Image by Anne-Marie Ros

What to do? A little cheesy but tourists like it so I guess when you are with children or in a group it can be funny to do a Splashtour.

You will be touring over the road and dive into the River Maas in an unique yellow amphibious bus for approximately 75 minutes. The bus is uniquely designed in Rotterdam and built in the Netherlands.

The first part of the tour leads to some architectural hot spots in the center. The actual ‘splash’ takes place from the South shore at Katendrecht next to the boat SS Rotterdam (you can’t get off the bus during the tour!). The dive into the river is spectacular and the journey over water goes slow and shows you a different view on our beautiful skyline.

Personally I found being on the water a bit long and therefor boring but there can be some extra excitement when the engine dies and the fire brigade has to come rescue you by pulling the bus back on shore .

The yellow Splashtours bus departs from the bus stop next to the Rotterdam Maritime Museum at the Blaak in the city centre of Rotterdam. The tours start at: 12:30, 14:00, 15:30, 17:00.

Tickets can only be booked in advance online.

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Splash tours | Art & culture | Adult € 19.50
Corner Blaak / Schiedamsedijk – busstop | Center | +31104369491
Wed & Fri – Sun 11:00 – 17:00

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Image by Anne-Marie Ros

This is a little GEM at the Nieuwe Binnenweg 107A. Gallery Zigt for contemporary jewelery. Often I hop in after breakfast at Koekela at number 97A (check the Koekela article).

It’s an inspiring place where you can find contemporary jewelery to crown a special occasion or buy yourself a present. The shop is run by two owners and goldsmiths Myriam Oude Vrielink and Neeltje Huddleston Slater. Beautiful interior, just love how they display the jewelery in an original way, like on bended plates as if they are shoulders or hanging on antique wooden hands that just comes out of the wall.

Zigt sells an interesting contemporary jewelery. Made from unique materials such as porcelain, silicon, paper, felt, but also silver, gold, diamonds and pearls.

With a special event ‘Garnet from Aunt Agaat’ Zigt owners changed old jewelery into a new design, with a great sense of humor or style. In case you ever inherent a piece you don’t like, go talk to Zigt as it’s their passion to change it into a jewel you would love to wear. Apart from this, both Myriam and Neeltje create jewelery sculpted from fine structures, looking delicate and beautiful.

Zigt sell collections of contemporary designers. Like Hester Zagt known for her delicate white ceramic designs inspired by Dutch folklore. Jennifer Hoes who use her own body as mold for her ceramic jewelery. Misun Won’s folds silver as if its origami what makes her big silver rings featherweight. Margreeth Muller’s is known for her special jewelery with moving geometric forms.

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Gallery Zigt | Art & culture, Shopping
Nieuwe Binnenweg 107A | Center | +31104369668
Tue – Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Anne-Marie Ros

This is the place where I get my hair done. As I always decide it spontaneously, Hairish is perfect for me as they welcome you without an appointment:)

You’ll find them at the Meent 37A. One of the busy shopping streets down town.

Just walk in and they’ll tell how long you have to wait until they can help you. It can be busy so be prepared for waiting times up to 90 minutes. There are more cool places around Hairish that offers haircuts without an appointment but for Hairish is the best. Not for their loud music, but for their true advise, good cuts and they are really great with coloring, styling and they use excellent product such as Swedish REF and Australian NAK. That is what makes it worth while waiting.

I kill my time watching people coming in or passing by. They are located close to the Market (Tuesdays and Saturdays) at the Binnenrotte and popular places such as Little Italy (check the article), Cafe Pol … .

You don’t like watching people, than kill your time with a yummy ciabatta or Tostini what you can order from Guliano, a couple of shops down the street or get a head massage. A find the Biominoil treatment very good, but a little brrr at the end as they wash it out with cold water;).

If you in town for longer, Hairish trims your fringe or contour for free in between your haircuts so you can enjoy your hairdo longer.

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Hairish unisex hairsaloon | Relaxing
Meent 37A | Center | +31102141467
Tue – Thu 10:00 – 19:00, Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Rénia Sastrowidjojo

Yarnbombing. Guerillaknitting. 

These words might ring some bells as it’s been out and about everywhere. It’s a phenomenon happening all over the globe and it makes the world/cities colorful and softer (is my humble opinion ).  

It does bring a smile on your face when you walk somewhere and discover that things like streetlights, stairs etc. are wrapped up in snugly colorful knits. 

The people knitting/crocheting all these bits and pieces are either individuals or groups. Anyone who likes to help out can join. In a way, it does bring people together too as it’s a pretty social scene.

I’ll admit it, I’m also one of those people. I’m always attracted to ‘street/urban art’ and I think this can ‘qualify’ as such. It’s a mixture of trying to pimp up/add an extra to the (maybe grey/boring) streets and be a ‘disobedient’ citizen in a way as this form of tagging is in a somewhat illegal position.

My knitting and crocheting are still at a beginner’s level but I like that these ‘old fashioned’ crafts are still being used and being re-invented in fashion and design and out on the street in your own neighbourhood or desolate places.

