48 hours in Rotterdam Netherlands (from an Amsterdam resident!)

Get my Rotterdam guide with 30 recommendations! www.thatch.co/guide/2pf0v4miy...
Watch next - Gouda Video: • UNIQUE Day trip to Gou...
JOIN our Patreon for EXCLUSIVE videos, updates, and livestreams: / awanderlustforlife
Rotterdam Welcome Card WITH public transportation: bit.ly/3YM9GkG (affiliate link)
★★OUR GEAR★★
(affiliate links)
❤️Find all our camera gear + travel necessities: www.amazon.com/shop/awlustfor...
❤️Our favorite Peak Design gear:
Sean's camera bag: peak-design.pxf.io/Py0k2Q
Jessica's camera bag: peak-design.pxf.io/9gWQby
Peak Design strap: peak-design.pxf.io/5gbLXL
Peak Design wrist strap: peak-design.pxf.io/eK4BOj
Peak Design travel tripod: peak-design.pxf.io/QyOeR3
★★Travel Planning★★
Accommodations: bit.ly/YTBookingcomAWFL
Memorable experiences: bit.ly/YTGetYourGuideAWFL
GIVE THE GIFT of memorable experiences: bit.ly/Tinggly-Ultimate-YT
★★SOCIAL★★
💻Facebook: / awanderlustforlife
📷Instagram: / awanderlustforlife
📱Twitter: / awlustforlife
✍️Blog: www.awanderlustforlife.com/
★★VIDEO RESOURCES★★
🎵 Music by Epidemic Sound (www.epidemicsound.com/referra...)
▶️ Super helpful KZbin tool | TubeBuddy (www.tubebuddy.com/awlustforlife)
💻Our SEO tool | Keysearch (bit.ly/2WjttcE)
★★ABOUT US★★
💬 We're Sean and Jessica from the USA and are now expats living in Amsterdam, the Netherlands since 2014. We travel all around Europe to discover new places, good food, and memorable experiences. You'll also find a bunch of Amsterdam content because we love our new home city! Follow our European travel adventures for food and fun 😄
#gorotterdam #visitholland #visitthenetherlands

[@RealConstructor]

I was born near Amsterdam, I grew up near Amsterdam, went to school in Amsterdam and live near Amsterdam, but Rotterdam is a nicer city, down to earth, working people, no arrogance and no misplaced bragging. Rotterdam earns the money by hard work (in the biggest port in Europe), The Hague spends the money (because that’s where the seat of government is) and Amsterdam claims the money (because they’re the capital).

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for explaining your perspective!

[@Man-in-the-green]

Working people? So in Amsterdam they don’t work? How come Metro Amsterdam is the area where the money is made?

[@jokevandermeer68]

​@@Man-in-the-greenwelk geld?

[@dimrrider9133]

@@Man-in-the-green by people from Breda and Rotterdam lol do you really think pico bello can build that ;p

[@daphneschuring5810]

I have born close to Rotterdam but I don't know the places to visit in Amsterdam to eat.

[@jusssie010]

I was born in Cappelle aan den IJssel but grow up in Rotterdam when I turned 3. Our old house became to small so we moved to Zevenkamp one of the surburbans of Rotterdam.. It's an amazing city I go to school, work, live and have fun with friends! I think what makes Rotterdam my favorite city is public transportation, mixed cultures, having one the biggest ports in the world, art and more.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for sharing 😊

[@ArturoHernandez-jj8os]

Que bonito está ese restaurante señorita, parece que está en un jardín rodeada de árboles y toda clase de plantas verdes 🤩🌷🌿🌳🌵🌴🧇🧀🥧😜

[@WillHsiung]

Great timing for the video as I’ll be staying in Den Haag from 9/12-15 as part of my Netherlands trip from Chicago and plan to spend the day in Rotterdam on the 13th.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Excellent! I also have the Rotterdam guide linked in the description if you're looking for more info. Sadly, I don't have a proper Den Haag video yet, but I hope you have a good trip!

[@BrigittevTien]

Although Amsterdam is gorgeous I’m a Rotterdam person 😊 The huge crowds in Adam scare me and Rdam is just a bit more relaxed I feel. You showed it beautifully and now I am hungry 😂

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! Amsterdam does have a lot of quieter parts, too. We have so many amazing neighborhoods that people miss. But Rotterdam is pretty awesome 😎

[@BrigittevTien]

Maybe I need to check your Amsterdam videos (if you have them 😉)

[@scottman895]

Rotterdam looks awesome! I really like all the different food options there. I will for sure have to visit Rotterdam sometime!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Yes, please do! It has such a cool vibe.

