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Rotterdam or The Hague Overview
Rotterdam and The Hague are two cities with close proximity to each other, in fact, nearly touching each other. Much of Rotterdam was destroyed in WW2 so it has more of a modern feel as well as many high-rise buildings. The Hague sits on the coast and retains much of its historical charm. If you want to decide between Rotterdam or The Hague, here is the ultimate guide to which city to visit.
Rotterdam
Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area is the largest in The Netherlands and the 13th largest in the EU. Rotterdam was founded in 1270 and got its name because the people here dammed the Rotte River. Rotterdam has the largest seaport in all of Europe and one of the largest in the world. Rotterdam was bombed during WW2 and most of the city center was destroyed.
Today, the city is known for its varied styles of architecture within the city because they choose to not rebuild in a modern way rather than back to the way it was originally. Rotterdam has an impressive skyline with the city building more and more high-rise buildings every year.
The Hague
The Hague is a city of 545,000 people and is part of the much larger Rotterdam-The Hague metropolitan area. It is referred to as “The International City of Justice” because it has a long history of international affairs and diplomacy. It is also home to the International Court of Justice, or the World Court, which is the Judicial branch of the United Nations.
The Hague is home to 160 other international organizations, giving it a presence around the world. Since The Hague is on the coast, it has many beaches as well as beach resorts with a short train ride which offers a great escape from the bustling city.
Places to See
Rotterdam
Markthal Rotterdam is a large market space in the city that is known for its unique modern style of architecture.
Euromast Tower is the tallest structure in Rotterdam. You can go to the top of the tower for panoramic views of the city.
Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk is a Protestant church that is the only remaining piece of the old medieval city.
Europort is the largest port in Europe. You can take a boat tour of the port to get a better understanding of how impressive it really is.
Delfshaven is a part of Rotterdam that was not destroyed during WW2 so it still has its original architecture.
The Hague
Mauritshuis Museum was built in the 16th century and was turned into a museum in 1822.
Binnenhof is the Dutch Parliament Building and is where the Prime Minister of the Netherlands office is. It is one of the oldest parliament buildings still in use today.
The Peace Palace is home to the International Court of Justice.
Scheveningen Pier is a large pier located just outside of The Hague.
Noordeinde Palace is whereKing Willem-Alexander has his office. It is one of three official residences of the Royal Dutch Family.
Food
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is home to people from 180 nationalities meaning there is a lot of variety in the food scene here. The city has excellent markets, the biggest of which is the beautiful Markthal. You can go to any market and get fresh produce, meats, produce, or just go to get a snack. Krokets is a traditional Dutch food that is used as side-dish, street food, or a snack. They are deep fried cylinders that can be filled with a variety of ingredients from meat, seafood, pasta, rice, and vegetables. Poffertijes are puffed pancakes that are very popular in Rotterdam so be sure to give them a try when you are here.
The Hague
The Hague sits right on the coast, so you can expect seafood to be extremely popular here. Mussels are fantastic here. Halibut and herring are also very common fish to eat when you’re in The Hague. A traditional dish here is fried herring with sliced onions, potatoes, and beans. Indonesian foods are common here as well because Indonesia used to be a Dutch colony. Most of the restaurants in The Hague seem to offer their own specialty dishes so ordering any specialty dish is a good start if you don’t know what to order.
Getting Around
Rotterdam is more spread out than other cities in The Netherlands. Though you certainly can walk anywhere you want, it is much more efficient to rent a bike or use public transportation. Another great way to see the city is by using the Waterbus or Water taxis. Traveling to your destination via the river is more fun and enjoyable than taking the bus or the metro. It would be a good idea for you to invest in the Rotterdam Welcome Card when you get here. The Rotterdam Welcome Card will give you unlimited access to public transportation and give you discounts on attractions, museums, restaurants, and nightlife.
The center of The Hague is very much walkable. If you want to see attractions outside of the city center, like the beach, you will want to use public transportation. There is a network of trams and buses that can get you where ever you need to go. You can buy a day pass for public transport for 6.50 Euros. Biking in The Hague is very popular so you might just want to rent a bike and go exploring. There are designated biking paths all over the city, making it an extremely easy city to bike around.
Nightlife
Rotterdam
Rotterdam has an excellent nightlife. If you like rock and alternative rock the Binnenweg area is where you need to go. MaasSilo is one of the more iconic and largest clubs in the city because it was built inside an old grain silo. Rotterdam is known for having an underground nightlife scene. Some of the best underground clubs are Perron, Annabel, Toffler, and Now&Wow. At these underground clubs, the party sometimes goes into the late morning or even into the afternoon. If you want to gamble you can go to Holland Casino Rotterdam to place some bets or play the slot machines.
The Hague
The nightlife in The Hague isn’t quite as wild as Amsterdam or Rotterdam but it is still a good time out. There are many bars and pubs in the Het Plein area that you can bounce around to. Some of the best clubs in The Hague are Pip and Magazijn. You can also head to the beach where there are nightclubs and bars such as Whoosah, Naturel, and Indigo. The is something for everyone here, you just have pick the right part of town to start off.
Day Trips
Rotterdam
Antwerp is less than an hour’s trains ride away from Rotterdam. Antwerp has the second-largest port in Europe.
Amsterdam is less than an hour from Rotterdam. If you didn’t already have Amsterdam in your plans, you should definitely make some time and go explore it.
Utrecht is known for being a “true” Dutch city. It is a beautiful city with a castle and a very impressive cathedral.
The Hague
Leiden is a city that has a rich history. It is the birthplace of Rembrandt and has the oldest university in the country which was founded in 1575.
Amsterdam is less than an hour from The Hague so you should definitely spend some time there if you have the time.
Haarlem is a city known for its medieval architecture and cobbled streets. Just outside of the city is the famous bulb-tulip fields.
Overall
Rotterdam and The Hague are two cities that are very close to each other but yet offer very different experiences. Rotterdam has more modern architecture and feels like it revolves around the water more than The Hague even though The Hague is closer to the coast. The Hague has more history because it still has many of its original buildings. If you want to experience a great nightlife, you should definitely visit Rotterdam. Deciding between Rotterdam or The Hague can be tough and I hope this guide was helpful to you decision process. Cheers.