when you face the Kruiskade from the Coolsingel.

It’s part of the Sculpture International Rotterdam. I like this kind of art that provokes a smile on your face.

There’s more art in public space if you continue your way to Kruisplein. Cross West Kruiskade towards the Westersingel. Along this canal which is partly a promenade, you will find sculptures from famous artists such as Moore, Rodin, Sapiro amongst many others.

Look for Paul McCarthy’s ´Santa Claus´ at Eendrachtsplein. For several years it was placed at a museum´s courtyard. I guess you can imagine why it offended people in the beginning. Locals call this sculpture Gnome Buttplug

I don´t like David Bade’s sculpture ‘Anita’ which stands in the middle of West Blaak. Do look pass it and you’ll see an amazingly designed skate park. Why not check it out and have a look at the skaters, boarders and bikers doing their tricks?

Continue your way on the Westersingel towards West Zeedijk. At the corner of Museum park you’ll see a large Picasso sculpture.

My favourite sculpture is Guiseppe Penone´s Elevazione, a bronze tree that slowly elevates by nature.

More art in public space.

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Art in the public space | Art & culture, Relaxing
Westersingel 1 | Center
24 hours daily

It certainly is not hip, nor trendy, nor a lounge bar, nor a VIP place, it is just the place where everybody and anybody comes. It breathes the genuine Rotterdam harbour spirit, where the suit and tie types meet the artists, housewives and harbour labourers. On the walls many artifacts of the famous Holland America Line – their former head-office and departure pier just across the river -.

From the in and outside terrace all the action on the river can be watched at ease. Awarded twice as best harbour pub of the year, in part because of the famous meatballs and beer on tap  (take their do-it-yourself beertapping course from the website and impress friends like a pro).

Old fashioned harbour songs, singalongs, live music add to the easygoing congeniality of this old fashioned pub. Have a beer and have a ball!

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Ballentent | Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Snacks
Parkkade 1 | Center | +31104360462
09:00 – 23:00 daily

If it was up to me, I would make an article about every bookstore in Rotterdam I can find. Since I work in a bookstore. I spend most of my salary on books. And I have almost my own privat library. (that’s subjective, I think it isn’t nearly enough, but a lot of friends think I have a library…). Of course there is the biggest bookstore in the Netherlands -Selexyz Donner at the Lijnbaan in Rotterdam – their collection covers about 90% the majority of readers desires. Furthermore there are specialist bookstores like Mystiek for spiritual books and Yendor for comics and graphic novels.

But nothing is more perfect for browsing and relaxed reading than the library. To borrow books, you need to have a membership card. But just sitting inside reading your books on a sofa or couch, that’s absolutely free. And besides books they have magazines, newspapers, a children’s book-playground, a youth corner, computers with Internet access, copy machines,… and a lot more.

I go here sometimes with my son on a Wednesday afternoon. There is someone reading to the children at 14.00. Although he is becoming a little bit too old for that. I also come here now and then, when I have to wait for an appointment. And of course to study the library is a perfect place.

It is a big building that looks like a giant factory. It also contains a theater, a discotheque (for cd-rental), an information desk about Rotterdam and a cafe. Their escalators take you upstairs all the way to the sixth floor giving you a nice view over the centre of Rotterdam. They have a monthly theme and there is always some kind of exhibition going on.

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Centrale Bibliotheek | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Hoogstraat 110 | Center | +31010281611
Mon 13:00 – 20:00, Tue – Fri 10:00 – 20:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00
Wintertime (till May 30th) Sun 13:00 – 17:00

When people visit Rotterdam, they will automatically visit an area known as the Oude Haven (Old harbour) due to the Cube houses (check the kubuswoningen article). It’s between Haringvliet and the Wijnhaven.

In a way it’s a shame that a lot of the old Rotterdam was wiped away during WWII and on the other hand we wouldn’t have these contrast-rich areas like the these harbours.

The Old harbour is a peek into the past as it is the oldest harbour in Rotterdam with historic boats. I like the houseboats and the small wharf Koningspoort where people repair their historic boats. This is definitely worth a visit.

While the Oude Haven is lined with lots of cafes and terraces, the Haringvliet which dates from 1590 is a more tranquil area.

The Wijnhaven is divided in the past and present. The once highest building in Europe, the Witte Huis (White House) still stands firmly accompanied with a row of nice old houses. A lot of slim tall buildings with the new Red Apple building dominate this small piece of land on the other side of the Verlengde Willemsbrug. The Red Apple looks crooked and with a reason. The red lines are thinner towards the top as the view gets wider for the happy few. The name has a connection with the past; apples were transported by boat here.

