The rotating lift
It turns around the mast as it rises, so the view changes throughout the climb.
W. Bulach — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0 · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France — CC BY 2.0
An observation tower on the edge of Rotterdam's park, built in the early 1960s and later given an extension that raised it to 185 metres. The original part is a platform at around a hundred metres; above it is the later Space Tower, a glass lift that rotates around the mast as it climbs, giving you a full circular view during the movement itself rather than only at the end. What you see from here is not an old city. Rotterdam was destroyed in the war and rebuilt entirely modern, and the view from the top is a view of a working port: quays, containers, the white Erasmus Bridge and the riverside towers. That is the truth of Rotterdam, and anyone looking for traditional Holland will find it in Delft and Leiden rather than here. On clear days the range extends to The Hague in the north and towards the Belgian border in the south. The tower also offers adventure activities such as abseiling from the top, and holds two hotel rooms — both expensive and booked entirely separately from the ordinary admission ticket.
It turns around the mast as it rises, so the view changes throughout the climb.
The white suspension bridge and the riverfront are among the clearest things from the top.
Quays, containers and ship movement — it explains why Rotterdam is a port city first.
Parkhaven, on the edge of the city park
Park SchoonoordA small English landscape-style park beside Het Park in Rotterdam, laid out in t7 minutes walk4.8
The Tax and Customs MuseumThe Tax and Customs Museum occupies a villa on the Parklaan in Rotterdam, and it8 minutes walk4.1
Museum RotterdamThe city history museum, covering Rotterdam's story from a small harbour to Euro9 minutes walk4.4
Kunsthal RotterdamA museum without a collection: the Kunsthal (1992) was designed by Rem Koolhaas,9 minutes walk4.5
WereldmuseumA museum of world cultures in the Royal Yacht Club's building: founded in 1885 f12 minutes walk4.2Yes on a clear day, because Rotterdam is a city of modern architecture and the thing that explains it best is seeing it from above. Only from here do the bridge, the towers and the port fall into relation with each other. On an overcast day spend the money on the Boijmans museum or on walking among the cube houses instead.
No. The tower's adventure activities are booked separately and carry age, weight and health conditions, and they run seasonally and by weather. Do not assume they are available on your day — check in advance if they are your reason for coming, as the ordinary admission ticket does not include them at all.