[@cheenergies]

Excellent and very informative video especially for foodies. Thank you.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

As a foodie, this means everything. Thank you!

[@explorer88]

Rotterdam seems like a good city to be, appreciated your tips on Welcome card, to save money, water taxi is fun, Markthal is interesting place to explore. Thanks for making this video and sharing.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thanks for watching! I'm so glad you enjoyed the video!

[@JasonRamosNJ]

I visited Rotterdam it rained soo hard I could only do The Giant Food Hall. I couldnt believe I was soo close to the yellow tree houses and all of these great things. I have to hunt down the Picasso! Thank you for your content!

[@dimrrider9133]

cube houses ;p

[@hidavidwen]

Ah cool, didn't know about the Foodhallen in Rotterdam-gotta check it out next time! I like how there's actually space...I go to the Amsterdam one quite often but it's usually too busy, and I usually up losing my voice by the end of it hah

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I totally get that. Amsterdam's Foodhallen got crowded fast. We lived nearby when it opened and it was an instant hit!

[@willemkaret1568]

Next time, get a taste of the Rotterdam music scene. People dancing open air salsa on Stadhuisplein on summer Tuesdays with Striktly, Sunday morning concert (EUR 7,0) at Heerenhuyskamerconcerten in Dudok in het Park (have lunch afterwards at the venue), Sunday afternoon free concert at Stadspark Grote Kerkplein in front of Laurenskerk, young professional musicians at Batavierhuis. Rotterdam has a conservatoire world music so there are many talented musicians playing all over the city at any opportunity they get.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for the tips!

[@JulesStoop]

4:47 Still by far the largest. By gross tonnage it’s larger than Europe’s No. 2 (Antwerp) + No. 3 (Hamburg) + No. 4 (Amsterdam) added together. Looking at TEU’s (container) throughput, its ~30% larger than No. 2 (Antwerp) and ~60% larger than No. 3 (Hamburg).

[@danikhan662]

Beautiful place 😊, Enjoy life Friend

[@dimrrider9133]

Coming from Breda and helped to rebuild Rotterdam for 30 years but also worked in Amsterdam at the Holland Casino as a carpenter i can tell you that Rotterdam is by far my favo city and even more the people 😎

[@auntclaudia]

Rotterdam! Born and raised. No contest 😊😎😁

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ohhh, hi! Then I would love to know a spot we didn't go to that we need to visit next time...if you're willing to share 😊

[@auntclaudia]

Hi! I am not a foodie. Dus aan mij heb je niets op dat gebied.

[@Man-in-the-green]

Rotterdam born, but very glad I live in Amsterdam. ❌❌❌

[@dutchyjhome]

Hey Jessica, Mokum is not really a synonym for Amsterdam on it's own, it is an easy made mistake, even by the local Amsterdammers. Mokum is a Yiddish word for town or city. The Jews in The Netherlands (and who knows even abroad as well) used to have (may be even still have) the habit to refer to a town by mentioning Mokum and than the first letter of the town they refer to. So Amsterdam would be Mokum A and so in that same fashion Rotterdam would be Mokum R and Utrecht would be Mokum U. Mokum therefor does not mean anything more or less than Town or City in general. You may find the entire story about the term "Mokum" on wikipedia, even in English for those who do not speak Dutch.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

In my experience it's become a nickname from the Yiddish word. I've spoken to many native Amsterdammers and it seems to be a common thing.

[@urbandiscount]

It used to be that Amsterdam was known as "Mokum Aleph", ie " A-town and Rotterdam as " Mokum Resh", " R-town". Mokum is indeed from Hebrew, Roffa is "straattaal", like Agga for The Hague and Nimma for Nijmegen. Amsterdam is of course "Damsko"

[@johnveerkamp1501]

ik geef je helemaal gelijk. Amsterdam is verschrikkelijk geworden !!!!

[@gerrylanter8109]

Gefeliciteerd! Ben het totaal niet met je eens, maar als je dat vindt: mijn zegen heb je! Ik zou zeggen: mijd de stad dan als de pest (als je er niet zelf woont tenminste, in welk geval ik je zou adviseren om zo snel al je kunt naar een andere stad te verhuizen). En voor de rest: groeten uit Amsterdam!

