What to do when visiting Kop van Zuid as an expat during your stay in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam City Guide: What to do around Kop van Zuid as an expat?

24/10/2019

‘Kop van Zuid’, the place to be in the 50’s when you wanted to emigrate to the United States of America. Back then it was better known as the Wilhelminapier. Nowadays, it is a place where old meets new. Modern architects like Álvaro Siza, Renzo Piano, Francine Houben, Norman Foster and Rotterdam’s own Rem Koolhaas have designed these buildings. Read our guide to find out what to visit during your stay in Rotterdam at Kop van Zuid.

Modern Architecture at Kop van Zuid

Located at Kop van Zuid are lots of modern buildings like the ‘Wilhelminatoren’, the ‘Maastoren’ and ‘De Rotterdam’. It is a real heaven for photographers and shows the people that the city of Rotterdam now has become a beacon of modern architecture and one of the economic hearts in the Netherlands.

Hotel New York

During the 50’s lots of people from Europe came to Rotterdam to board the cruise ship of the ‘Holland-Amerika Lijn’ to start a new life. Nowadays the tables have turned. Rotterdam is a city where lots of foreigners want to work and life. To find out how people were welcomed before traveling towards the United States you should pay a visit to ‘Hotel New York’. 

 

Lost luggage depot at Kop van Zuid

This beautiful building is renovated into its original shape and stands out from all the modern buildings build at Kop van Zuid. Situated in ‘Hotel New York’ is the oldest and perhaps the best male barbershop of Rotterdam called ‘New York Barbershop’. It is not the most cheapest option, but for men a once in a lifetime must-visit. Afterwards you can visit the somewhat hidden cocktailbar NY Basement to celebrate your new haircut!

Another spot nearby Hotel New York that should really appeal is a sculpture called ‘Lost Luggage Depot’. This sculpture remembers us about the history of the pier where Hotel New York is located. From this pier millions of people left Europe to sail for Ellis Island pursuing a better life in the United States of America.

Cultural heaven

Lantarenvenster at Kop van Zuid

The Kop van Zuid is a host for lots of different cultural buildings. It hosts a cinema-theatre called ‘Lantarenvenster’, and its focus lays within the more cultural movies and not the blockbuster movies. Above that it hosts lots of music events. 

Great artists like Snarky Puppy, Little Dragon, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Brandford Marsalis and Orchestra Baobab have played the stage. You can still expect expect jazz, soul and world music from the likes of Lucky Peterson, Avishai Cohen, Richard Bona and Dayna Kurtz in the near future.

Another theatre is located at ‘Kop van Zuid’ called ‘Nieuwe Luxor’. It is one of the biggest theatres of The Netherlands and it hosts international entertainers, musicals, stageplays, concerts and comedy shows.

Outside the Luxor there is also quite a view. You can check out the Bobbing Forest. This landmark consists of water-filled tanks and floating bobs with actual trees in the water of the Rijnhaven.

Bobbing Forest at Kop van Zuid

National photo museum

Fan of photography? Than a visit to the national photo museum called ‘Nederlands Fotomuseum’ should be on your list. It is located on ‘Kop van Zuid’ nearby the cruise terminal and has different exhibitions during the year. The best of the very best works of Dutch photographers are shown at ‘Nederlands Fotomuseum’. A ticket for adults costs around 15 euros.

Fine dining

Most of the restaurants located on ‘Kop van Zuid’ are upper class. If you want to experience fine dining ‘Kop van Zuid’ is the right place. Restaurants like Allure, Aqua Asia and HMB are the places to be when you like or want to try out fine dining. 

Foodhallen at Kop van Zuid

The staff of HMB also operates Rolph's Deli, a spot for breakfast and lunch that serves a golden cappuccino! Ono is also worth mentioning. Rotterdam’s best sushi is served here and even Madonna dined at Ono!

Want to have more affordable choices? Than the ‘Foodhallen’ is the place to go. This former warehouse is now home to a food court with a wide range of international cuisine. 

Also the Nhow hotel is a popular place to go. It has a bar on the seventh floor with a spectacular view on The Erasmusbrug and the north bank of the city center.

Housing

Riva offers quite a lot of apartments in this modern part of town. For example in The Montevideo. Hopefully we have shared some great ideas in this guide for visiting Kop van Zuid during your stay in Rotterdam as an expat. Stay tuned for more tips and tricks for other districts!

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