Rotterdam Netherlands South Holland

808 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

AmaWaterways (48 Cruises)

Avalon Waterways (48 Cruises)

CroisiEurope (86 Cruises)

Cruise CE Croisieurope MS Lafayette ship

MS Lafayette

78 Passengers
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Cunard (26 Cruises)

Emerald Waterways (53 Cruises)

Emerald Destiny.

Emerald Destiny

227 Passengers
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Emerald Sun

Emerald Sun

227 Passengers
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Holland America Line (115 Cruises)

Cruise HAL Holland America Line ms Rotterdam ship

ms Rotterdam

2668 Passengers
99935 tons
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MSC Cruises (176 Cruises)

MSC Preziosa.

MSC Preziosa

4345 Passengers
139072 tons
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Princess Cruises (17 Cruises)

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise (80 Cruises)

Viking River Cruises (129 Cruises)

Viking Longships Kvasir.

Viking Longships Kvasir

238 Passengers
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Port of Rotterdam | Cruise Port Guide

From the ship's deck, Rotterdam looks like no other Dutch port of call. No ancient steeples or canals lined with gables: glass towers, daring bridges and cranes that remind you you're entering one of the largest ports in Europe. The city was destroyed by the bombing of May 1940, and it chose to rebuild itself as resolutely modern. The result surprises, sometimes provokes, and almost always ends up winning over those who take the time to walk.

A terminal in the heart of the city

Ships dock at Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, on the Wilhelminakade, right on the Maas. The location is a rare luxury: no mandatory shuttle, no industrial zone to cross. The Erasmus Bridge, nicknamed "the Swan" for its leaning white pylon, is right next door and leads downtown in a ten- to fifteen-minute walk. Wilhelminaplein metro station is around the corner, two stops from Central Station. On the quay itself, Hotel New York occupies the former headquarters of the Holland America Line, from which emigrant ships once sailed for America; its café-restaurant is worth a stop, if only for the atmosphere.

Downtown, an architecture laboratory

Cross the bridge and let the silhouettes guide you. The Markthal opens its immense horseshoe arch onto a covered market where stalls of cheese, fish and stroopwafels line up beneath a vault painted with giant fruit. Steps away, Piet Blom's Cube Houses tilt their yellow façades over the street; one of them is open to visitors, and you quickly understand why their residents had to reinvent their furniture. Between the two, the Old Harbour (Oude Haven) lines up historic barges and terraces at the foot of buildings that are among the oldest skyscrapers in Europe.

Delfshaven, the neighbourhood that survived

One district escaped the bombs: Delfshaven, Delft's former outer port. Its narrow quays, gabled warehouses and windmill bring back pre-war Holland. It was from here that the Pilgrims left Europe in 1620 before joining the Mayflower; their church still stands by the water. The contrast with the modern centre gives this neighbourhood an unexpected gentleness, and photography lovers find their best light here late in the day.

Getting a bird's-eye view, or getting back on the water

To grasp the scale of the port, the Euromast raises its platform to 185 metres: on clear days, the view stretches from the docks to the polders. Maritime history buffs will prefer the SS Rotterdam, a former Holland America Line ocean liner moored at the quay and turned into a visitor attraction. And over in Katendrecht, the Fenix Food Factory brings together brewers, bakers and small producers in a warehouse facing the water: perfect for a meal like the locals.

Finding your way easily

PlaceFrom the terminal
Erasmus Bridge and north bank10 to 15 minutes on foot
Markthal and Cube HousesAbout 25 minutes on foot or by metro from Wilhelminaplein
Central Station2 metro stops
DelfshavenA short metro or tram ride
EuromastAbout 10 minutes by taxi

Yellow water taxis also criss-cross the Maas: between Hotel New York and downtown, the crossing becomes an attraction in itself.

Back by the river

In the late afternoon, the low light skims the glass façades and the Maas takes on metallic reflections. From the gangway, you then appreciate what makes this port call unique: a great port city that turned its war wound into an architectural playground. Rotterdam doesn't try to charm at first sight. It prefers to surprise, to question and then to convince. And as you walk back up the gangway, you catch yourself wanting to come back one day to see what the cranes will have built next.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam on the Wilhelminakade, directly on the Meuse. The location is a rare luxury: no compulsory shuttle, no industrial zone to cross. The Erasmus Bridge is right there and leads to the centre in ten to fifteen minutes on foot.
On foot over the Erasmus Bridge, or by metro: Wilhelminaplein station is on the corner, two stops from Central Station. Yellow water taxis also cross the Meuse, and the ride becomes an attraction in itself.
Because it was destroyed by the bombing of May 1940 and chose to rebuild itself resolutely modern. No old steeples, no gabled canals: glass towers, bold bridges and cranes. The result surprises, sometimes provokes, and usually wins people over.
A covered market under an immense horseshoe arch, where cheese, fish and stroopwafel stalls line up beneath a vault painted with giant fruit. It is one of the city's most photographed buildings, steps from the cube houses.
The Kubuswoningen by architect Piet Blom, tilting their yellow faces above the street. One of them can be visited, and you quickly see why the residents had to reinvent their furniture.
Delfshaven, the former outport of Delft, which escaped the bombs. Its narrow quays, gabled warehouses and windmill restore pre-war Holland. It was from here that the Pilgrim Fathers left Europe in 1620 before joining the Mayflower; their church still stands at the water's edge.
At the Euromast, whose platform rises to 185 metres: on a clear day the view runs from the docks out to the polders. It is the best way to grasp the scale of one of Europe's largest ports.
A former Holland America Line transatlantic liner moored alongside and converted for visits. On the terminal quay itself, Hotel New York occupies the same company's old headquarters, from which emigrant liners once sailed for America.
At the Fenix Food Factory in Katendrecht, which gathers brewers, bakers and small producers in a warehouse facing the water. The café-restaurant at Hotel New York, right on the quay, is also worth a stop for the atmosphere.
No, and it is better to know that. Anyone coming for postcard Holland will be disappointed: here contemporary architecture takes the leading role. Rotterdam does not try to charm at first sight; it prefers to surprise, question, then convince.