[@Man-in-the-green]

@@gerrylanter8109😂 Helemaal mee eens. Het is nu even een trend dat al die zogenaamde echte Rotterdammers en andere provincialen Rotterdam te gek vinden…

[@Aaaaaron320]

010❤❤ obviously!

[@JasonRamosNJ]

Question are you taking a tram, driving, or walking the day? Happy Anniversary!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you! Walking and tram 😊 We don't drive in NL as there's not much need!

[@jeffafa3096]

Both have their upsides and downsides, but I am team neither. Slightly smaller cities like Haarlem, Leiden, Eindhoven, Groningen or Nijmegen are my choice!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Fair enough! I also love those kinds of towns.

[@novafalcosmith]

@@aWanderlustForLife do you have video tours on the smaller cities mentioned by the person above

[@novafalcosmith]

Are the smaller cities also cheaper to live in as far as rent goes? Also, are there any really good videos about those smaller cities to look at?

[@davidc.w.2908]

Team Rotterdam here, although I live in the USA and was born in Utrecht 🤛 Never been to Food Hallen. It looks like Chelsea Market in New York or something similar in Philadelphia.

[@seancutrufello2768]

Reading Terminal Market 😊

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Ohhhh Utrecht is also a great city! If you have tips, please share 😉

[@Tsuma_Vento]

Utrecht > Rotterdam

[@aWanderlustForLife]

When we are able, it'll be our next NL excursion that we film!

[@davidc.w.2908]

@@aWanderlustForLife It’s been way too long ago to be able to share useable tips. Most of the locations I went to are either gone or had an extreme make over.

[@LZuli]

Rotterdam. I was born there so it just feels like home to me.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Totally get that!

[@yan9845]

hello bella! come in monaco please .? I 'm waiting you ! sooo serious ! 🥰

[@freeminded2205]

Holland is great . We live togheter we fight togheter and we party togheter . I love it al good life no nonsense .

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Great way to see it.

[@danikhan662]

You Come to My Country and Must Visit my Country, My Country Beautiful Places, Waterfalls .😊

[@internetbully100]

Im born and raised in Amsterdam but live in Rotterdam for the last 3 years and I love it, very relaxed vibe no mass tourism but the nightlife is a bit boring

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm so glad you are enjoying your time there. Was it a difficult switch?

[@internetbully100]

@@aWanderlustForLife not really I just had to switch to a slower gear , And what I really like is that I can go in to the city and not be overwhelmed by a mass of people, It's just more liveable.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

That makes so much sense. I do find the center of Amsterdam overwhelming.

[@koosvanleeuwe2580]

WIEL RENNEN silecone spray op weg( s.nachts) laat ze klere krijgen met race fietsen..alles af gezet😅

[@karinbs831]

I was born and raised in Rotterdam so yes...I am team Rotterdam!!!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Makes sense!

[@Man-in-the-green]

I’m born in Rotterdam, but I left when I was three years old. Just like Erasmus I never came back and live now in Amsterdam.

[@messaoudtafer724]

Hi How are you

[@koosvanleeuwe2580]

Zijn er veel😂 vw pick up romeinse strijd wagens op weg😅🎉

[@bepsnet]

I've never eaten herring with pickle before, it doesn't seem nice, and it brings the fish down in terms of taste. Such a shame. I was born in Rotterdam, but I was a skipper's child and therefore eat the herring as it is or with a little bit of onion.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I can understand that, too.

[@nuuwnhuus]

Acid almost always elevates fish. 🤷🏻

[@karinbs831]

I am from Rotterdam and never ate pickles on my herring

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

I don't even like the onion on it. Just plain as it is, and Amsterdam, please don't destroy the fish by cutting it up.

