Who doesn't love a sunset? We certainly do! In the summertime, when the weather is high... there are plenty of great spots in Rotterdam to watch the world go by. We love the sunshine and there's nothing better than hanging out at the end of the day with a cold beer, good friends, good music, and an awesome Dutch sunset. Here are the best places around town to do exactly that, Rotterdam friends!
The Euromast panoramic bar is obviously the best view from up high, being the tallest observation deck in the Netherlands at an outstanding 185m. You can check out the view from 112m from the deck and see the whole city at sunset with the park below. It’s an undeniably good viewpoint.
Head down to Little Manhattan where the NHOW Hotel props up the waterfront on Wilhelmina Pier in the stunning De Rotterdam building (also a handy place for shops and restaurants). Here you can enjoy their fantastic terrace for some outdoor dining and drink up the impressive panorama. Check out the views of Erasmusbridge from the 7th floor for a unique perspective of Rotterdam, for free!
Fenix Food Factory is one of our staff favourites for lazy days in the sunshine enjoying great food, and they also have a terrace with a view. Grab a seat for the sunset show across the river from here and enjoy a drink al fresco.
To catch those last few rays of sun before the end of the day, we like to head to Zwarte Schaap’s terrace. They serve bar food until 10pm and have a long drinks list, so grab a seat for the night!
You can’t visit Rotterdam and not have a stroll (or bike) along Maasboulevard- the stretch of walkway alongside the riverfront. It’s from here that you can see most of the city’s iconic skyline, and a great view point for sunsets across town. Erasmusbridge is of course one of the best places along the waterfront to see the skyline and you can pick a spot or simply walk along and see the changing views from Maaskade or Wilhelminakade as the colours change across the city.
Hotel New York is one of the most famous historic spots around town, and they also have a great riverside view of Rotterdam port. Sunset here is backlit with the skyline and it´s an awesome place to see the city bathed in evening light! You can also get here by boat which is an added bit of fun in the sun.
If you want to be harbourside but on the water, you can climb aboard the SS Rotterdam and head up to the sundeck for awesome views from the Lido Terrace. Not only can you grab a cocktail here but you can dip your toes into the swimming pool up there! This ship is a piece of Rotterdam history, making its first journey to New York carrying 1200 passengers across the Atlantic in 1959. Now you can visit the boat and explore parts of it like the bow and bridge, and from the sundeck you can see the city as it is 60 years later.
Kralingse Bos and Kralings Plas provide a scenic escape from the skybars for a more nature inspired Rotterdam viewpoint; from the main city park and its beautiful lake. A summer favourite for ‘Rotterdammerts’, the park provides the perfect outdoor space and a charming sunset view across the water from its pier. There are several relaxing places to choose from – you can just grab a spot on a bench or bring your own picnic, but there are also restaurant and bar terraces to take in the view with a sundowner of your choice.
Chill out sofas and an al fresco dining area are perched on the lake front at one of our favourite sunset spots at De Tuin restaurant. You can dine here all day but it’s got a viewpoint for the end of day rays. The indoor restaurant has floor to ceiling glass also, so you can still enjoy the view whatever the weather. There’s even a windmill to admire in the lovely garden setting!
De Schone Lei serves up seasonal food on their lakeside terrace in this unique setting. Enjoy the tranquillity of the garden setting with the cityscape in the distance. Heavenly!
For more of a picturesque and old Rotterdam view then check out sunset in the Delfshaven district. This pretty marina is filled with yachts, and happily lots of gin bars, and is more of a picture of the quaint and historic Rotterdam of yesteryear. There are some pleasant places around these streets to enjoy the view, and amongst the shops and galleries there are also some bridges and canal sides where you can get nostalgic and enjoy the setting sun!
That’s our round up of staff favourites for the best sunset spots in Rotterdam. If you have any places to add then let us know and we’ll check them out!
