Ton Wesselink (55) is the director of ss Rotterdam. A lively museum ship where you can also spend the night. ‘The most beautiful passenger ship ever built.’

With his wife right on the water on the right bank.

‘The view of the Willemsbrug and De Hef bridges is never boring. And the ship is only a five-kilometre walk.’

‘The seagull typifies this port city. It’s the last bird you see when you sail away and the first you see again when land is in sight.’

Get lost. Get on the tram to Zuid and follow the first lady who has a dog. Or walk there and ask a Rotterdammer: hey, what’s fun? Who better to hear it from than a local? Nothing beats dealing with Rotterdammers.

During the reconstruction after the bombing in World War II, nobody believed in the city. Outsiders thought it was too windy. Most of the new construction was not pretty. But we have put ourselves on the international map with buildings such as 

. We came in the top 3 lists of popular cities in Wallpaper, The New York Times and Lonely Planet. They rightly call us the most innovative city in Europe. And we’ve not finished building yet.

Centraal Station

Markthal

The Rotterdam 

After the Willemsbrug and the Noordereiland, cross the Koninginnebrug and turn right into the Stieltjesstraat. Past the romantic 

 boutique hotel to the Jewish Children’s Monument across the street. This is a memorial to the 686 Rotterdam Jewish children who were deported and died in the Second World War. Pass under the Gatehouse: a building where the city once wanted to start an Eros Centre but where squatters came and never left. There is almost no mortar left in the walls. At the Luxor Theatre, head onto the Wilhelminapier to the 

Noordereiland

Nederlands Fotomuseum

 is just a little further down the Wilhelminapier. At the beginning of the last century, people left from here on the Holland America Line to the new promised land of America. Hotel New York has a menu that you can peruse for hours because there is so much to choose from. Try the shrimp croquettes or take a seat at the oyster bar. The hotel’s 

 has a jazzy setting. Outside, take a look at the 3.5-meter-high artwork The Door by British artist Gavin Turk. It overlooks the Maas and beckons across the North Sea to the Atlantic crossing, a reminder of the emigrants.

Hotel New York 

NY Basement

. Stop on the bridge for a while. You can see the berths of the water taxi, hear the sounds of the bridge, and the light is at its best here. Take a water taxi for half an hour and enjoy the wind, the waves and the city. You might find yourself happier in those 30 minutes than you have been in years. And if you’re in love… Put a padlock on the bridge.

Watertaxi

Rijnhaven

After continuing across the bridge, you’ll find yourself in 

 on the Deliplein, a square full of wonderful restaurants. Get a tattoo at 

, walk past the Cargill animal feed factory in the middle of the neighbourhood to 

Belvédère, Rotterdam City Stories Centre

, a meeting place where all nationalities of the neighbourhood meet and cook for each other. It’s very welcoming. Walk on to the Buizenpark where you have one of the most beautiful views of Rotterdam, past the statue of cabin boy Ketelbinkie to 

. There is a good chance that you will encounter volunteers who have worked on the ship, such as Ap, the stoker with his large moustache or Dries, the 84-year-old boatswain, who can be found standing on the foredeck. Regardless of the weather.

Do it like
Ton

Question 1 of 6

Where should I go for inspiration?

What is typical about this city?

Continue reading

Ton's tips

How do I discover Zuid in a 15 minute walk?

After working up an appetite from walking, what’s for lunch?

Where do I get completely Zen in Zuid?

How do I then get to the ss Rotterdam?

Do it likeTon