Rotterdam & Kinderdijk Daily Walking and Boat Tour

Rotterdam & Kinderdijk Daily Walking and Boat Tour

Tour description

Explore one of the oldest Dutch cities, especially characteristic in modern and sometimes weird architecture, “greenest Dutc city” attributed as the biggest European port. Although horrific destructed within WW2, still kept spirit of freedom and for sure place with the highest concentration of the different world national identities in The Netherlands today.

Discover“ the real” (polder) windmills, the same as they were 300 years ago. The piece of untouched nature, green oasis of peace and calm, just 15 km away from the biggest European port. Unique system of water management one of the most famous “icons” of the Netherlands from 18th century, exotic kind of birds, maritime through the polders, see windmills from inside and experience its home ambient, listen their narrations about the old times.

Highlights

Even that it is one of the oldest Dutch cities, especially characteristic in modern architecture and attributed as the biggest European port. Although horrific destructed within WW2 still kept spirit of freedom  and for sure place with the highest concentration of the different world national identities in The Netherlands today. 

  • The clashing point of traditional and avant-garde architecture styles (cube houses)
  • The greenest city in the Netherlands
  • Drink a coffee at lowest Dutch point below sea level (-7,67 m)
  • A completely different Red Light District
  • Unique and the only in Netherlands authentic location with 19 windmills — the 19 guardians and story tellers of the old times. These still persisting and in service “water management stewards” gonna tell you the story about the cat who saved one young human life.
  • Interesting facts about “polders”,  their propose, creating ‚maintenances

Itinerary

Suggested meeting point would be Rotterdam Central Station or your hotel in Rotterdam. After meeting we shall continue following the stops listed below:

⇒ Rotterdam Central Station

Modern architecture pearl, the main railway station of Rotterdam city receiving an average of 170 000 passengers daily. One of the greatest city’s architectural highlights

⇒ Schieland House

The 17th century building former headquarter of Waterschap Schieland, institution responsible for water policy and management in this part of South Holland once temporary accommodation place of Napoleon Bonaparte

⇒ Big Church/ St. Lawrence Church
 

Late Gothic style building from 1525 and in the same time the oldest building in city of Rotterdam. One of the several rarely buildings survived nazi bombing on May 15th 1940.

⇒ Erasmus of Rotterdam’s Monument
 

Monument honored to Desiderius Erasmus Roterdamus alias Erasmus of Rotterdam, one of the biggest philosophers, theologians, scholars, priest from 16th century. Many public buildings , structures and education institutions are named against this famous Rotterdammer.

⇒ Markthal ( Market Hall alias "The Horseshoe")
 

Modern building situated on one of the biggest Rotterdam’s Squares in the shape of horseshoe — closed market combined with living space and facilities, also nicknamed “The Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam”

⇒ Kijk-Kubus (The Cube Houses)
 

Atypical tree-looking buildings with cube-shaped apartments on the top of the supporting columns.Because of its form only 3/4 of the inner space is suitable and usable for common living

⇒ Old Harbor
 

One of the oldest ( but not the oldest one!) ports of Medieval Rotterdam, former river mouth of river Rotte to New Meuse river. Nowadays favorite gathering place of Rotterdam citizens with plenty of coffee bars, restaurants, taverns, disco clubs…

⇒ De Witt Huis (The White House)

 

Once ( end of 19th century) the highest " skyscraper" in Europe and one of the rare building survived Rotterdam Nazi 14th May 1940.

⇒ Willemsbrug (The Red Bridge)
 

Also called “The Red Bridge” dedicated to Willem III is one of the three Rotterdam’s bridges connecting central and Northern part of the city with Southern districts.

⇒ De Hef (The Elevator)
 

Huge steel construction meaning “The Lift” once served like “rotating” and “lifting” train bridge across river New Meuse. The bridge was in service before the rail tunnel has been dogged through under the river

⇒ De Boeg ("The Bow" Monument)
 

The war memorial placed at right embankment of the river New Meuse. It commemorates the 3500 persons on board of Dutch merchant ships who lost their lives in World War II.

⇒ Leuwhaven Maritime Museum
 

An open air maritime museum. The great collection of steamships, docking cargo machines and equipment, ship engines and other objects related to or connected with the navy and shipping from the middle of the 19th century to 70’s of the last century.

⇒ Erasmus Bridge
 

This hanging bridge is the youngest bridge in Rotterdam crossing New Meuse…and for sure the most popular and known bridge. One of the greatest symbols and images of this city also called “The Swan” or ” The Harp” , 139m high with the biggest and heaviest “opening part” of the bridge in Europe, 80 m long.

 

⇒ boat transport from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk, ca. 45 min…

 

⇒ Kinderdijk
 

Picturesque areal with 19 unique and authentic polder windmills from the first half of 18th century distanced 25 km away from Rotterdam. The best example of efficient and well organized Dutch water management through the centuries

 

⇒ boat transport from Kinderdijk to Rotterdam , ca. 45 min…

Tour price

The price of this tour: € 380 .
Tour takes approximately 7–8 hours.
Tour includes drink and local snacks within or after the tour, and transportation costs ( retour boat tickets) from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk for up to 4 persons.