Meet the locals: insider’s tips from the street

What are the best places to eat, drink, go out, sleep and more? The editorial team of Inside Rotterdam asked people on the streets for their favourites!

 

Anika Rasenberg (26), hostess Het Nieuwe Kantoor (HNK)

Loves
Biking in the Karalingse Bos and along the Kralingse Plas. The combination of the green and the skyline. And I have a girlfriend who lives on the Kop van Zuid and looks out over the Koninginnenbrug, de Hef, and the Erasmusbrug. Amazing views. 

Going out
Biergarten because it is a great outdoors spot and attracts a young, international crowd and the new bar Containerbar Noord.

Restaurants
Depends on my budget! But in any case Bazar, Gusto, and The Fish Market.

Shops
IWSBS, (called Bob & Bill now).

Terraces
Not the Stadhuisplein. Rotown, Stalles and the Belgian beer cafe Boudewijn on the Nieuwe Binnenweg.

Rotterdam is …
Modern with an industrial character. Becoming hipper, which unfortunately is reflected in the house prices.

 

Arij den Otter (45), manager, fashion shop

Loves
I love the old harbours with their undeveloped raw edges. Like artist Joep van Lieshout’s spot on the Merwe-Vierhavenkwartier.

Going out
The Witte de Withstreet and Deliplein, especially for the Fenix Food Factory.

Restaurants
Bistrot du Bac, and De Jong, Jim de Jong’s restaurant near De Hofbogen.

Cafés
De Schouw, an old haunt for journalists, it is a bit of an institution, and Bar Z, Ballroom, Sjatzi and Bar. And KINO: great for films and you can eat and drink there as well.

Shops
Vintage & Labels by Hendrikus and Tok10 for Comme des Garçons. I’m a real Susan Bijl fan as well; we always buy her latest shopppingbags. She is a true Rotterdammer and her designs are sold all around the world.

Rotterdam is…
Edgy and unexpected. I feel quite proud of how energic and buzzing it is.

 

Renette Sastrowidjojo (49), owner, recruitment agency

Restaurants
I eat out most days, mostly for my work. My favourites are Spirit, SanSan, Guliano, the lunch corner in Schmidt Zeevis, and the Markthal. I like a hamburger now and then. Ter Marsch is good, and Ellis near the Central Station.

Shops
I work in the World Trade Centre and buy everything from the Bijenkorf. Nice and easy. Everything under one roof.

Coffee
The Bijenkorf downstairs, and Lebkov.

Events
There’s often great festivals on in Het Park bij de Euromast. But the whole city is great these days.
Loves
Tourists used to find our city centre ugly. Now everyone can see how much it has grown. Its a real metropolis now and not just a business centre!

 

Nina Swaep, blogger and owner of The Ubiquist, author of Time to Momo Rotterdam, city guide (28)

Loves
Biking over the Erasmusbrug, the view of the Hefbrug by night, the rosarium behind Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, and walking over the Luchtsingel.

Restaurants
For breakfast: Ayla, Lilith and Op het dak. Lunch: Buiten, Kopi Soesoe and Bistrot du Bac. Dinner: De Matroos and het Meisje, Frits en Rijntje. Always: Warung Mini.

Going out
Ayla and Noah for cocktails and atmosphere. De Schouw and De Ouwehoer are great traditional, brown cafés. Theatre Walhalla and Jazzclub Bird for good performances.

Festivals
Architecture Fesitival Zigzag City, Pleinbioscoop and Djemaa el fna during the summer months. The International Film Festival Rotterdam during winter.

Shops
I buy just about everything from Very Cherry. I buy gifts from OMI, GROOS or Barrelproof Boutique. 

Terraces
Westerpaviljoen, because it is sunny so late, and Urban Espressobar West. Vessel 11’s terrace is always partytime. And around the Deliplein.

Rotterdam is…
An unusual mix of raw edges with an open, honest character and an unquenchable thirst for entrepreneurship. Always under construction, never finished.

 

Ron Riedijk (32), co-operator of a holiday park and financial advisor

Loves
The view I get when jogging over the Maasboulevard from the Shell station heading towards the centre. The city has changed so much over the past 5 years.

Eating
For a quick meal one of the food places on Witte de Withstraat, like Warung Mini. Or the Vietnamese on the Botersloot: delicious, fast and affordable.

Terraces
De Zondebok and ’t Zwarte Schaap at the top of Witte de Withstraat because the sun is there till late. And Hotel New York when the beachchairs are out!

Going out
To the pub, mostly on the Nieuwe Binnenweg or Witte de Withstraat.

Shop
X21 for street wear and sneakers and the Bijenkorf.

 

Daniella Isseli (35), secondary school teacher

Restaurants
I love La Vita è Bella. Also Ter Marsch and Oliva on Witte de Withstraat.

Terraces
Parqiet in Het Park bij de Euromast and Paviljoen in the Vroesenpark, which is also good for children!

Loves
Ambling along the Maas on the city side, over the Maasboulevard and the Boompjes.

Shops
The Pannekoekstraat for just about everything. Louen is my ultimate shop, followed by Imagine by Kim and Fleur.

Event
I like the Food Festival Trek. 

Coffee
Heilige Boontjes where there used to be a police station. A rehabilitation centre now for juveniles who have been in contact with the police…

 

Martin Baan (37) restaurant owner

Loves
Whenever I used to visit Rotterdam with my parents I loved seeing the skyline from the Maasboulevard. I later discovered the arboretum in Kralingen.

Terrace
Bistrot Du Bac with its atmospheric tables and chairs is a fantastic spot.

Restaurants
La Vita è Bella and Hudson.

Shops
Vintage & Labels by Hendrikus on Pannekoekstraat. For browsing, Mostert en Van Leeuwen.

Cafés
I’ll name one only: Sunset on the Botersloot. A good old traditional café. 

Events
The Kid Dynamite Festival and De Nacht van de Kaap (Night of the Kaap).

Rotterdam is …
Open and honest. Real, not fake or false. A multi-cultural city without pretensions.

 

Ageeth de Jong (55), stewardess/entrepreneur, and daughter Marie (12) 

Going out
Ageeth: Lebkov is my daughter’s favourite: cosy and buzzy.

Marie: But also Opa on Witte de Withstraat.

Shops
Marie: The Lijnbaan and the Koopgoot with H&M, Pull & Bear and Zara. RSI for longboards
Ageeth: Merkwaardig on the Kleiweg for secondhand designer clothes.

Restaurants

Ageeth: Bistro Mevrouw Meijer is number one for me. Ter Marsch is nice and for lunch, Spirit.

Events
Ageeth: The Boothstock Festival. The Fenix Food Factory is a nice place to take visitors.

Rotterdam is…
Marie: There’s a lot to see, it’s just really nice and fun.

Editor: Ellen Scholtens
Photography: Dineke Versluis

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