If you’re looking for a Dutch city that feels nothing like the postcard-perfect canals of Amsterdam, Rotterdam is your place. It is, without a doubt, one of the most modern cities in the Netherlands.

WWII left much of the historic center in ruins, and the city used that blank canvas to become a playground for architecture and urban design. You will find many different architectural styles here.

I don’t know much about architecture, but I do know you’ll find many different modern styles in this beautiful city.

For a street photographer, Rotterdam is a dream. It’s a city of “firsts”: the first pedestrianized shopping street (Koopgoot), which offers different vantage points, and the world’s first accessible art storage (The Depot).

Getting to Rotterdam and around the city

Rotterdam is incredibly accessible, making it one of the best day trips in the Benelux region.

From Antwerp and Brussels: A quick ride on the Eurostar or about an hour on the Intercity train brings you straight into the futuristic hull of Rotterdam Centraal.
From Amsterdam: It’s only 40 minutes by high-speed train from Amsterdam Central.
Navigating the City: The city isn’t huge, but it’s spread out. The metro and tram systems are great, but for the best experience, use the Watertaxi. It’s fast and affordable, and it’s just fun to do once.

24 Hours in Rotterdam: A Modern City in the Netherlands

If you’re looking for a Dutch city that feels nothing like the postcard-perfect canals of Amsterdam, Rotterdam is your place. It is, without a doubt, the most modern city in the Netherlands. While WWII left much of the historic center in ruins, the city used that blank canvas to become a global playground for experimental architecture and bold urban design.

For a street photographer or anyone who loves a city with “edge,” Rotterdam is a dream. It’s a city of “firsts”: the first pedestrianized shopping street (Koopgoot) and the world’s first accessible art storage (The Depot).

Getting There and Around

Rotterdam is incredibly accessible, making it one of the best day trips in the Benelux region.

From Antwerp: A quick ride on the Eurostar or about an hour on the Intercity train brings you straight into the futuristic hull of Rotterdam Centraal.
From Amsterdam: It’s only 40 minutes by high-speed train from Amsterdam Central. If you’re staying in the capital, Rotterdam is the easiest “modern” escape you can find.
Navigating the City: The city isn’t huge, but it’s spread out. The metro and tram systems are flawless, but for the best experience, use the Watertaxi. It’s fast, affordable, and gives you the best perspective of the skyline from the Maas River.

Where to eat in Rotterdam: My favorite spots

Rotterdam’s food scene is as diverse as its population. Forget tourist traps; these are the spots I actually visit when I’m in town.

Breakfast & Coffee

Hopper Coffee: A staple for any caffeine lover. They roast their own beans and bake their own sourdough.
Harvest: Located near the Glashaven, this place has some of the best brunch vibes and water views.
Kopi Soesoe: Located in the Katendrecht district. It’s an Indonesian-inspired espresso bar that doubles as a music stage. Very chill, very authentic.

Dining

The Goat: Go here for the Kimchi Loaded Fries. It’s messy, spicy, and exactly what you need after a day of walking.
Uncle Wang (in Markthal): Amazing dumplings and noodles right in the heart of the city’s most famous landmark.
Burger Trut: A quirky spot with great burgers and a punk-rock soul that fits the Rotterdam vibe perfectly.
De Pizzabakkers: Delicious pizza, slightly out of the city center, but worth the detour.

The Food Halls

If you can’t decide on one dish, head to one of the three major hubs for a combination of different dishes:

Markthal: The iconic horseshoe building. Look up at the “Horn of Plenty” mural while you eat.
Fenix Food Factory: Located in an old warehouse in Katendrecht. It’s artisanal, raw, and perfect for a craft beer.
Foodhallen: A bit more polished, located in the historic Pakhuis Meesteren.

Museums and places to visit in Rotterdam

You can’t visit Rotterdam without soaking in some culture and architecture.

Nederlands Fotomuseum: Now relocated to the stunning Santos Warehouse in Rijnhaven. As a photographer, this is my North Star.
Depot van Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: The giant reflective “bowl” in Museumpark. It’s the first museum storage facility in the world that you can actually tour.
Fenix: A cultural powerhouse focusing on stories of migration, housed in a breathtakingly renovated warehouse. Make sure to visit the mirror ‘tornado’ on the roof too.
Kunsthal: No permanent collection, but always rotating, high-quality exhibits.
The Architecture: Make sure to walk through the Koopgoot (the sunken shopping street), cross the Erasmusbridge, and marvel at the Cube Houses.

Nederlands Fotomuseum

For me, as a photographer, the Nederlands Fotomuseum is always the centerpiece of my trips to Rotterdam. If you’re visiting in 2026, you’re seeing it in a whole new light. The museum recently moved into Pakhuis Santos, a stunningly renovated coffee warehouse in the Rijnhaven district. It’s the perfect blend of industrial history and ultra-modern architecture.

Permanent exhibitions:

The Gallery of Honour: 99 iconic images that define Dutch history. It’s an essential crash course in visual storytelling.
Rotterdam in Focus: A special exhibition (running through May 2026) showcasing the city’s evolution through the lens, from 1843 to today’s drone-captured cityscapes.
The Open Depots: Unlike most museums, you can look through glass walls to watch conservators restore fragile negatives from their 6-million-item collection in real time.

My Personal Rotterdam Diary

After a train ride from Antwerp, I arrived at Rotterdam Centraal at around 9:50 am. Exiting the train station, you already have an immediate view of the modern city. On one side of the station, you have a bus and tram stop; on the other, there’s a photogenic bicycle tunnel.

I headed straight, then left into the shopping district. As it was still fairly early, there were not as many people yet. But with the sun shining, it still provided me with interesting compositions.

Ofcourse, I roamed as far as the Markthal and Cube Houses, which are a must-visit when in Rotterdam. At the Markthal, there’s also a market on some days, which can be an interesting spot for those who like candid street photography.

From there, I walked to Hopper Coffee for a nice lunch: Bruschetta with truffle salami.

From there, there are many places to go. I walked around the museum park with the iconic Museum Depot Boijmans (which looks like a big silver bowl). Perfect for some reflection photography. There are usually people around there too.

The park is linked to another park where you can also find the Euromast tower. It’s a slight detour to the Erasmusbridge, but coming this way gives you a good angle on the bridge.

After crossing the bridge, I arrived at the Kop van Zuid and Fenix Museum. Behind the Fenix Museum, you can find the coffee bar Kopi Soesoe, where I met up with a friend for a quick coffee.

After I headed to the Nederlands Fotomuseum, which has recently reopened. The building is big, huge even.

Inside, you can find several exhibitions. One is permanent, with the most important photos from Dutch history. Next, you can find exhibitions on the conservation of their archives.

Next, there are two large floors with alternating exhibitions. For more information, visit their website: https://nederlandsfotomuseum.nl/

After that, I explored the southern side of Rotterdam a bit more, crossed the Erasmusbridge again, and then had dinner at The Goat (right next to Hopper Coffee). A big portion of kimchi-loaded fries got me all happy.

After, you guessed, some more roaming and exploring, I headed to the central station again at around 7:30 pm to catch my train at 8 pm.