[@Feyenoord-el8ip]

010 always

[@Tsuma_Vento]

Born not too far from Rotterdam, now living in Rotterdam. But there is no question about it -- There is no comparing it to Amsterdam, at the end of day. However, neither city is really my favourite in The Netherlands. One thing about Rotterdam is that it's kind of all over the place with its architecture, which I am not particularly a fan of. The pier at Kop van Zuid looks absolutely dreadful with those huge Tetris blocks taking away from the view on the once imposing Hotel New York. I feel like the city government made a major mistake razing the remaining classic buildings down to the ground after the bombing, in favour of a completely modern styled city. They have taken it too far and not everything mixes well. In old drawings and paintings of the St. Lawrence Church you can see a lot of those were taken from the river Meuse... However nowadays the view on the church is obstructed on almost all sides. Markthal looks like a giant rabbit cage. Well, at least there's still Delfshaven. Amsterdam has way more charm, even with all the tourism and (VERY!) poor politics. Just looking at the city itself it is more unique.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Thank you for this! I'm not big on the architecture there, at least aesthetically. I am absolutely fascinated by it, though! I'm SO upset we didn't have time for Delfshaven but we will make a point next time. Not sure if you saw it, but we went to Schiedam the day before (it's the video just before this one). And we loved that. I think Rotterdam has its charms and feels more lively/"real", but I'll always be an adopted Amsterdammer at heart.

[@urbandiscount]

As a Rotterdammer, I totally agree. In fact, we got this ugliness on purpose. The Van Traa plan specified the functionality of the apartment blocks and business offices. But the architect before, Witteveen, who was fired more or less, loved the archaic style of Dutch architecture and that's the style he wanted for the reconstruction. You can still see traces of this in Pannekoekstraat. If you want to know what Rotterdam could have looked like, go to Nijmegen. That city was also extensively bombed and rebuilt, in the archaic style, in fact. The result is far more harmonious than the disjointed cityscape that is Rotterdam.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

​@@urbandiscountThank you! This is really helpful. We've been before, but will pay better attention next time!

[@henrimessinghausen5185]

Roffa!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Any specific reason?

[@henrimessinghausen5185]

Rotterdam has so many little gems, often a bit tucked away....you'd either need to know the city, read a tourguide or ask locals to find them.@@aWanderlustForLife

[@aWanderlustForLife]

If you want to share your hidden gems, we'd love to check them out next time.

[@nicop.2312]

I worked in Amsterdam, but what a crazy city. It smell bad everywhere. People are hard and not nice. They think they are the best. Rotterdam is much nicer and make you feel better. People help you and friendly. You are who you are in Rotterdam. Amsterdam things are more in discussion. Not needed

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I have to disagree...it rarely smells bad and, like everywhere, it depends on where you are in the city. I'll be honest, I didn't find much difference at all in service in Rotterdam than Amsterdam. And I've never felt that you couldn't be who you are in Amsterdam. It's always interesting how people can have such different experiences! Thanks for sharing yours!

[@gerbentvandeveen]

Team Rotterdam! Naturally! 1917. Is ww1 and not ww2.

[@sobhironi]

I live in Amsterdam, and I think it has become weird. Not sure about Rotterdam but I feel like Rotterdam is more for the local people

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Amsterdam has definitely changed over the years, even in the nine years I've been here.

[@DT-wp4hk]

For the locals? Totally not! The locals are starting to hate the city and its far left policy more and more. They know they are being discriminated in their own city.

[@mambamba]

I like both cities for different reasons. I feel Rotterdam gives that more metropolitan feel and the people are more down to earth real. Rotterdam feels also more diverse and blended. Amsterdam can be a bit arrogant and over itself, I enjoyed the Amsterdam of 1990's when it was fun, shocking and liberal. Today Amsterdam is just too touristy, bland, and dirty for my taste.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

That's the basic vibe that I got from Rotterdammers...that Amsterdammers are snobby. The problem is, I don't see that. So does that mean that I'm part of the problem? 🤔

[@mambamba]

Perhaps you are so accustomed you do not realise or notice it and it is part of the way of things in Amsterdam. But if you live in a city that is not as arrogant you will clearly notice the nasty attitude at times.

[@HansvanOostende]

Always 010 Amsterdam -10

[@precursor4263]

Incredible, as a Rotterdam resident (who also lived in Haarlem and shortly in Amsterdam) I am surprised by this video. You managed to go to every place that I dislike about this city and missed all the actually good stuff :(

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I'm happy to learn! What is the good stuff?

[@novafalcosmith]

@@aWanderlustForLifeplease share

[@rranish]

Im a 010er for life!

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Nice! Any favorite spot you want to share? 😁

[@ervie60]

Those Dutch immigrants were what that tin said; IMMIGRANTS NOT ex PATS!!!!