There are plans for another tall building with the emphasis on slim and high. Construction work is never ending so it seems…

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Cityharbours Oude Haven | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Spaansekade | Center
Daily

Mankind always wanted to be free, so we enjoy living in a democracy. But better still, we also want to be free and fly like the birds – an art we yet have to master.

In ancient Greek mythology Icaros did not fare well by going up higher and higher, so here we present you with a safe alternative way by only going down. Your turn to be free and hang loose by holding tight on a taut rope and let gravity do the work and help you sail down.

Join the birds and sail down, make do and improvise to get that glorious sinking feeling by going over the edge on weather permitting weekend days from the Euromast. Expert guidance and safety precautions mix and add up to the rush of adrenalin of making the descent all by yourself with an accompanying coach.

Organized from May to September for the 16 year olds and above the challenge is up to you for the 100m way down!

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Euromast | Relaxing | Sail down € 45.00
Parkhaven 20 | Center | +31102411781
May – Sep | Sat – Sun

It often happens to me that I am travelling and having a bad hair day. The best thing to solve this is looking for a hairdresser to style my hair.

If you recognise this, than your solution can be found at the Meent. One of the busy shopping streets in the Centre of town with many restaurants and some really nice shops.

Look for Hairish at number 37A, an unisex hairdresser where you are always welcome without an appointment.

Just walk in and they will tell you how long you have to wait until they can help you. It can be busy, so be prepared as waiting time up to 90 minutes can happen sometimes. But its worth the waiting. Just kill your time watching around as an interesting mixture of people coming in or passing by. Hairish is located close to the Tuesday and Saturday market at the Binnenrotte and popular places as Cafe Pol, Boudoir and De IJssalon.
You don’t like watching people, well get yourself a head massage (ask for the Biominoil treatment, but be warned, they wash it out with cold water) or read nice magazines. I like Hairish, not for their loud music;) but for their true advise, good cuts and they are really great with colouring, styling and they use excellent product such as Swedish REF and Australian NAK.

Bonus 1 
At Hairish they really listen to you and will do what you ask them to do.

Bonus 2
They trim your pony or contour for free in between your haircuts, so you can enjoy your hairdo longer.

Bonus 3
You can order now a delicious yymmy ciabatta or Tostini from Galiano, while waiting. They will bring it to you as Galiano is located just a few shops down the road. Hairish will serve you free coffee or tea.

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Hairish | Relaxing
Meent 37A | Center | +310102141467
Tue – Thu 10:00 – 19:00, Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Under the Van Brienenoord bridge lies a long island created by sludge piling up in the bend of the river the Maas since the beginning of the 19th century. There was a lot of forest until the second worldwar, when the Germans used the trunks to keep aeroplanes from landing. What was left ended in the fires during the winter of starvation.

Nowadays it’s a natural island again. There are some holiday gardens here, scouting buildings and the remains of a dock to built the metro-tunnel. But still it is very green. In the summertime Highland Cattle walks around free. At the East side the ground has been washed down. And instead of rebuilding it, they made a bridge to go over it and enjoy this miniature swamp.

During my bike tours I saw this island from the bridge above. I know I had to be able to go there, as I saw the little bridge, the sheds at the gardens and people walking. But I didn’t know the entrance. It took me some time to figure out. I have toured the island a couple of times, although the terrain is sometimes too rough for less than an ATB (All Terrain Bike).

One time I came eye to eye with one of those Scottish cows. I had no idea if they were harmless or not, and I hesitated a little. The road was very near, so I had to pass on a very short distance. I did survive and do not especially praise my cowardliness, just the average city girl.

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Island van Brienenoord | Relaxing | Free
Brienenoord | Prins Alexander
24 hours daily

(TIP: Combine this spot with a visit to Stroom, Verhip (check the Verhip article), Wijn of Water (check the Wijn of Water article) or Ivy)

The harbour is moving to the West. And as it moves, it is leaving wonderful harbours to redevelop as residential and commercial areas. The Lloydkwartier is an excellent example of that. The old storehouses are redeveloped into lofts and restaurants and new high rise buildings are built for studios and companies.

However, the harbour is not yet really gone! Although the docks and transfer cranes have moved, there are still ships to be seen in the Lloyd quarter. if you walk to the Maas bank you can get right next to them. I really like this cool industrial feel that is typical for Rotterdam.

