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Rotterdam Facts
Getting There
Rotterdam's Zestienhoven Airport (tel. 010/446-3455), 4km (2 1/2 miles) north of the city, has flights from a few destinations in the Netherlands and Europe. Bus no. 33 takes you to and from the city center; a taxi to downtown is 16€ ($20). Netherlands Railways has fast train service (30 min.) from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport, for a fare of 9.40€ ($12) one-way.
There's frequent train service to Rotterdam Centraal Station from around the Netherlands, and from Paris and Brussels. From Amsterdam, there are at least two trains each hour around the clock; the trip takes around 40 minutes. For information on train schedules, call tel. 0900/9292.
The Hoek van Holland sea-ferry terminal, for car ferries from Harwich in England, is 20km (13 miles) away, and there's good bus and train connections. Rotterdam's Europoort, the terminal for P&O North Sea Ferries (also carrying cars) from Hull in England, is about a 30-minute drive.
By car from Amsterdam, take A4/E19, and then A13/E19.
Visitor Information
VVV Rotterdam, Coolsingel 67, 3012 AC Rotterdam (tel. 0900/403-4065; fax 010/413-3124; www.vvvrotterdam.nl; Metro: Stadhuis), on the corner of Stadhuisplein, is open Monday to Thursday from 9:30am to 6pm, Friday from 9:30am to 9pm, Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm, and Sunday (Apr-Sept) from noon to 5pm. Staff can arrange accommodations and provide a city map that shows major attractions. Before setting out to experience Rotterdam, stop by the office to pick up the helpful Information Guide.
Getting Around
Rotterdam's sprawling size makes it a city to be explored on foot one area at a time, using a taxi or the extensive public transportation network of bus, tram, and Metro (which runs on north-south and east-west axes) to move from one area to another. The VVV can furnish a map of public transportation routes. Taxi stands are sprinkled throughout the city; or call Rotterdamse Taxi Centrale (tel. 010/462-6060).
Special Events
The festival year kicks off with the International Film Festival (tel. 010/890-9090), which has established a reputation over 3 decades for presenting quality independent films. During 10 days in late January/early February, huge numbers of film buffs find their way to cinemas around the city center to watch one or more of about 300 films shown on 15 screens.
Another festival worth looking out for is the multicultural Summer Carnival (tel. 010/414-1772) and its colorful street parade, on the last weekend of July.
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