OUR RETURN TO ROTTERDAM (a rotterdam city guide from locals)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex return to Rotterdam, where they lived for a year, to run some errands and go to one of their favorite restaurants, but also try out some new treats as well. What better way to understand the best things to do in Rotterdam than to hear it from the locals?
Episode 77 · Filmed on July 15, 2023 · Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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0:00 Introduction
0:31 Outside Rotterdam Centraal ("Moments Contained" statue)
1:04 Osozai (Japanese Chicken Nanban)
3:11 Delfshaven!
3:37 Dutch Pinball Museum
5:24 Kelly's Expat Shopping
7:35 Can't forget the market
7:50 Hiding from the rain at Fenix Food Factory
8:17 The raining eventually stopped
9:01 Burro e Salvia (authentic Italian dinner)
12:12 Taking the Waterbus back to Dordrecht
13:56 Thoughts on the Waterbus and Rotterdam
14:18 Wrap up
#expatlife #netherlands #rotterdam
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WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, a travel-obsessed American couple living abroad in the Netherlands.
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... yeah, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change, packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈), moving from Austin, Texas, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@renevaanhold]

Unique Public Transport: The Wuppertaler Schwebebahn. For special occasions we go to FG Restaurant in Rotterdam.

[@buncharted]

wow - that is unique public transport!

[@Mesmancer]

Yes, Dutch Pinball museum! Ik ben er al veel te lang niet geweest. Tijd voor weer een rond flipperen binnenkort.

[@rafaelfranca2212]

I`ve gone to Rotterdam 1 month ago and seeing all the places i walked past in this video made me homesickness. The Netherlands is definitely one of a kind country. Greetings from Brazil

[@B0K1T0]

I live in Rotterdam for about 4 years now but never heard of Osozai. Will definitely check it out :)

[@davidvdbergen]

Your "Goedemiddag" is amazing. You're doing great on the pronunciation! Keep up the amazing work.

[@Bduh2]

Rotterdam is where I used to work at De Bijenkorf for 12 years before moving to Las Vegas. There were times when we thought about moving to The Netherlands but, alas, we really like the Mojave Desert temperatures, the space, the "not-so-many-people" aka space. But we have visited my family many times over the years.

[@Piet_Hein]

very nice that you have been to delfshaven, I was born and raised there. I follow all your videos and know that you love good food. I myself love good food and have tried all the good restaurants in Rotterdam. if you really want to have a nice lunch, go to the Harmonie on the Westersingel, delicious food with a very good price ratio.

[@eointrill4858]

Lived over thier yrs ago and my favourite city in Holland, looking at the videos it's changed a bit

[@Capibaro]

The hovercraft of course. Was very young and 90% of the people were got sick during the ride to the UK, but it was cool.

[@spoonwinnipeg2021]

My father was born & raised in Rotterdam. There is a quay right beside the Erasmusbrug (aka de Zwaan) named for my grandfather.

[@jordyvanstuivenberg855]

Just loving the content you guys are giving us ! , thank you

[@hellmuthschreefel9392]

What a wonderfully pleasant way to spend a day. Thank you for taking us along. Okay, so I've been enjoying your videos so much that I've just done something I've never done before ... I subscribed to your channel. Keep up the good work.

[@buncharted]

thank you - and welcome! ❤️

[@noabakker3848]

Private spa's eating jummy foods and traveling all over the Netherlands, I'm almost getting jealous as a dutchie. Love your upload schedule!

[@buncharted]

haha - thanks! sometimes it can be stressful but most of the time it's fun 😅

[@noabakker3848]

@@bunchartedAlso, i'm from hoorn in north Holland and you can take a steam locomotive to 2 towns and a museum by boat.

[@GernickKuik]

You might want to check out you local Xenos, they sometimes carry some interesting foodstuffs.

[@Mesmancer]

Leuk detail: in Katendrecht zat de eerste locatie van het Dutch Pinball museum. Katendrecht was vroeger eigenlijk het red light district van Rotterdam en niet bepaald een fijne buurt, veel dronken zeelui, drugs, prostitutie, seks en criminaliteit. Maar in de laatste decennia heeft Katendrecht een transformatie ondergaan. De brug op 9:02 heeft dan ook als homage aan die tijd de bijnaam "de hoerenloper". Rotterdammers verzinnen echt voor alles een bijnaam :)

[@buncharted]

that's super interesting - katendrecht is now one of our favorite neighborhoods in rotterdam!