If you follow the banks in direction West, you will end up at a lovely, lonely place at the tip of the pier: het Lloydhoofd. This is my favorite spot to sit, think and watch the harbour. At any time of the day, this is the perfect place to relax and chill.

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Lloydhoofd | Relaxing | Free
Lloydhoofd | Delfshaven
24 hours daily

In 1937 they began to build the Maastunnel, which included the moving of the Norsk Sjomannskirke (check the Seaman’s churches article) which is in the park nearby nowadays. The building continued during WWII.

There is a story that while they were officially opening the tunnel at one side, two schoolboys had entered the tunnel at the other side. I would have love to see their faces, when they saw the two boys, before the cutting of the ribbon. This opening was in 1942, and back then it was the first car tunnel in the Netherlands.

Besides a car tunnel there is also a bike tunnel and a pedestrian tunnel. You can go down the escalator with your bike (if not possible, you may request to take you down with the elevator). There you can ride to the other side, where another set of escalators are taking you up again. The tunnel for pedestrians is another stairway down, since you are not allowed to walk in the bike tunnel.

I have been biking here about once a day up and down for five years. When I lived on the south bank and my work my son’s school was on the north bank, we always took the Maastunnel on our way. Next to that have been biking a lot of 17km tours in Rotterdam, where I also took the Maastunnel. Especially in the summertime you are met by a pleasant fresh air, since it is quit cool under sea level.

Going up the escalator with your bike takes some getting used to, but since my son has been doing it since he was five years, I suppose you can manage. As long as you take care to put your back wheel firmly on one stair, you can hold your bike with only the touch of a finger.

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Maastunnel | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Maastunnel | West
24 hours daily (with security)

Through one of my projects (for housing corporation PWS) I was involved designing a bike route in the old north part of town and I am allowed to publish it here what makes Spotted by Locals got the primeur.

Old North is known as a lively dynamic neighbourhood, with old characteristic houses, cosy squares, small cultural initiatives and a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants.

If you are interested in architecture and city development or like to see the city from a different angle then rent a bike at Use-IT (Schaatsbaan 41-45) and go for it.

Take a map and draw the route or feel free to contact me. If I have time I can give you a tour or can sent you some background information on what you will meet on this route.

Start at Central Station > Weena > Teilingerstraat > Vijverhofstraat (Hofbogen and Vrouwe Groehnevelt’s Liefdesgesticht) > Eudokiaplein (Station Bergweg) > Noordsingel – South > cross bridge (Teilingestraat) to Noordsingel – North > continue on your right hand you’ll find the jail > Burgemeester Roosstraat > Zwart Jansstraat (shops) > Bergweg > Gerard Scholtenstraat (look for coloured houses) > Bloklandstraat (Schoonoord garden) > Benthuizerstraat.

Coffee break at Nika, corner Zaagmolenstraat.

Pijnackerplein > 1e Pijnackerstraat (120B Branco restaurant and opposite shop), Gerard Scholtenstraat (37B Mevrouw Meijer restaurant, one of my favourites), (look for Renia’s name at Brancoplein;) > Woelwijkstraat (typical ‘70/’80 renovated houses) > Zwaanshals (go North direction) > Wolstraat > Loofdakstraat > Zwaanshalskade (good view on Crooswijk) > Zaagmolenkade (check out Rotabs!) > Woelwijkstraat > Zwaanshals (go South direction towards Kookpunt shop).

Lunchbreak or coffee at Lof der Zoetheid (check the Lof der Zoetheid article) at Noordplein 1.

Heer Bokelweg > Hofdijk (nickname Small Volendam) > Katshoek (Hofbogen) > Teilingerstraat/Zomerhofkwartier > direction Central Station.

Let me know if it was interesting.

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Old North bike tour | Art & culture, Relaxing
Do it yourself anytime | Noord
24 hours daily

Squeezed between three waters; the Noordsingel from 1862, the river Rotte and the Noorderkanaal, there are two small areas in the northern part close to the centre. Locals tend to gather them both under Het Oude Noorden (the Old North).
Despite a certain reputation and called a ‘hotspot’ (not a good thing here), I have lived many happy years in this buzzing multicultural area which is definately worth a visit.

