Rotterdam: Day Trips and Tours from Amsterdam

With the Netherlands’ tiny size, it’s easy to see many of the country’s highlights on a day trip to Rotterdam from Amsterdam.

The 1-hour route to Rotterdam passes through cities and towns that are too enticing to miss. Spend a few hours getting to know The Hague or Delft and more before seeing dazzling, modern Rotterdam.

Here's all you need to know about Rotterdam, one of the most exciting day trips from Amsterdam.

How to get to Rotterdam from Amsterdam?

Rotterdam lies about 80 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam and is an easy trip by car or train.

From Amsterdam to Rotterdam by car

Travel to Rotterdam from Amsterdam takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. In Amsterdam, take the S112 to the A10. Follow the A10 for 5 kilometers until you reach the A4.

Continue on the A4 for 70 kilometers and exit at Stadhoudersweg and Hofplein in Centrum until the Rotterdam city limits.

From Amsterdam to Rotterdam by train

Save time and hassle by traveling by train to Rotterdam from Amsterdam. Train trips between the two cities take about 40 minutes. Trains leave every 30 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Guided tour to Rotterdam from Amsterdam

Simplify your day trip by booking a guided tour to Rotterdam from Amsterdam. Choose a  group or private guided tour, or extend your visit with a Rotterdam tour that includes stops at Delft, The Hague and typical Dutch villages.

What is the typical itinerary?

Day tours to Rotterdam from Amsterdam start early for a full day of discovery. Meet at or near Amsterdam Centraal Station, or enjoy pickup at your hotel with private tours for your short drive to Rotterdam.

Most tours make stops along the way with the first being The Hague. Next is Delft, followed by Rotterdam. Some private tours continue south from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk or pause at Zaanse Schans or Keukenhof Gardens before returning to Amsterdam.

In The Hague, take part in a walking tour or bus tour of the town to see government buildings and medieval churches and palaces. Madurodam is located here, and many tours include tickets to this park featuring Dutch culture.

Next, make your way to Delft on the outskirts of Rotterdam. This walkable city houses the tombs of most of Dutch royalty and was the hometown of Vermeer.

Follow your guide through the brick streets to Delft’s must-see sites like Old Town Hall and the House of Orange-Nassau. Most tours also take you to a studio that produces Delftware.

Rotterdam comes next with its contemporary architecture, bustling port and river and a wealth of museums.

Many tours take place partially by boat for a unique perspective. Grab something to eat at the indoor market, Markthal, while marveling at its distinctive design.

Spy the best views in town from the 183-meter-tall Euromast before your return to Amsterdam.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Rotterdam?

Day tours to Rotterdam from Amsterdam include a stop or two at other towns that are too special to pass by. Enjoy archetypal Dutch sites and the contrast of modern Rotterdam to the history of Delft.

Day trip to Rotterdam plus Delft from Amsterdam

Choose a day tour that makes a stop in Delft on your way to Rotterdam. Day trips typically include a guided tour of Delft and a ceramic factory before allowing you time to explore on your own.

Delft’s most renowned native son is Johannes Vermeer who made the town famous through his 17th-century paintings.

Day tour to Rotterdam plus Delft and The Hague from Amsterdam

Along the 80-kilometer route from Amsterdam to Rotterdam are found two of Holland’s most famous destinations.

Take a guided tour to the country’s political capital in The Hague, followed by a visit to Delft’s royal stomping grounds before hitting Rotterdam.

Day tour to Rotterdam plus Delft, The Hague and Kinderdijk from Amsterdam

Fill your day with the best of Holland on a day trip to Rotterdam with additional stopovers at Holland’s political capital, The Hague, ancient Delft and the windmills of Kinderdijk for an 8-hour excursion chock full with Dutch landmarks.

Private tours

There is a large range of private tours that travel to locales not included in group tours. Like other Rotterdam day tours from Amsterdam, many tours hit The Hague and Delft before arriving at Rotterdam.

However, some private tours offer visits to villages made famous by windmills and flower farms that are not available to group tours.

How much does a day trip to Rotterdam from Amsterdam cost?

Day tours to Rotterdam plus Delft cost €175 per person for a 9-hour tour and include round-trip transportation from Amsterdam Centraal Station as well as fully-guided visits to the towns and a tour of a Delftware studio.

Large-group day tours to Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague from Amsterdam by coach cost from €60 per person to €100 per person for a 9- to 10-hour tour. More-expensive tours include entry tickets to Madurodam and Mauritshuis Art Museum.

Small-group tours to Rotterdam, Delft and The Hague for between eight and 15 people cost from €140 per person to €200 per person for a 9- to 10-hour tour.

Higher-end tours provide a boat trip in Rotterdam. Day tours to Rotterdam plus Delft, The Hague and Kinderdijk cost around €100 per person.

Private tours cost from €260 per person to €500 per person depending on the destinations and duration of the trip.

Private tours include stops at places like The Hague, Delft, Kinderdijk and/or Zaanse Schans and provide private round-trip transportation from your hotel.

All day tours to Rotterdam and other sites include round-trip transportation by coach, train, minivan or private car and guided commentary.

What will you see and do?

Modern architecture

Bombing during World War II leveled most of Rotterdam, leaving few buildings from prior centuries. In the decades following the war, the city was rebuilt with innovation in mind.

The skyline of Rotterdam today is punctuated with skyscrapers, and explorations of its neighborhoods will lead you to fanciful buildings like the yellow Cube Houses and arched Markthal.

Rotterdam Harbor and the Maas River

Europe’s largest port is found in Rotterdam. The harbor is a vital shipping hub, and fleets of historical ships are on display in its Dutch Maritime Museum.

Boat trips on the Maas afford peerless views of the city and a close look at the striking Erasmus Bridge.

Delft

Just a 15-minute drive from Rotterdam sits Delft, a historic town famed for its blue and white ceramics.

Despite its proximity to Rotterdam and its destruction in the last world war, Delft was spared and boasts medieval and Golden Age structures. A canal tour is an ideal way to take in the sights of this centuries-old town.

No visit to Delft is complete without a tour of a Delftware ceramic studio. Witness the process of creating the coveted pieces, from shaping to firing to the intricate hand-painting that makes Delftware so valuable.

The Hague

The Netherlands’ political and royal seat of The Hague has watched over the country’s southern coast since the 1200s. Despite suffering some bombing during WWII, The Hague still has a collection of ancient buildings.

Top landmarks are the Peace Palace with its eternal flame, Mauritshuis Art Museum and the seaside community of Scheveningen.

Madurodam

Family-friendly Madurodam is a way to visit all of Holland in one day.

This park in The Hague features the country’s most famous buildings and structures in miniature, delves into Dutch history and engineering feats like reclaiming land, clean energy and transportation development.

Windmills and gardens

If you book a private tour, you have a chance of a stop at Zaanse Schans or UNESCO-designated Kinderdijk to see and tour working windmills, the symbols of the Netherlands.

These villages’ country settings are also known for their gardens, especially the iconic fields of tulips.

When is the best time to visit Rotterdam ?

Any time of year can be great for a visit to Rotterdam. June through August boasts the best weather but largest crowds and highest prices. In May or September, avoid crowds while still seeing flowers in bloom.

Travel tips

• Wear shoes and clothing appropriate for a long, active day.
• Bring an umbrella or rain jacket.
• Tours do not include food or drink, so plan accordingly.