[@Mesmancer]

@@buncharted In dit filmpje krijg je een idee hoe het er vroeger uitzag, om kort te zijn, het was niet best. Verschil tussen dag en nacht eigenlijk. Geldt overigens voor meer plaatsen in Rotterdam. De stad heeft een behoorlijke upgrade gehad sinds de jaren 80 en 90. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHbIo3uYdrGGa6c

[@Mesmancer]

@@Man-in-the-green Geen Rotterdammer die dat wil toegeven natuurlijk XD

[@frankgeurts3912]

The original station,was wonderful ❤

[@JulesStoop]

However, I’ve been afraid of imploding and perishing due to overpressure in the overly crowded passenger tunnel more than once. It really had become much too small and was literarily dangerous almost daily. I understand how people romanticize the past, but Rotterdam’s present ‘new’ train station is arguably the best station in the country.

[@lbergen001]

Did you known that in the 16-17th century the 'watertaxis' where THE way of transportation between cities in Holland. They had daily schedules and were called 'trekvaart', bc the boats were towed by horses or even people.

[@Claudiaatje212]

I think the crispy bits on Michelle's udon salad was tenkasu (tempura batter scraps)

[@Species6079]

Wauw, never new there is a waterbus ride between Rotterdam and Dordrecht! ❤ A tip: If you'll ever go to visit Zoetermeer, there is a Game museum in a large shopping center. They have all kinds off old and new games starting with Pong all the way to modern games. Een echte aanrader! 😉

[@marco0104]

Welcome back guys! 👍🤘

[@jackvandersluis1723]

Nice video guys! 👍

[@dagmarhoendervanger-gankem1280]

Kelly's expat shopping, my favorite go to for great stuff!!!

[@buncharted]

we love it - they have such a great selection!

[@dagmarhoendervanger-gankem1280]

@@buncharted although I miss some Canadian stuff like Dipps in different flavors, I love the peanut butter ones but I'm out and now I'm sad🤣

[@sylviakleindop8747]

Although I’m enjoying your vids for quite some time now, I’ve never reacted. I just want to give you both a great compliment with your Dutch. The pronouncation of “Ggggoedemorgggen must be a challenge, but you are doing it like you’re born overhere. Keep up the great work! 👍

[@buncharted]

thank you!! ❤️

[@RoW2606]

Rotterdam is actually the best town to stay if you are a tourist. Within 15 minutes Delft & Kinderdijk (with all the mills). The Hague 25 minutes. Beach available by Metro. Belgium and Germany within an hour ride by car.

[@playy1797]

After enjoying the Pinball museum, you may also like to visit the Nationaal Videogame Museum in Zoetermeer, all games are on freeplay, there's quite a few classic arcade games as well as a large selection of Japanese games, including the Train driving simulator, Densha de Go 2 Deluxe which is quite a rare game to find playable anywhere, sorry to plug the Museum but those of us working there are all very proud of it.

[@CakeboyRiP]

Are you guys going to visit the canal pride in Amsterdam in the first weekend of August?

[@buncharted]

we are traveling unfortunately - but we did make it to roze maandag yesterday!

[@leojonkers3181]

I am a born and living in Rotterdam. 68 years. I hear you say,you live in Dordrecht, I love Dordrecht! By the way, the big market is on Thuesday and Saturday. I am always on my bicycle, that is my favorite way to move myself and it is also good for your health. I the weather is nice I make bigger trips and then it is nice boot from Schoonhoven to the other side. Nice also. I have to be carefully of my money so that is it. No enjoining food in Restaurants :).

[@buncharted]

the blaak market is tuesday and saturday!

[@jeffafa3096]

Most unique mode of transportation I've been on? The "Bierfiets", if that counts. It's basically a bar on a bicycle, where everyone sitting at the bar paddles while drinking their beer. Very inconsistent schedules, but fortunately, during Queen's Day (now King's Day), I found one that was heading in the direction I needed to go, so I hopped on, and hopped off after a few beers. It was better than walking, which was the only alternative at the time because of the national holiday...

[@buncharted]

oh yes, those are all the rage in the US right now too!

[@jacques7799]

Nice video, thanks! As mentioned in earlier comments: Katendrecht used to be the Red Light District of Rotterdam. Nothing left of that, now houses over there are extremely expensive. Joe sixpack can not afford to live there anymore. About Joe, is that the way to call a median (in a statistical sense) person in the US? In Dutch we say 'Jan Modaal'. Germans say "Otto Normalverbraucher (absolutely great).

[@buncharted]

haha we say joe sixpack in the US!

[@peternogwat7576]

You eating always nice food! 😋

[@davidc.w.2908]

My most unique mode of transportation: hot air balloon, from Amersfoort to Barneveld in 1999. Great experience and you would expect it to be noisy because there are no objects between you and the ground beneath you, but it’s very quiet. You also find out that cows are the most curious creatures. Worth mentioning: with five people in a tuk tuk in Bangkok, although you’re still on the ground, much more dangerous than the hot air balloon.