I’m adding my knitted bits here in my town and might add to other cities. Should you stumble upon knitted pieces on the street and feel inspired, start knitting too and add your pieces to your own city. That’s how easy it is.

Here are some websites to get inspiration online like our local Maluca.

Knitted landscape

Stitch London

Stickkontakt

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Guerilla Knitting | Art & culture | Free
Schiedamsedijk/Blekerstraat | Center
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Marieke Koets

The interior doesn’t give it away, but this place is tops!

I just got rid of my fried rice with mushroom addiction, cause I discovered how good their sushi is.

This place is always very busy, so you might have to wait for a seat at one of the long tables. Or…you can ask for take away and eat your dinner/lunch at a nicer place.

Don’t be afraid you won’t have enough food. It comes in pretty good portions (you know, just a little too much that you eat anyway and then feel way too full!)

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Dim Daily | Restaurants (Asian) | Mixed sushi 8 pieces € 14.00
Rode zand 48 | Center | +31102809026
Sat -Thu 12:00 – 22:00, Fri 12:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Marieke Koets

I know, it is one of the many pizza/pasta places in town, but the food is really good and the price even better. If you are with less then 10 people you can’t make a reservation.

The place is big, but also very popular at the moment. And if you need to wait, Happy Italy is located right next to Van Zanten (check my Van Zanten article), so you can start and end your evening there and jump in for dinner here.

If you’ve got kids; there’s a little play area downstairs. The little ones can entertain themselves while you enjoy you dinner.

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Happy Italy | Restaurants (Italian) | Pizza Delizioza € 6.75
Binnenrotte 102 | Center | +31102140836
12:00 – 23:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Marieke Koets

One of my favorite shops in town is ‘La Bourse’. This perfumery sell beauty products of the better brands. The service here is so good and the staff is very friendly. They know the products well and know what they’re talking about.

Also, the prices here are sharp. You get a good discount anyway, but as a regular client (which I am) you get even more. They alway give you nice samples and you can choose if you want a perfume or cream sample, how good is that! I always leave this shop happy.

The only “flaw” might be that they sell ‘Essie’ nail-polish instead of ‘OPI’, but hey nobody’s perfect. La Bourse has three shops. The biggest one is on the Coolsingel, the other two are on the Meent (almost next to the Vlaamsch Broodhuys) and the Korte Lijnbaan.

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La Bourse | Shopping
coolsingel 54 | Center | +31104135893
Mon 11:00 – 18:00, Tue – Thu 10:00 – 18:00, Fri 10:00 – 21:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:30, Sun 12:30 – 17:30

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Marieke Koets

I was planning to go and enjoy some lovely sushi at the Dim Daily (check the Dim Daily article) with one of my friends when she suggested to go to this Vietnamese restaurant right underneath the apartment building where she lives. She said it was very nice and something different, but I shouldn’t expect Dim Daily.

She was so right. What a nice place she took me to. We had to eat at the bar, because we didn’t make a reservation (stupid us, it was a Saturday) and it was very busy. Still the service was quick and very good.

The food was lovely, I enjoyed every bite. The tea we had afterwards was a bit strong, but my friend and I do drink very weak tea.

Dim Daily doesn’t have to worry, nothing beats their friend rice with egg and mushrooms, but Little V did just steal a little place in my heart.

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Little V | Restaurants (Vietnamese) | Noodles with gamba’s € 12.00
Grotekerkplein 109 | Center | +3110413191
Tue – Wed 17:00 – 23:00, Thu 17:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 17:00 – 01:30, Sun 12:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Marieke Koets

This place is always nice to go to, but on Mondays it’s the best. With every drink you buy you get a free bingo ticket. Around 01:00, when you have enough tickets to have a good shot at a price, and enough to drink to minimize that chance, the party begins…..LET PLAY BINGO!!!! !

I always went on Mondays, but I have only recently discovered the Wednesday night quiz! Okay, nothing beats the bingo, but the trivia is lots of fun too.(if you win, don’t go for the surprise bag!)

There are several other things Paddy organises, like a big Queensday party and of course St. Patrick’s day festivities. Plus they have a sports channel TV in a separate part of the pub. There’s also always nice live music and friendly people to chat to.

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Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub | Bars | Pint € 4.00
Rodezand 15 | Center | +31104110078
Mon 16:00 – 04:00, Tue – Thu 16:00 – 01:00, Fri 16:00 – 02:00, Sat – Sun 16:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Club vibes

To me this place is a little fun factory. I have had the best nights out in this place and the most fun. The music is never the same, but they do have theme nights, like ‘Dirty Disco’ or ‘Karaoke night’.

The place has just gotten a bit of a make over and isn’t as dark as it used to be.

Don’t go too early to this place, it’s not the same if it’s not a bit busy. So have an other beer at ‘Stalles’ (check the Stalles article) or Parket’ and walk right on through to ‘Vibes’. And don’t take yourself too serious when you’re going here.

Just relax, be a bit crazy and have lots and lots of fun.

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Club Vibes | Bars, Music | Late entrance € 5.00
Westersingel 50a | Center | +31104361655
Thu – Sat 00:00 – 05:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam