Holidays to Rotterdam

Home to Europe's largest seaport, Rotterdam was founded in 1270, when a town was set up around a newly constructed dam on the Rotte River for safety. As large parts of Rotterdam are, on average, six metres below sealevel, the city is protected on many sides by dykes.

Although central Rotterdam was destroyed during WWII by the German Rotterdam Blitz, it has since stormed back to life. The ruined buildings were replaced with skyscrapers, which are not a common sight in Dutch cities. It's now a bustling economic hub, with museums, striking architecture, a massive football stadium for local club Feyenoord, a zoo and more.

UK citizens considering a weekend trip to Rotterdam will be relieved to know that they likely won't need a visa to visit. Whereas the official language is Dutch, there is a sizeable population of English speakers. Flights from London or Manchester to Rotterdam will arrive at Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM). The accepted currency in Rotterdam is the euro. A flight to Rotterdam from most anywhere in the UK will be around an hour and, conveniently, the airport is just 15 minutes by car from the city centre. By metro, the city centre is 20 minutes from the airport. Rotterdam has an extensive metro system and it is only one hour ahead of the UK.

Rotterdam's climate is a temperate oceanic climate. Its summers are mild, with highs in July around 21°C and lows around 12°C. Winters are chilly but not bitterly cold, with daily mean temperatures in January of 4°C. Its precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, though October is its wettest month, receiving 90mm on average. Below are some exceptional events to consider when planning a weekend in Rotterdam.

• International Film Festival Rotterdam: Taking place in January and February, this festival comprises over 500 films, more than 100 world premieres and hundreds of filmmakers and movie industry professionals, making it a film lover's dream!
• Bevrijdingsfestival: An annual May celebration of the nation's regained independence after WWII, which takes place in Euromast park. Look forward to live music and revelry, with no entrance fee.
• Rotterdam Unlimited Festival: A six-day long June celebration of music and the arts.

Between August and May, you can catch a Feyenoord football game at Stadion Feyenoord. Consider package holidays in Rotterdam as they are a convenient way to book a flight, hotel and activities with ease.

Nature lovers can take respite from the hurry of the city at Arboretum Trompenburg. Visitors will be amazed at the botanical gardens' refreshing display of trees, shrubs, flowering plants, ponds and wildlife.

• Delfshaven: This is the Old Town section of the city, where history buffs should consider staying when arranging their flight and hotel itineraries in Rotterdam. Its centuries-old buildings and ornate architecture are particularly charming.
• Diergaarde Blijdorp Rotterdam Zoo: Wildlife enthusiasts who didn't get their fill of wildlife at the botanical gardens should head to the Rotterdam Zoo to see creatures such black rhinos, poison frogs and slender lorises.
• Maritime Museum Rotterdam: The entire family will enjoy this seafaring adventure, where you'll see maritime artefacts that changed ocean navigation forever. Gget a taste of sea exploration in the Offshore Experience.

Consider booking your Rotterdam flight and hotel as part of package holidays. They are often preferred by travellers, offering the opportunity to save money by combining lodging, airfare and activities while on city breaks in Rotterdam.

If you also have time to explore the surrounding area, you can also rent a car in Rotterdam.

What is there to eat in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam has a wide selection of restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. Some great starting points:

• Old Dutch: This upscale experience in Rotterdam Centrum serves mouthwatering dishes such as fried duck breast, grilled sole fillets with hollandaise sauce and calf rib-eye with truffle risotto.
• Humphreys: An industrial-style restaurant in the Noordereiland neighbourhood, it offers a wide-ranging menu with selections ranging from sea bass with black olives and beurre blanc to mushroom ravioli with truffle sauce. There is even an outdoor terrace on the water for dining during warm months.

What to bring back from Rotterdam package holidays

Rotterdam has no shortage of gift shops where you can find typical Dutch knickknacks such as windmills, wooden clogs and tulip bulbs. For Rotterdam-focused souvenirs, look for nautical-themed oil lamps, ships in a bottle and other maritime collectibles.