[@buncharted]

did the hot air balloon take ov chipkaart? 😂

[@davidc.w.2908]

@@buncharted LOL. On a serious note: The OV chipkaart didn’t exist back then and I was very lucky to get the trip as a reward for outstanding sales performance. The cost was about €165 per person but at that time the Euro was not even in use yet. Time flies…

[@bertoverweel6588]

Hallo lovely people, so you stopt at Krimpen aan den IJssel, where I live, with the fastferry? And the pelgrims started their trip to the "New World" from Delfshaven. Groetjes.

[@buncharted]

yes - we did stop there on the waterbus! it looked very nice :)

[@Panurus_biarmicus]

So cool to see that fancy Italian place! Never seen it. Me and my wife live in Dordrecht, have you had a locals tour yet? 😊

[@Eitner100]

You two make me happy with your comments.

[@Paul_C]

A question: Did you ever visit the Rijks? If not, please do. If only see some of the Japanese art and artifacts. One of them a rather famous samurai helmet. Maybe do that later in the year though, when the weather gets even worse. The watertaxi is, and will always be, the most uncomfortable mode of transportation in the Netherlands. Fast, easy. Most definitely uncomfortable.

[@buncharted]

not yet, but it's definitely on our list! we like to be tourists in amsterdam whenever a friend or family comes to visit 😄

[@Paul_C]

@@buncharted make sure you have a Museum card if they want to visit multiple musea. It saves a bundle... and before you ask: Yes, your family members or others can use their own. All it takes is an adres when applying for the card. Valid from the day of registration, and that process is wholly online, think the price is about €65 for a year.

[@dahemper]

Another video? You guys are on a roll! Netjes!

[@buncharted]

twice a week!

[@dahemper]

@@buncharted That's what she said!

[@buncharted]

@@dahemper hahah

[@Pagroove]

So nice to see you returning to Rotterdam. (😆 homesick? 🤣). Nice you went to Osozai for a little bit of Authentic food. That shop is actually near my neighborhood. Also very nice other spots that I (as a Rotterdammer even) never visited. I feel Rotterdam is a city of little charms you have all those little spots here and there. It is not a tourist factory like Amsterdam etc but is has it own charm. Nice video again.

[@Pagroove]

@@Man-in-the-green 😆

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

Way back, when I was really tiny, I once rode a donkey cart. Not with a carrot, but an apple on a cord. Not sure it was transport, but it was fun, and the donkey liked the apple.

[@peterjaro6804]

Yes why is that? I lived in North London for several years, but I never did 'the things' people do when they go to London. Now, since I moved away, I have been back and visited the Parliament(Westminster), BigBen, Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace etc... so why didn't I do all that WHEN I LIVED IN LONDON?!?!

[@baskoning9896]

No. Dont hide from the rain. Take out your raincoat and trousers. Boom. Done. Never let the rain stop you from going somewhere. You are the boss of the elements. Also, you can actually make an episode on raincoats. The very, very cheap ones, are basically plastic covers, that make you all sweaty and probably leak anyway. The more properly prices ones are pretty good. The really expensive ones are able to let sweat out: but rain not in. They are awesome to move around (like bike) in (hence sweat). But they will cost ya a pretty bit. If you go out on a sunny day: you take your raincoat with you. Hello. These are the Netherlands. Heheheh.

[@ElMariachi1337]

A unique way of transportation in NL would probably be the steam train between Hoorn and Enkhuizen (Noord Holland) You gotta buy a ticket though, the OV chip does't work there.

[@Thomas_TdK]

Yeah or one of the other herritage steam train lines in The Netherlands

[@pfmiedke7085]

Doeg!! 👋🏽

[@prairiepirate]

Most unique form of transportation I've used? Probably seaplane between St. Thomas and St. Croix in the U.S.V.I. Does operating a steam locomotive for work count? Or anything else at a theme park?

[@buncharted]

the steam locomotive definitely counts!!!

[@tweehaas]

You were in Delfshaven. Did you know The Pilgrim Fathers started their voyage to the US in Delfshaven in 1620?

[@buncharted]

i didn't - but someone else mentioned that as well. we should look more into that history! though i don't think michele or i's ancestry dates back to the pilgrims (our families both came to the US much later...)

