Rotterdam is a city of bold ideas, vibrant streets, and creative energy. Here’s my guide to my perfect short stay: a brief but inspiring escape.
Arriving by train at Central Station immediately sets the tone. Rotterdam feels cosmopolitan, modern, and alive with creative spirit. Outside the station, you might even spot BMX riders practising tricks. A first glimpse of the city’s dynamic pulse. Just along Westblaak, skateboarders add their own rhythm to the urban tempo.
The station itself is a beautiful welcome. Designed by Team CS — a collaboration between Benthem Crouwel Architects, MVSA and West 8 — it replaced the original by architect Sybold van Ravesteyn. Central Station has a dramatic stainless-steel roof, soaring ceilings, warm wood interiors and huge windows. Floating above the main entrance hall: a poetic light installation by Studio Drift. You arrive not just in a city, but in an international mindset.
My favourite triangle? Food, fashion, and museums.
Everything comes together around Witte de Withstraat, Chinatown and Museumpark. This part feels different from Amsterdam: edgier, lighter, full of experimental energy. That sense of openness and possibility is exactly why this is my preferred short-stay neighbourhood.
With just 36 hours to explore, you’re already in the right place. Museumpark is home to seven museums, including the shimmering Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, with its 360° rooftop cityscape — designed by MVRDV. And the ever-inspiring Kunsthal, where exhibitions flow between contemporary art, fashion, photography, and design. Always surprising, never predictable. Just a few streets away, a mix of Southeast Asian supermarkets and family-owned eateries brings flavours from Hong Kong, Hanoi, Surinam and beyond into the heart of the city.
For skincare and fashion lovers, Van Oldenbarneveltstraat is the destination. Think Retreat for skin treatments and curated beauty brands. Mostert & Van Leeuwen for designer collections. And of course, Wendela van Dijk at the corner, where I bought my first pair of Isabel Marant Beckett sneakers.
Looking for somewhere to stay? Hotel Âme feels like a quiet retreat.
Housed in a monumental building from 1867, its exterior holds onto a sense of classic charm. Inside, natural materials and a soft colour palette inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics create a calming sense of space. Downstairs, you’ll find a minimalist café for the perfect breakfast stop and a curated store full of thoughtful treasures.
And where we used to eat as a family?
Restaurant Tai Wu. A yum cha staple, full of unforgettable memories.
Images of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen and Rotterdam taken by the author. Retreat visuals shared with kind permission.
Some favourites to explore:
www.retreat.nl
www.mostertvanleeuwen.nl
www.hotelame.com
www.wendelavandijk.com