[@lfrocha]

I love cinnamon, but you don't *have* to eat pasteis de nata with cinnamon. My portuguese don't. Eat as you'd like

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Absolutely you should eat it how you want it. I love cinnamon!

[@jackvandersluis1723]

No!😄

[@aWanderlustForLife]

🙊

[@JohnMulhall1]

Rotterdam is better - it just is.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Why do you think that? I'm always curious when it comes to people's favorites!

[@Man-in-the-green]

Better in what Einstein?

[@utopianbrainfarts]

good thing tho is that god made you beautiful

[@AdLockhorst-bf8pz]

Rotterdam is nowhere near as cramped as Amsterdam 🤷 because the Germans bombed the heck out of Rotterdam, and Rotterdam built back better. It's partly why Rotterdam was way ahead of 020 with its subway system. And it has 010 as its telephone area code ...

[@bertkassing8541]

I cannot watch this :-)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

🫣

[@Ridder020]

Kan je geen Nederlands??

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Waarom?

[@Man-in-the-green]

Zegt ene Denzel uit Aruba. 😂

[@Ridder020]

@@Man-in-the-green ik kom niet uit Aruba sukkel

[@Ridder020]

@@aWanderlustForLifeomdat je in Nederland woont maar Engels praat, niet zo’n gekke vraag toch?

[@TrIpMo1981]

Alles is beter Amsterdam. Alle Nederlanders vinden Amsterdam niks behalve Amterdammers. 😂

[@Mdgd63]

I have viewed your video until 8:48and it's mostly about eating. You can do that in most NL cities pretty well. You just past the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen and just say it's a plus for R'dam but didn't tell nothing about the building. Try to get to get to learn a city (030, 040, 050, 070 etc) not only by eating. Most youtube video's become the same in this way! (i'am from 030 so neutral in the A'dam-R'dam discussion. Both are different, mostly in architecture and mentality)

[@aWanderlustForLife]

My videos are more food based. Though I believe there's a KZbin channel for everyone's likes. It's more about how I experience the city, not as much educational content, per se. I experience places mostly through food and experiences, not really architecture, museums, etc. So this is me and how I tell my stories 😊

[@jokevandermeer68]

We weten al eeuwen dat ROTTERDAM beter is dan amsterdam

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Depends on who you are, I guess 🤷

[@jokevandermeer68]

@@aWanderlustForLife NEDERLANDS GRAAG

[@aWanderlustForLife]

It's an English channel, so I reply in English.

[@jokevandermeer68]

@@aWanderlustForLife zet vertalen aan moeten wij ook

[@cathychats]

Exactly .. so typical for people who live in Rotterdam... arrogant people

[@DarthQuola]

Groningen is better. You cheesehead hollanders

[@aWanderlustForLife]

🧀 😁 I've only gotten to Groningen once and it rained the whole time 🤦 It's so hard to makes videos on this country sometimes! But I will come back. If you have suggestions, please share!

[@DarthQuola]

@@aWanderlustForLife I see lots of content but it is mostly Amsterdam Rotterdam and maybe Utrecht or den Bosch. I understand that these are the coties most Lively to get a toerist visit. And yes it rains a lot in our country. But we have some great museums in the north. Yes it is a 3 hour train rode. Blame ns. I mean when there was natural gas to be had and earthquakes to given away they were scrambling to pump it up and sell it. Because it is relatively lightly populsted. Eg nobody lives there

[@aWanderlustForLife]

I haven't done a video in Utrecht or Den Bosch yet, but we will. We also have videos on Almere, Lelystad, Woerden, Laag Holland area, Haarlem, Stavoren, Giethoorn and probably a few more. We'll get north again, but I always appreciate personal recommendations for the areas.

[@MrWo-qj2yh]

as an american i can understand why you like this above a real city

[@Be-Es---___]

Amsterdam would be just as nice if you'd remove all the tourists.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Amsterdam is still my favorite.

[@scampishfoxx3138]

You eating your way through Rotterdam? That’s American for you.

[@aWanderlustForLife]

Well, I am American and doing food related videos is kind of my thing.

[@cathychats]

Amsterdam is far more adventurous. Most people in Rotterdam feel like arrogant snobs IMO

[@utopianbrainfarts]

tids and food tids and food.. s all i see i learned nothing bout rotterdam lady

[@astridr8076]

Rotterdam is not better when you say that I hope that you don’t come at amsterdam

[@angryferret101]

You are mentally 12 if you think that