13 Unique and Weird Places to Go in Rotterdam
Maybe you’re sick of doing (and seeing) the conventional things, so I’ve put together this list of unique and maybe slightly weird places to go Rotterdam.
In comparison to the rest of the Netherlands, Rotterdam is very unconventional and filled to the brim with unique architecture, innovation, and attractions.
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Here are just 10 unique and weird places to go in Rotterdam in a weekend to get you started. Ready?
Let’s go.
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1. Dine in a Moving UFO Restaurant
If you’re looking for ‘all-inclusive’ food packages, to eat and drink to your heart’s content, you’re in luck. Located in the south of Rotterdam, the UFO restaurant takes you to new heights, with its UFO-shaped restaurant that goes up to 42 meters high. Not only unique but THE place to get an incredible view of the Rotterdam skyline.
2. Check Out a Floating Forest
Yep, you heard right – a bobbing (floating) forest. This is certainly not something you’ll see every day, so check it out. If you head to the Karendrecht district you’ll find lots of trees attached to buoys floating around in the water, then you’ll know you’re in the right place.
3. Catch a Bus… That Floats
Do floating buses exist? Well, they do in Rotterdam. Splash tours provide Rotterdam tours in a bus that also doubles up as a boat. At the start of your tour, you’ll have a tour on the road and then right after you’ll hit the Maas river – literally. Another unique and pretty weird attraction – something you can’t do every day (unless you live here of course). 😉
4. Check Out Rotterdam’s ‘Butt Plug’ Statue
Rotterdam has many great statues located all over the city. However, there’s one statue in particular that has caught the eye of many tourists and locals. The designer Paul McCarthy designed a statue depicting santa holding a christmas tree… but it certainly doesn’t look like that. Check it out for yourself and see what you think.
5. Eat at one of the coolest McDonalds in the World
The McDonalds located on the Coolsingel was actually considered as one of the ugliest buildings originally. You’d expect some really weird McDonalds, but it’s pretty simple (and I think it’s pretty cool looking). The McDonald’s is essentially a glass cube with a spiral staircase that almost looks like a children’s slide. It’s open really late too, so it’s the perfect place to go after having one too many. 😉
6. Catch a Water Taxi as an Alternative Form of Transport
If you want a quick, easy, and unique way to get around, then catching a water taxi is a great alternative. Even if you don’t have a destination in mind, it’s still a great way to see and travel around the city.
7. Relax Inside a Floating Hot Tub
In Rotterdam you can rent a ‘hot tug‘, essentially a hot tub that doubles up as a boat, so you can float along the Rotterdam harbour. It’s cool, it’s weird and it’s certainly unique. So pop open a bottle of bubbly, relax and do a bit of sightseeing.
8. Visit a Unique Rotterdam Bar
Rotterdam is filled with amazing bars and some of them are totally unique. Immerse yourself in cool rooftop bars, secret bars, and bars inside an old swimming pool complex. ‘Aloha’ is a bar that many locals just won’t go to as it shatters their childhood memories of enjoying a great swimming pool.
9. Eat Unlimited Pancakes While on a Boat Trip
Quite possibly one of the best boat tours out there. While you’re cruising along the Rotterdam harbour, taking it all in – you’ll have unlimited access to pancakes. A trip we never knew we needed in our lives.
10. Have a Coffee With Some Cats at a Cat Cafe
Cat cafes have become more and more popular across the world and Rotterdam is one of those cities that has one. So if you need a furry friend in your life, along with wanting a strong coffee, then it’s time to visit one.
11. Check Out the Coolest Cube-Shaped Buildings
The cube houses are certainly unique and a must-see in Rotterdam. The cube houses are exactly how you’d imagine – crazy cube-shaped buildings. You can pay a small fee to go into one to see how weird they are for yourself.
12. Check Out the Iconic Central Station
You may have already seen Rotterdam Central Station on your way in, but if not then you MUST go (and it doesn’t even matter if you don’t want to catch a train). Rotterdam’s central station is so unique, modern, and innovative.
13. Do Some Sightseeing… by Segway
City segway tours certainly aren’t unusual in large cities anymore, but you still can’t help but think that they look super weird when they cruise past you on a tour. If you’ve been dying to try it out and see what it’s like, then Rotterdam is the place to try a Segway tour.
I hope you enjoyed this article on weird places to go in Rotterdam. Looking for other Rotterdam guides? Check this out:
*Image by Michael Bußmann from Pixabay