Image by Anne-Marie Ros

Kwiezien is one of my favourite restaurants in Rotterdam South and I keep going back there in different settings, celebrating my b’day, meet up with a colleague or dine with my friends. It’s suitable for each occasion.

The atmosphere in Kwiezien is nice, the interior is modern, the chefs are passionate cooks and the waiters give excellent service. You will not regret going here, but book in advance! Most of the time they are fully booked.

Kwiezien’s food is French International and the concept is unique. They only serve small portions for €8,00 each. They suggest a 3, 4 or 5 course but you can order as many different things as you feel like trying. My experience is that 4 dishes are enough and if you are a big eater just order a side dish.

Creative cooking, delicious, fresh and all homemade. Excellent wines you can order by a full or half glass. Do try their cheeses!

My favourite spot is at the bar (2 ppl). It makes you feel part of the kitchen and they will spoil you with little extras;)

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kwiezien Restaurant | Restaurants (French/Intern.)
Delistraat 20-22 | Zuid | +31102151440
Tue – Sun 18:00 – 22:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Trendbeheer RawBridge

Over the last couple of months I have checked so many times if I could make a short cut on my bike. On Wednesday Feb 8th, 2012 the new Rijnhaven bridge for cyclists and pedestrians will connect Wilhelminapier with Katendrecht. 

This gives you the opportunity to make a new walk starting at the Erasmus bridge. Explore the Wilhelminapier with the Photomuseum, the Rotterdam by Rem Koolhaas and other sky scrapers like Montevideo by Mecannoo and the world famous Hotel New York, great for a drink. Next to Hotel New York on the south side of the pier you find the little harbor with the water taxi and the new bridge.

When you cross this bridge you get to Deliplein with nice places like the shop Iszomooi, restaurant Kwizien and theatre Walhalla. If you pass Deliplein and continue on Sumatraweg. At one corner you’ll find Warmoes Market, a small supermarket and canteen. A nice local meeting point where you can have a good coffee, sandwich, soup and more.

Turn right and keep heading straight towards the end of the pennisula where you’ll find SS Rotterdam, the big steamship with hotel rooms, restaurants, bars and a shop. You continue your route towards Rijnhaven, follow the Hillelaan along the Player and RAAF back towards Erasmusbridge. Cross or turn right on Stieltjestraat. Explore the architecture on the Kop van Zuid and head back into town via the Willemsbrug.   

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Rijnhaven Round | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks, Restaurants
Rijnhaven | Zuid
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Luuk Bode

Rotterdam – the City of Art! 

I witnessed that the last two years has proven to be very exciting for new gallery start-ups that represent fresh young talents, as well as more renowned artists in Rotterdam.

Some of my favourite galleries in town have joined forces. Frank Taal, Iris Cornelis, Mirta Demare, Zic Zerp, Helder and Kap Pur galleries show that they’ve got what it takes with 1300m2 of cutting edge contemporary art by 60 exciting artists. 

The first exhibition of PAVILJOEN ROTTERDAM will run from February 8th – 12th, in Cité building at Laan op Zuid 65 – 207 in Rotterdam (entry corner Laan op Zuid / Veemstraat)

The ambiance at PAVILJOEN ROTTERDAM is very direct and personal, making it the ideal opportunity for networking and if you are seeking for an up-front experience. Acclaimed caterer Westerkaatje serves the food and drinks.  

If you also like to hear artists talk about their work or go on a guided PAVILJOEN ROTTERDAM tour with an art critic and/or contemporary art collector then check out ‘news or activities‘ on things to do.Metro, stop Wilhelminaplein – exit Veemstraat. Tram 20, stop Lodewijk Pincoff 

Details about this spot (Show on map)
PAVILJOEN ROTTERDAM | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Festivals & events
Laan op Zuid 65 Rotterdam | Zuid
Thu 12:00 – 19:00, Fri 12:00 – 21:00, Sat 12:00 – 19:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Anne-Marie Ros

For a few days from February 8th – 12th, 2012 Rotterdam turns into the centre of the Dutch Art World .

Every year I write about Art Rotterdam as I love this contemporary art fair bringing 70 national and international galleries. With a new section on the ground floor, showing 15 young galleries with solo shows. E-volved Cultures is an artificial landscape that will be created in real time by featuring artists Driessens & Verstappen. And not to be missed the illy Prize 2012. If you go to Art Rotterdam go check out Gallery Rotwand, they will bring one of my favourite artists Swiss born Tatjana Gerhardt.

If you buy your tickets on-line, use this code: PR2012 It will give you €4,00 discount on the entry fee for Art Rotterdam.

Opposite Art Rotterdam, in LasPalmas II, you will find Objects. An fair for design with limited editions and one-offs by upcoming designers. If you are interested in design but not a collector, why not join the workshop My First Design Collection The Do It Yourself Instructable Restaurant is also back in town now furnished by Thonet.