[@erikmulder2574]

Nice trip you made. Meanwhile I have seen that you love food and running around naked. But also enjoy life and learn new things. The strangest transportation vehicle I went on was a submarine. It did not move, I just went aboard during the vlootdagen,(now called marinedagen) which is sort of an open day at our marine harbour in Den Helder. 🎉

[@blinkachu5275]

Hey guys, as a tip since I haven’t really seen you explore the north of the Netherlands, Leeuwarden is quite a fun place to explore Big city center with lots of sights, an amazing cinema (Pathé, every seat in their halls are luxury seats, it’s amazing) And for dinner I would heavily recommend La Cubanita, amazing tasting tapas

[@buncharted]

soon! :)

[@woutersplinter4981]

Bowls 'n Rolls is also quite good, or dining in the former prison Blokhuispoort. But you are right, Leeuwarden has much more to offer than most people think.

[@hcjkruse]

In Groningen staying in an old freight ship by slaapschepen is an option. In Zwolle there is a nice computer museum. The city centre is comparable to Deventer. also driving by car from Zutphen to Zwolle on both banks of the IJssel is nice. Museum cafe de kribbe, IJssel Linie, Anton Pieck Museum in Hattem and more. Leeuwarden is nice too. Emmen is worth a visit too.

[@kappeuter]

I reccommend Restaurant Eindeloos. A very special way of dining with surprise menu's and exclusive ingredients. Just as good as Michelin.

[@woutersplinter4981]

Leeuwarden has also sleeping options on multiple ships by Slaapschepen. And even the prison I mentioned before contains a hostel. Or staying in a former royal palace of one of the ancestors of all the current monarchs in Europe. And you are close to the Wadden islands off course.

[@frankgeurts3912]

Should visit Mini World❤

[@dimrrider9133]

Oh wauw you guys live in Dordt now :) thats way better than Amsterdam plus if you take the other side of the A16 you will come to my city Breda wich is the best city of the Netherlands ;p Hope to see you guys some day in the pearl of the south 😘

[@RS-Rdam]

Quite a missed opportunity in your introduction to Delfshaven. You talk about the pinball museum, but mention nothing about this specific port as the starting point of the Pilgrim Fathers with their ship The Mayflower in 1620, to make the crossing to America via Southampton. After all, they are seen as the founders of the present-day United States. Seems like such a "fact" that should not go unmentioned ;-) The USA owes the tradition of Thanksgiving Day to them and 7 US presidents descend from the Pilgrim Fathers

[@tsaarmartijn]

THe moste awesome mode of transportation I was on is the Marshrutka in Russia and Ukraine. But you should check out the Buurtbus network in Noord-Brabant. You will find some interesting places.

[@d0wnfall25]

If only you could find a box of Grippos and some skyline at that expat store 😛 😛 😛.

[@buncharted]

i would kill for a can of skyline

[@artonx4719]

You're such a nice couple and I'm following you for quite some time. And as a Dutchie I must confess I learn everytime from your vloggs. And meanwhile all South European citizens, citizens from parts of the US, or China get almost litterly roasted, here in the Netherlands we'll keep it cool...☺️

[@buncharted]

we get roasted quite a bit on here and only some of it is deserved 😀

[@houghi3826]

Nice statue at the beginning, but Rotterdam has two way more important ones. "De verwoeste stad" by Ossip Zadkine and the absence of a heart is said to symbolise the destruction of the centre of Rotterdam. It truly describes how I feel about Rotterdam. The other is "Santa Claus". Better know by its his nickname. The wikipedia article : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_(sculpture). Never had I had a bigger smile on my face when a 10 year old kid asked its parents pointing to an image and the nickname : "Mommy, what is that."

[@vpnconsult]

Trots op de Waterbus! 🚢

[@AlbertBos-rz2vs]

I love to go to Kelly’s

[@GeorgeSaint666]

Being Dutch.. there are attractions in Rotterdam?

[@ikke5212]

😉😊😊

[@piepkwiep4312]

Most unique mode of transportation...let me think...has to be an YPR 765 Pri.

[@buncharted]

had to google it - definitely an interesting mode of transportation 😅

[@koolklem7889]

Speaking of peanut butter, have you been to any Pindakaaswinkel ? 😇

[@buncharted]

not yet but we see them everywhere!

[@YomijnMe]

😂It's so Fan to see how is American Citizens a presents 🎁 a deep problems in a Netherlands 🇳🇱 i'm your fun, let's continue guys i bealive in you 🎉

[@peak196]

Doesn't Rotterdam also have automated buses, with no driver? Not scenic, but still pretty unique.

[@cormout9602]

yes there are. Only one line from metrostation Kralingse Zoom. That line runs into the Rivium business aerea.

[@buncharted]

interesting - are they actual buses? trams?

[@cormout9602]

@@buncharted it's called parkshuttle, and they are smal 'bus like' vehicles. All electric and no drivers. But they run on a separate bus lane. They start at Metrostation Kralingse Zoom (Near the big Erasmus University.

[@Stoep-zt4lb]

Rotterdam is by far the biggest city of the Netherlands Amsterdam has more people