ON TOUR: Going Dutch

Rotterdam may have a bit of an image problem, but not amongst people who have actually visited it, says BTN’s Editor-at-Large, Jeff Mills.

But even the city’s biggest fans – and there are plenty of them – are unlikely to claim that Rotterdam is as attractive as The Netherlands’ capital, Amsterdam, with its endless canals, bridges and picturesque old houses, or as grand and imposing as the parliamentary and legal city of The Hague. But that’s not really the point. Rotterdam is a business centre in the big league.

The city suffered hugely during WWII when much of it was flattened by bombs. Then, as now, it was a major port and of course was a prime target. Today shipping and associated activities not surprisingly still feature prominently in Rotterdam.

As with a number of European cities which were heavily damaged during WWII, Rotterdam still suffers to some extent from the blight of ugly utilitarian 1950s and 1960s buildings constructed at a time when cost and speed were thought to be more important than aesthetics.

This is changing fast, though, and the city now boasts some extraordinary modern buildings, giving many areas the appearance of being works in progress. Some of the structures, though, are very impressive and well worth a second look.

The really good news if you are heading there on business is that it is no longer the case that Rotterdam is one of the dullest cities in Europe, it’s now far more lively than it once was and it’s improving all the time.

This should, of course, come as no surprise when you remember that, love it or hate it, and plenty of frequent business visitors do love it, Rotterdam is after all The Netherlands’ main centre of commerce.

The city already has the biggest port in Europe and there are ongoing and ambitious plans to extend it even further. Other sectors you will find in Rotterdam include the usual mix of financial services, banking, insurance and the like, as well as petro-chemicals, medical and life sciences, logistics and a fast-growing hi-tech sector.

This is a good base to choose regardless of where you have business. If you need to be in both both Rotterdam and The Hague, for example, it is easy to commute between the cities by very frequent train services in about 25 minutes. It is also relatively easy to reach Amsterdam or virtually any other part of The Netherlands. Holland is, after all, a small country.

Within the city itself taxis, which are generally clean, efficient and not too expensive, are the best bet for business trips. But once you are more familiar with Rotterdam you could also try the trams and train system if you have the time and patience to work out the sometimes rather confusing routes.

If you are looking for somewhere central and suitable to stay for a business trip the Rotterdam Marriott opposite the central station is a good bet, provided the budget will stand it. Facilities include more than 220 guest rooms and suites, each with all the facilities you would expect.

Alternatively for something different try the Bilderberg Park hotel Rotterdam, which opened in 1922 and which has been one of the city’s best-known hotels ever since.

Or you could take a step back in time and book a room on board the SS Rotterdam, the former flagship of Holland America Line, which operated on trans-Atlantic routes and provided cruises between 1959 and 1971. After a series of ownership changes the iconic ship, now moored permanently alongside a quay in Rotterdam harbour, operates as a hotel as well as offering a number of interesting bars, restaurants and other facilities for both day visitors and overnight guests.

As in most European cities, business clothes are expected to be worn for meetings. Business hours are Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 18:00 and meetings are usually in offices or restaurants or, for larger gatherings, hotel conference rooms.

Rotterdam is very good for business and that includes offering plenty of options when it comes to locations for entertaining your contacts over an after-work early evening drink.

But take care if associates suggest a visit to certain of Rotterdam’s ‘coffee shops’ and don’t be surprised if you find an unusual selection of things to smoke on offer along with the cappuccino or espresso. The Dutch have a fairly relaxed attitude towards what they consider ‘soft’ drugs.   

If you are visiting in spring or summer head over the river to Wilhelminakade and the Cafe Rotterdam at the cruise terminal where you can have lunch outside with some of Rotterdam’s beautiful people as you watch the ships go by.

If you have time visit the Netherlands Architecture Institute, said to be the biggest architectural museum in the world, and the Kunsthal Gallery, both as dramatic as some of the exhibitions of modern design and art which they house.

Alternatively if your free time really is at a premium and you can spare just an hour or two visit Rotterdam Zoo, or Diergaarde Blijdorp as the Dutch call it, one of the best in Europe, and check out the state-of-the-art Oceanium, complete with a long glass walkway under the water, as well as the Ice Cave, where you can view the polar bears under water and a tropical park where you can see elephants amongst other animals. The zoo is open most days between 09:00 and 17:00 in winter and until 18:00 in summer.

Or take a trip up the Euromast where, unless you are worried by heights, you can take an elevator and a simulated space shuttle to the top. When it was built, between 1958 and 1960 especially for the 1960 “Floriade”, the Euromast, a listed building, was 104 metres tall. Now, since the addition of various viewing platforms and a rotating cabin, it is 185 meters high.

And if you fancy searching for something to take home as present you could look out for shops selling the famous blue Delft tiles found all over the country. While some people may regard them as tacky souvenirs produced for tourists, plenty of people are fans, which is no doubt why they are still manufactured in the Netherlands.

Probably best to ignore the wooden Dutch clogs you will see for sale all over the city though.

You can fly from London City airport to Rotterdam with BA City Flyer and KLM. Easyjet operates to the city from Gatwick and Luton airports. You could also travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras Station.







www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/rtmmn-rotterdam-marriott-hotel   www.bilderberg.nl

https://ssrotterdam.com   www.cruiseterminalrotterdam.nl

https://nai.hetnieuweinstituut.nl/en   www.kunsthal.nl/en

www.diergaardeblijdorp.nl/en   https://euromast.nl/en

Index/Home page
 

OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum