A stroll from Rotterdam city centre to the Erasmus Bridge

Start at Rotterdam Blaak station.

(S) On leaving the station, head right towards the cube houses. Climb the stairs situated between them and the large tower. Cross the square overlooked by these large cubes (Kijk-Kubus) and spanning the wide avenue Overblaak, then head down the other side.

At the bottom of the steps, turn right to weave your way between the buildings and the Oude Haven (the harbour basin). Continue along the building until you reach Gelderseplein, then take the passage on your right that goes under the glass CitizenM building.

On the other side of the building, cross the road at the pedestrian crossing on your left and head towards the Markthal, the curved building in front of you.

(1) You’re now at the entrance to the Markthal. Go through the revolving doors and walk through the market, following the tempting smells from the stalls. Once you reach the other side, exit through the revolving doors and turn right towards St Lawrence’s Church in front of you.
N.B. If the idea of walking through this market bores you, you can always go round it on the outside.

(2) At the junction, follow Hoogstraat to the left. Walk straight on, past the many shop windows and vendors selling stroopwafels, until you see the tall tower of the Rotterdam World Trade Centre slightly to your right. At this point, still heading straight on, you’ll come to a downward passageway. Take it, walk through the underground shopping arcade, passing under the North-South tram tracks, then head back up.

(3) At the exit of the underground shopping arcade, turn left and cross the tram tracks. Turn left again and walk along the tracks on your left. Turn right before the junction and walk along a boulevard (Coolsingel). At the crossroads (large sculpture made of barrels and melting figures), cross Westblaak.

(4) Then turn left and cross Schiedamsedijk to find yourself at the foot of the Maritiem Museum, Rotterdam’s Maritime Museum. Continue along the right-hand side of the museum. At the corner of the museum, head right towards a basin.

Walk around the basin on the left. Take the footbridge on the right to cross it. On the other side, turn left and follow the quay (Leuvenhaven). Walk behind the hotels and other buildings. Just before a road bridge, climb the steps leading up to it. Cross the road, turn left and take the bridge.

Immediately afterwards, go down the steps on the right to reach a small park where De Boeg stands, an impressive World War^II memorial. Walk around the park clockwise along the New Meuse.

Find the access steps and climb them. Turn left to cross the bridge again. Then turn left and go straight on between the sculptures and the quay. When you reach the Erasmus Bridge (Erasmusbrug), climb the steps on the right to reach the bridge.

(5) Turn left onto the Erasmusbrug and cross the New Meuse. On the other side, cross the road and the tram tracks. You will immediately find the Wilhelminaplein metro station (E) on your left.

? Public transport
Starting point: You can reach the start of the walk using the many public transport options heading to Rotterdam-Blaak station: train, metro, tram... A large bicycle park is also available there.
At the end: At Wilhelminaplein metro station, you can buy RET tickets to use the city’s public transport. This makes it easy to return to the station or visit other attractions in the city, such as the Euromast, the zoo or one of its many museums.

ℹ General information
- Duration: The duration shown is based on an average walking pace. However, if you’d like to take your time, wander off and stop here and there, you should easily allow 2 to 3 hours for the outing.

In order of visit:
- Kijk-Kubus / The cube houses: These houses, with their distinctive, very contemporary architecture, can be visited at Overblaak 70, between 10am and 6pm daily (kubuswoning.nl, €3).
- Oude Haven: This harbour is the oldest in the city.
- Markthal (1): A large covered market with unconventional architecture. Don’t forget to look up at the ceiling! Opening hours: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm / Fri 10am–9pm / Sun 12pm–6pm.
- St. Laurenskerk / St. Lawrence’s Church: You can visit it by taking a short detour to the right once you’re on Hoogstraat, immediately after (2); it is the city’s only remaining medieval building. Open Tue–Sat 10/11 am–5 pm (laurenskerkrotterdam.nl €3).
- Hoogstraat: A large pedestrianised street lined with shops.
- De Boeg: War memorial commemorating the victims of the 1939–1945 war (1940–45 in the Netherlands).
- Erasmusbrug / Erasmus Bridge (5): Rotterdam’s iconic bridge.