Rotterdam eats the way it builds: boldly and with a mix of influences. It is the most multicultural city in the Netherlands, with large Surinamese, Indonesian, Turkish, Moroccan, Cape Verdean and Chinese communities, and the food scene reflects all of them, alongside traditional Dutch snacks and a growing number of ambitious modern restaurants. Here is how to eat and drink your way through the city.
Start with the Markthal
The giant arched market hall beside Blaak station is the easiest introduction. Stalls sell cheese, cured meats, fish, stroopwafels, fresh pasta, spices, dumplings and Dutch classics, and the restaurants and counters around the edges serve everything from a quick lunch to a long meal. Go in the morning for the best choice and the quietest aisles, and look up at the painted ceiling while you eat. Opening hours differ by day and by stall, with the market closing earlier on Sundays, so check the pattern before you plan a dinner there. The Markthal is also a good place to buy edible souvenirs, such as cheese and sweets, for the journey home.
Try the Dutch snacks
Rotterdam is a good place to taste the national favourites. Look for bitterballen, the crisp round croquettes served with mustard, usually with a beer. Try kibbeling, battered chunks of white fish, from a market or fish stall, and herring served the traditional way if you are feeling brave. Stroopwafels are best warm from the stall, when the syrup inside is still soft, and a Dutch cheese tasting, with young and aged Gouda, is a simple pleasure. Fries with mayonnaise are everywhere and are worth trying at least once.
Eat globally
Because the city is so mixed, some of the best meals are not Dutch at all. Indonesian food, the legacy of the colonial era, is a Dutch speciality, and a rijsttafel, a spread of small dishes with rice, is a good way to try many flavours. Surinamese roti, with curried chicken or vegetables, is a Rotterdam favourite and a filling lunch. You will also find excellent Turkish and Moroccan bakeries, Chinese restaurants and Cape Verdean cooking in the neighbourhoods south of the river. Ask your hotel or a local where they eat, because the best places are often small and unglamorous.
Katendrecht and the waterfront
The former harbour peninsula of Katendrecht is the city’s best place for an evening out, with restaurants, bars and cafes around the Deliplein and along the water. It sits close to Fenix and the ss Rotterdam, so it makes a natural dinner stop after a day of sightseeing. The area has a lively, informal feel, and many places spill onto the pavements in summer. Book ahead for weekends at the more popular restaurants, and walk the quay afterwards to see the lights on the river.
Drink with a view
Rotterdam has some of the best settings for a drink in the Netherlands. The brasserie at the Euromast looks over the whole city, the Panorama Bar at Motel One has a roof terrace with skyline views, and the oyster bar and cafe at Hotel New York are classic Rotterdam stops. Historic Delfshaven has terraces along the old harbour and a small brewery, and the ss Rotterdam has several bars and lounges aboard. For a casual evening, look for the terraces around the Oude Haven and the Witte de Withstraat, a lively street of bars and galleries.
Museum meals
Several attractions have restaurants worth a visit in their own right. The Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen has a restaurant on the top floor and a roof with views over the city, and the Kunsthal and the Maritime Museum have cafes that are useful for a break. Booking a table for lunch is wise at weekends.
Practical tips
Dutch kitchens often close earlier than visitors expect, and many restaurants stop serving dinner by about nine in the evening, so plan accordingly. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, and tipping is modest: rounding up or leaving five to ten percent for good service is plenty. Vegetarian and vegan options are easy to find. If you have allergies, say so clearly when ordering, and in the markets ask at each stall. Finally, if you are staying near the centre, the hotels suggested here put you within a short walk of good places to eat.
Markets beyond the Markthal
Rotterdam also has open-air markets, and the big one in the centre runs on certain days of the week with fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers and street food. It is a good place to see how local people shop, and a cheap spot for a snack. Check the market days before you go, because the schedule differs from stall to stall and from season to season.
