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Seaport in the Netherlands
Photo: Wikifrits, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
The Port of Rotterdam is a district in Rotterdam, making up a large part of the southern banks of the River Meuse. These harbours are all post-war additions to the city, mostly replacing this historical harbours on the northern banks. These harbours are the Botlek, Europoort, Eerste- and Tweede Maasvlakte (literally: First and Second Meuse flat), as well as the harbours surrounding the town of Pernis.
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Port of Rotterdam Visitor Centre
Museum of the port of Rotterdam, specifically focussing on the recent (2013) addition of the Tweede Maasvlakte. The museum features exhibits the like of an interactive maquette, a film hall, as well as several interactive exhibits. The museum organises sightseeing of the "Gateway to Europe" by ferry and bus.
Guided bus tour
Tour of the Port of Rotterdam, specifically the Tweede Maasvlakte. The guide speaks Dutch, but audiotours and factsheets are available in English and German as well. The latter is provided on the bus, the former is done through the FutureLand app. If you plan to follow the audiotour, it is requested that you bring your own headphones to listen along. If you or someone accompanying you has limited mobility, it is recommended that you call in advance to see whether the bus tour is possible.
Guided ferry tour
Similar to the bus tour listed above, the ferry takes you across the Tweede Maasvlakte, or both the Eerste and Tweede Maasvlakte. The guide gives information in Dutch, but audiotours and factsheets are available in English and German. The ferries are wheelchair-accessible and dock right behind the visitor centre.
A 1.6 km long concrete wall, testament to the fact that when given an element, the Dutch will try to conquer it. After the water was conquered, the wind was next. The Wind Wall exists to remove the wind's influence on large cargo ships navigating the Calandkanaal, especially through the Calandbrug bridge.
Maeslant Barrier
Storm surge barrier completed in 1997 as the last part of the Delta Works, a plan set in place to defend the low-lying Netherlands against flooding. The barrier gates are able to close off the Nieuwe Waterweg completely, defending Rotterdam against excessive flooding. The barriers are almost always opened, but are closed about once a year around September to verify its workings. It has been closed because of storm surges twice, once in Novembe 2007 and once in early January 2018. The visitors centre is located on the northern bank, in Hoek van Holland.
Windmill dating back to 1887, when it was built to replace an older 1658 mill, which had to be demolished due to waterworks along the Scheur (which nowadays is the Nieuwe Waterweg to the north of Rozenburg). The mill hasn't been milling actively since the early 1960s, but can be used as a wedding venue or can be visited on an appointment-basis.
Meuseflat Beach
A generally quiet beach on the south end of the Tweede Maasvlakte. A dedicated nudist beach is located just north of the P1 parking.
If you own a boat yourself, you might well want to explore the 42 km long port in your own vessel. Naturally, this is possible. The Port of Rotterdam offers you the necessary information needed when sailing through the Riverguide app and the linked website. The most essential rules to follow are to keep to the starboard rank, listen to the VHF and report if you are requested to do so. Keep a good view of your surroundings, including what's behind you, and navigate your crossings as straight as possible, keeping a clear view of the port entrance.
Only accessible to golfers that are a member of the Royal Dutch Golfing Federation, this golf course is located on a peninsula between the Brielse Meer and Hartelkanaal. There are some local rules to follow, which are best inquired about when signing up to play.
By public transit
Though the harbours are covered in railways, these are for goods only. For passengers, there is only one connection to the Rotterdam Metro at {{Station|Pernis|city=Rotterdam|C}}.
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