If you are on the South bank do go visit PAVILJOEN ROTTERDAM (free entry) Laan op Zuid 65 – 207, RAAF takes off! Hillelaan 19, The Player at Hillelaan 49D and RAW art fair at Veerlaan 9 -13.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Art Rotterdam 2012 | Art & culture, Festivals & events, Snacks
Cruise terminal Wilhelminakade 699 | Zuid
Thu 12:00 – 18:00, Fri 12:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by opKatendrecht

Now this shop and its initiators I really really like. Rotterdam and Amsterdam are just filling up with places like Buiten, Chez Mo-i, Vlaams Broodhuysch and all these great local/organic shops for “approved” sandwiches, delicacies and caterings. Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but they’re also expensive and for an exclusive audience.

In an iterative experiment, the Warmoesmarkt tries to become the ultimate neighbourhood shop. In the mixed surroundings of Katendrecht (Rotterdam-Zuid), the offer on bread alone gives away the message. There’s organic sour dough, turkish bread, fresh brown loafs & casino whites to go, while a central lunch table offers all the tools to make your own sandwich with cheese or so for a bottom price of €1,40.

The interior is all designy DIY and prepared for renovation in a year, so wooden crates, blackboard painted signs and a smile from Sacha Homan. If you’re in the hood, you should definitely pass by. I’m very curious to see where the experiment will take them. Will keep an eye out for you. 

Latest update: cooking workshops, wines and neighborhood meetings.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Warmoesmarkt | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Dutch lunch) | Bread € 2.10
Sumatraweg 22-24 | Zuid | +31651116740
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by ALexander

In Lombardijen there is another very nice municipally run second hand shop called HetGoed (“TheGoods”). It’s a huge hall, fairly cheap and stocked with super friendly, chatty people to help you around. Like a good second-hand shop they’ve got everything to illustrate an esssay on lost Dutch culture.

Electrical trikes that have nothing electrical except for the lights, plastic holders to force the last drop out of your custard cartons and ancient 100W toasters for ultra-thick slices of bread. The location in Lombardijen means you will need to make the effort of a half hour bikeride or take the train/tram which stops just around the corner. For the North side, check part 2.

Interesting aspects of this specific venue are the setup and the in-home workshop. Racks and products are spaciously setup and tightly organized. At the back of the hall you can find a few examplary living rooms, reminding you of an IKEA but then from the 1970′s. Sewing-machine included.

The in-home workshop is under the control of Kees. He is stimulating the project supported workers to go beyond occupational therapy and to start selling their things in the shop. They do their own designs from furniture to birdhouses and their skills can be rented for customised projects as well. Most of it is nicely finished palletwork. Gotta love it.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Kringloopwinkel Aristotelsstraat | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Vintage tin box € 0.80
Aristotelesstraat 30 | Zuid | +31104194737
Mon 11:00 – 17:00, Tue – Sat 10:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by Rénia Sastrowidjojo

Where I live 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 motorship 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, the left part looks new. The right part is more authentic and was spared by the bombing (in this case so called “friendly fire”)during WWII. Have a 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 and other art during an event like Expeditie Noordereiland or at gallery Ben Wind.

Eventhough most of the shops have gone, there are plenty of cafés 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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
The Noordereiland | Art & culture, Bars, Coffee & tea, Relaxing
Maaskade | Zuid
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by L.V.M. van Daalen

Three bridges cross the Maas at Rotterdam. Two of them are in the centre and especially the Erasmus Bridge is quite popular nowadays. I think that has mostly to do with media publicity, trying to make this bridge the mark of Rotterdam. But for me the Brienenoord Bridge is THE mark of Rotterdam.

The bridge was built in 1965 and named after the island below. It was rather slim and transparent for its time, what made it an example for other bridges. The capacity wasn’t sufficient for its daily traffic, so in 1990 the bridge was doubled.

Whenever we would take the car and drive outside Rotterdam for holidays or to visit relatives, my brother and I did this game. After the contest, who saw the most caravans, we would play ‘Who saw the Brienenoord Bridge first’. So I remember sitting in my fathers car staring outside, in search for the bridge desperately. I knew whenever I saw the bridge, I had not only won the contest… I was home.

These days whenever doing a bike tour around Rotterdam, I always include the bridge. Not only is the length and steepness is a challenge on its own, I love the feeling of riding free-falling downhill. With the wind in my back, my personal record on this bridge is set on 42km/hour. I do suggest to take the bridge from the north to the south if you want to ride down that hill, since at the other side there is this sharp hairpin bend.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Brienenoordbrug | Art & culture | Free
brienenoordbrug | Zuid
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam

Image by L.V.M. van Daalen

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 WWII, when the Germans used the trunks to keep airplanes from landing. What was left ended in the fires during the Hunger Winter.

Nowadays it’s a natural island again. There are some holiday gardens here, Scout clubs and the remains of a dock to build the metro-tunnel. But still it’s very green. In summertime Highland Cattle walks around free. On 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, sheds at the gardens and people walking. But I didn’t know the entrance. It took me some time to figure out. I’ve 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 narrow, 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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Island van Brienenoord | Relaxing | Free
Brienenoord | Zuid
24 hours daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Rotterdam