A little historical introduction:
The Old North used to belong to a ‘manor’ till the 19th century. The ‘manor’ has a special Dutch name which is ‘ambachtsheerlijkheid’. This means that either some nobility or a city has ownership of a certain territory. This doesn’t mean though that they ‘own’ the land, they have only certain rights. It’s a leftover of the feudal system and a way to govern a piece of land.

Historic streets like Zwaanshals already got mentioned in the 16th century and was known as both a small area and the name of a house (Swaenshals). Two typical houses are turned into a museum where you can have a glimpse of the past.

The Liskwartier (quarter) name comes from Lischwater. What’s left is a small pond nearby. This area has grand houses, lanes and broad streets with the monumental Bergsingel church. Stately Rodenrijselaan, Bergselaan and Bergsingel are just a few streets to wander around for the architecture and the atmosphere. There was a substantial Jewish community here, most of which didn’t survive the concentration camps during WWII. Find the shelter/bunker on the Schiebroekselaan.

Walk around and get surprised

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Oude Noorden/Liskwartierquarters | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Jacob Catsstr.23 | Noord | +31104669383
Museum Wed 12:30 – 17:00 and by appointment

Close to the white towering height of the Erasmus Medical Center on the Westzeedijk is a small side street – Kievitslaan – , where Parl Schoonoord has a street number “9″.

This historical oasis of rest and calm and floral beauty dates back to the early 18th century and is now a 1,2 hectares square of narrowly winding paths and several connected ponds. You enter from the Kievitslaan from a descending bridge through a cast iron ornamental gate and you will find over 1000 varieties of plants, shrubs and trees.

Even if you are not a horticulturist, but a curious tourist in search of green tranquility, nice smells and a moment away from the bustling city life, this small heaven next to the large …parc is so rewarding. Styled as an old Englisch country garden it is now maintained by the city council and supported by donations of the Schoonoord foundation. It is enclosed by neighbouring estates, but they are rather rather well hidden by the large trees and the old brick wall in the back.

Take your time to enjoy it when you are on your way to the Euromast or the Norwegian Sailors church (check the Norwegian Sailors church article), use it to let the impressions of the nearby museums sink in or just simply sit down on one of the benches and digest lunch.

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Park Schoonoord | Relaxing | Free
Kievitslaan 8 | Center
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 16:30, Sat – Sun 11:30 – 16:30

Once upon a time there was this river flowing into the Maas. It was called the Rotte. They made a dam where a little settlement was founded. It was called Rotterdam. And so it all began. Now the Rotte stops before really entering the center of Rotterdam and the Maas is best know in Rotterdam. So where is this Rotte? Well, it’s still there. It still runs through Rotterdam North. It has some floating art and house boats which are nice to watch.

But things get really interesting once you get at the Linker Rottekade and Rechter Rottekade. It is a relaxing biking and walking route and it leads you to the Rottermeren, a real paradise of water recreation. It’s quite a long route to go walking all the way, since the Rotte runs all the way to Moerkerke, But the surroundings are very nice.

My grandparents had a boat when I was young and in the summertime I spent a couple of weeks aboard going through the Netherlands. I have been in and on the Rottemeren since I was very young. I went there some months ago with a friend and our kids for a bike tour. My son was very proud to have biked more then 40km that day. We could have made it longer, but we enjoyed taking the ferryboat to the other side and bike back from there. It was very crowded with bikers and pedestrians. There were also some bike racers, but I do not recommend that here, it is simply too crowded.

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Rotte & Rottemeren | Relaxing | Free
Linker- & Recher Rottekade | Prins Alexander
24 hours daily

Rotterdam has its own Walk of Fame. Although it looks more like a gray pavement on a windy street, hey, it is a walk of fame! Actually, I just recently went there myself and I was quite surprised who left their mark in Rotterdam.

Amongst Dutch artists and some people I did not know, there were foot and handprints of many international stars. Bon Jovi, 
Bryan Adams,
Carlos Santana,
Carmine Coppola,
Dave Brubeck,
Grace Jones,
James Brown,
John Denver,
Johnny Cash,
Lionel Richie,
Mark Knopfler,
 Shirley Bassey, Spandau Ballet,
Tina Turner,
Tom Jones,
Willy Nelson and………… MC Hammer.

This is the greatest Walk of Fame of Europe, and although it are just imprints in concrete, it is quite fun to discover famous name after famous name. Just combine it with a walk from the Witte de Withstraat to the Erasmusbrug and you’ll have a great time!

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Rotterdam Walk of Fame | Art & culture, Relaxing | Free
Schiedamsedijk | Center
24 hours daily

If you come to Rotterdam you cannot miss out on our great museums like the Kunsthal, Boijmans van Beuningen and the NAI (Nederlands Architectuur Instituut). But, although strolling through museums seems relaxing, it can be really tiresome. And then, the best place to rest your head and body is actually just around the corner: the rose garden.

This little park is the preferred chill-out in the city centre. With a view on the Boijmans statue park, you can enjoy the smell of roses while lying on fresh cut grass. Expect to see some eccentric people to come along, as people come here to see and be seen.

It is one of the most quiet places in the city centre as no traffic comes close, and even better, most tourist do not recognize it as a really cool spot and walk along.

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Rozentuin (Rose garden) | Relaxing | Free
Museumlaanbrug 1 | Center
24 hours daily

At the South end of the Lijnbaan – the pedestrians only – shopping street with the regular mix of chain stores for fashion and clothing a book lovers paradise merits your attention, even if it is part of a chain aswell. Other than 6 floors of books and books and books, it has a video and a DVD shop, a coffee shop with great bagels, salads and cakes, a large, very internationally based magazine section, an outlet section and a reading theatre in the cellar.

For the travelling tourist from abroad the foreign languages section – English, French, German – will be of interest there, aswell as the map shop.

Take the elevator to the top floor and slope down – stop at the Bagel and Beans coffee shop and – weather permit – enjoy your food and drink from the outdoor terrace overlooking the busy shopping street.

The huge selection effectively arranged by well listed departments is the principal reason to go wandering here, while the open space corkscrew concept of downsloping floors with the elevator shaft in the center makes it a most pleasurable space to be in.

Look around and sample, withdraw in a chair for a quick read and I am sure you will have no trouble finding the items of your interest. Still at a loss?: information booths throughout the store manned by veritable specialists will be your expert help.

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Selexyz | Coffee & tea, Relaxing, Shopping, Snacks
Lijnbaan 150 | Center | +31104132070
Mon 11:00 – 18:00, Tue – Thu 09:30 – 18:00, Fri 09:30 – 21:00
Sat 09:30 – 17:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

I live in a part of Rotterdam where I’m surrounded by bridges, water and the bustle of ships passing by. It’s called the Noordereiland (Northern island) in the Nieuwe Maasriver and connected by the Willemsbridge and Koninginnebridge.

The name derives from Noorderhaven (harbour) which is now called Koningshaven. When they dug this harbour, the island got separated from former island Feijenoord. This name should ring a bell with football lovers whereas the name is written as Feyenoord.

The island has become an Art project called MS Noordereiland, initiated by artist Joe Cillen who also lives here. The concept is that the island is in fact a motor ship ready to take off one day and sail away with all its inhabitants. If you walk around on the island you will see many objects which refers to parts of a ship. We even have our own flag.

When you cross the Willemsbridge to the island, you will see a newer side on the left part. The right part is more authentic and was spared by the bombing during WWII. Have a nice walk and see the houses on Maaskade 85, 113 and the Hulstkamp building. Try and find all the paintings in ornamented frames on several buildings. There’s a lot of art to find.

Even though most of the shops have gone, there are plenty of cafes to rest and wonder where the journey will lead to when the MS Noordereiland really starts moving…Or swim your way around it during Rondje Noordereiland in summer..

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The Noordereiland | Art & culture, Bars, Relaxing
Prins Hendriklaan | Zuid
Daily

If you want to get to Hotel New York (check the Hotel New York article), the metro is a convenient and affordable way to get there. However, you would miss out on a beautiful trip across the Nieuwe Maas river.

With small, fast and comfortable boats you can get from Veerhaven to Hotel New York. Maybe the 4 minute ride does not seem worth the 4 euro at first, but the beautiful view on both of the river banks and the impressive Erasmusbridge is worth every penny. And it is not only beautiful, it is superfast.

From the Witte de Withstraat the Veerhaven is only a 5 minute walk. Please note the Veerhaven itself is also a beautiful area. The Westelijk Handelsterrein (Western Trade Location) offers nice bars, shops, galleries and restaurants. Furthermore, you can eat at Lulu, sleep at Room Rotterdam or enjoy the sunshine at Loos.

In other words, the Watertaxi connects two beautiful places in an elegant way! A must-do!

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Watertaxi | Relaxing | Onw way € 4.00
Veerkade | Center | +314030303
Mon – Thu 07:00 – 00:00, Fri 07:00 – 01:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 00:00