What can an expat or tourist do in the beautiful Scheepsvaartkwartier?

This part of Rotterdam is not the most well-known part for tourists and expats, even though the Euromast is located here. What can you do when you are living in or visiting the ‘Scheepshavenkwartier’?

As said The Euromast towers this classic neighbourhood and Rotterdam for that matter. Because this landmark is still the biggest building in the city, standing 185 meters tall. At 100 meters there is a restaurant with a view and on the platform and in the Euroscoop, a rotating glass elevator, you really feel on top of Rotterdam.

On the other side of the district it's counterpart is erected. The Zalmhaven will be the tallest skyscraper in the Benelux, measuring 215 meters. The two adjacent residential towers connect the complex, as a visual staircase, to the lower Scheepvaartkwartier.

This district is also the starting point of Spido and the RotterTram.

Rotterdam’s most famous park

With your feet back on the ground you can visit the beautiful park behind the Euromast. The locals simply call it The Park or Euromastpark. It is one of the biggest green spaces in Rotterdam and a beacon of silence and relaxation in this city. During the summer lots of people enjoy the sun, play soccer, walk the dog, enjoy a drink at Parqiet or fire up a bbq. At the moment you can enjoy an Indian Summer Rotterdam style.  

Other activities around the park are minigolf, you can defy try to flee an escape room on a boat or you can board an amphibian bus for a splashtour. Or cross the Kievitlaan and enter Historische Tuin Schuinoord, a hundreds of years old historically original garden.

Parkheuvel is located in the park as well. It's a two Michelin star restaurant.

Dutch meals at its best

The Pannekoekenboot is a boat on which you can eat Dutch pancakes and enjoy the harbor during a 75-minute tour. You can eat as many pancakes as you like with lots of different toppings to choose from.

More of a savory type? Then you can visit Granny's Grill, serving the best spare ribs in the city. Or visit the Ballentent. An authentic Rotterdams restaurant where lots of variations of the meatball are served. Maybe you'll enjoy dinner next to a so called Havenbaron. Translated it literally says: Harbor Barons. These are the old school local businessmen who earn their living in the harbor.

Zeezout is one of the best fish restaurants of the city and Dewi Sri is one of the oldest Indonesian restaurants of Rotterdam.

Het Scheepvaartkwartier is a new lunchspot and if you're able to find the Docter you're in for a treat. This speakeasy offers the best cocktails on description. 

Loos has been located in the monumental Atlantic house since 1988, opposite the historic Veerhaven and is one of the best known grand café restaurants in Rotterdam. With it's timeless interior this café is a meeting place for the ages. 

Quite a new hotspot is Mavis. The owners of Bird opened up this classic cocktail bar, an intimate restaurant and a stylish dance floor. All in one.

The old harbor

Those barons traditionally visit this part of the city because it once was an important harbor. The firms had their offices there and a lot of entrepreneurs resided on the adjacent nearby Parklaan. In the ‘Veerhaven’ lots of old sailboats and yachts are anchored up. Here you can really see how Rotterdam looked in the old times. That’s why it’s popular for taking pictures with your loved one due to the old setting. After the romantic picture you can have a intimate dinner at Louise, this French bistro was recently proclaimed as the best new restaurant in Rotterdam.

Near the Veerhaven another must visit is het Westelijk Handelsterrein. A former warehouse filled with restaurants, shops and galleries. Next to this warehouse by FLIPP presents two concepts under one roof: MARA Restaurant and On the Rockx Bar.

Rotterdam, city of cultures

Rotterdam is known for its cultural awareness and the Wereldmuseum is another great example of it. This museum its main points of interest are the cultures in the past and present. It has over 1800 objects of different cultures of Asia, Africa and Oceania. Another interesting museum is the Belasting-en Doanemuseum. It shows the visitors the world of taxes and customs which might sound boring, but not when it tells you stories about smuggling and tax evaders, does it?

Riva Rentals has (short stay) apartments in the Hoge Heren or this one located at Scheepsvaartkwartier, with a splendid view over the Maas river and the famous Erasmusbridge.

Hopefully we have shared some great ideas in this guide for visiting ‘Scheepsvaartkwartier’ during your stay in Rotterdam as an expat or international student. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks for other districts!

All photo's by Titia Hahne/NCP