5 Ways to be a Rotterdammer (or, The Delegate Experience)

If you had asked me five years ago about the popularity of Rotterdam, I think it would have been a challenge to give an objective opinion. Because, clearly, I am a fan. And I live and work in the city. And I am raising my family here. So, not objective. Sorry (not sorry).

Fortunately for both you and me, there are other, more objective voices out there. The mainstream media says great things about Rotterdam.  We have been on top 5 lists and top 10 lists for a few years now. But, I can hear what you are saying: You can’t believe everything you read. This is true, unless it is corroborated by a local. In which case, my voice becomes useful again.

So here, from me (the local), to you (the visitor I hope to have), is another list: 5 ways to be a Rotterdammer. (For the event managers among you: consider it a cheat sheet for how to impress your client, because the great event manager knows that happy delegates make for a happy client!)

Way # 1: Be Good to Your Soul and visit two cathedrals: Start at Rotterdam’s monumental Gothic church, the Laurenskerk, which survived the war and stood as a symbol of hope for the citizens as they set about building their city of the future. After you’ve gotten your history fix, walk across the Market Square (stop to take a gander at the crazy Cube Houses) to Rotterdam’s unofficial Cathedral of Food: the iconic Markthal. An architectural icon, it features a sweeping arch of a ceiling showcasing the largest work of public art in the world, and the scents and flavors of countless international cuisines in the stalls beneath it.

Way # 2: Get Street Smart and get to know two of Rotterdam’s hippest streets, the Meent, and the Witte de Withstraat. The Meent is a shoppers paradise, and runs from the city’s main artery, the Coolsingel (in Dutch), all the way to the Laurenskerk/Markthal area. Shop and then drop into a comfy seat at classic and trendy cafe eateries like Cafe Brasserie Dudok or THOMS for lunch. Then head over to the Witte de Withstraat which is nice during the day, and twice as nice after dark (shop at Betsy Palmer, Marlies Dekker, and Danny the Cactus, and visit art centre Worm to get your culture fix), before tasting one of 150 different gins at Ballroom, getting your samba on at Latin-American eatery Supermercado, diving into the flavors of the middle east at Bazar, and finishing off the night at De Witte Aap bar.

Way # 3: Be a Culture Vulture and visit one or more of the city’s unique institutions. From the amazing sculpture and graffiti available on the Rotterdam Street Art Route (#streetart), to the city’s Museumpark comprising the NAI (Netherlands Architecture Institute), the Boijmans van Beuningen fine arts museum (Dali to van Gogh, and then some), the modern art expo, the Kunsthal, and the tiny but perfect Natural History Museum.

Way # 4: Take a Walk in the Park and visit the Euromast for breakfast with a view, and a great photo op. From great heights you can take a deep dive into the past, and visit Park Schoonoord (literally “The Beautiful Place”) dating from the 1700s, and one of Rotterdam’s well-kept secrets. Have lunch on the lawn at Café de Parqiet and then go on a quest to find Rotterdam’s other secret location: leave the park and make your way through the historic Shipping Quarter to De Docter Rotterdam, a speakeasy of international fame, for a happy hour to cure all ills and end a great day.

Way # 5: Don’t be a landlubber, live on water! Rotterdam is a port city, and the connection to the sea is everywhere. Walk among the sharks in the Shark Tunnel at Blijdorp Zoo or take a Watertaxi along the Maas River, first stop at historic Hotel New York for a high tea experience, followed by a visit to the urban hot-spot, the Fenix Food Factory, and then back aboard the Watertaxi to the ss Rotterdam, where you can challenge yourself in the onboard Escape Room. End the day with a cocktail on deck with a spectacular view of the Rotterdam skyline and the iconic Erasmusbrug.

So now that I have convinced you that there is lots to do, and that your delegates will end up saying that the Rotterdam edition of your congress was the “best ever” and look back on it fondly for years to come, now comes the question, where should everyone sleep?

Rotterdam has more than 8000 hotel rooms, across all categories, from (award-winning) youth hostels to 5 star properties. Many of our hotels are trusted brand names, like Hilton, Marriot, NH and Holiday Inn. Others are historic properties, like Hotel New York, and the ss Rotterdam (both by West Cord Hotels). Yet others are design oriented properties, like Citizen M, the nhow Hotel, Room Mate Bruno, and Mainport by Inntel Hotels. The choice is yours.

Mainport by Inntel Hotels will be joining Rotterdam Partners at the Holland stand at IMEX America in Las Vegas. You will have an opportunity to find out more about sensationally styled meeting spaces with a maximum number of hotels rooms all under one roof. Mainport is a member of Design Hotels, and offers ultra-flexible meeting space with a maximum capacity of 400 persons at harbor level and a charming view of the city's old Leuvehaven. Adjacent to the Mainport hotel is the stylish Inntel, accessible via an internal passageway, offering flexible options for bigger conferences, up to 800 delegates.

The Inntel's meeting space is on the 16th floor offering a breath-taking view of the Erasmus bridge and the river Maas. The hotels have a combined capacity of 480 bedrooms, and with two restaurants plus a spa, swimming pool & fitness facilities, the hotel offers an all in one solution with easy access by metro, tram and water, stopping in front of the hotels.

Meet with Léonie van der Maale – Esters or myself at IMEX America at booth #A3018 to learn more! Click here to make an appointment and we look forward to seeing you in person!

Want to know more NOW? Visit our dedicated IMEX portal.

Need more objective proof? Here you go!

Events Industry Media Coverage

• Ahoy, Rotterdam (The Meeting Professional)
• Excite, Entice & Engage (The Meeting Professional)

 Mainstream Media Coverage

• Rotterdam Media Coverage 2017 (Rotterdam Partners)
• From Rotterdam Many Left for a New Life (New York Times)
• Rotterdam in the spotlight: from dismal mega-port to 'Dutch Brooklyn' (The Guardian)
• Rotterdam Rail Station rated 5th best in the world (Arcadis)
• Rotterdam Mitigation Meets Adaptation (Sustaina)
• The Cities of the 21st Century will be defined by Water (Fast Co Design)
• An Old City with a New heart (A City Made by People)
• Why Rotterdam is the Coolest City in the Netherlands (Huffington Post)
• Beyond Amsterdam: Why This City Is the Dutch Brooklyn (Vogue)
• 13 reasons why Rotterdam may be Europe's new capital of cool (CNN)
• Planet Appetite: The Surprising Shock of the New in Rotterdam, Holland (Huffington Post)
• Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Reborn to greatness (The Australian)
• Lonely Planet Rotterdam
• Why Rotterdam is the Best City in the Netherlands, with apologies to Amsterdam (G Adventures)

Smart City

• Rotterdam leads the way for Europe’s new smart cities (The New Economy)
• 5 Hidden examples of Rotterdam as a Smart City (Erasmus University)
• Center of Digital Excellence: Pioneers of the Digital Future (CoDE Rotterdam)