Rotterdam Rooftop Tour: Four Exclusive Rooftops & City Views

Four rooftops, each one a different view of how Rotterdam rebuilt itself.

A 2.5-hour rooftop tour in Rotterdam's city centre that takes you across four exclusive rooftops with a professional guide, starting at Rotterdam Central Station and ending at the White House in the Old Harbor. The tour includes access to the NH Atlanta hotel rooftop overlooking the Coolsingel, a rooftop garden awarded Best Rooftop of the Netherlands, a 2-kilometer elevated park built on an old train track, and a central rooftop with views of the medieval Laurenschurch. Available in English or Dutch. Minimum age 12.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Rotterdam's innovative rooftops

• Start tour at Rotterdam Central Station
• Visit NH Atlanta hotel rooftop
• Explore rooftop garden with chickens and vegetables
• Walk along the 2 km elevated park rooftop
• See rooftop with view of medieval Laurenschurch
• End tour at White House in Old Harbor

The experience

Rotterdam has more flat rooftops than any other city in the Netherlands, a direct result of the 1940 bombardment and the reconstruction that followed. This tour uses that unusual geography as its frame: you start at Rotterdam Central Station with an introduction to the city's rooftop history, then move across four sites that show what the city has done with all that elevated space. The guide explains the new uses taking shape on these roofs (from gardens to parks to social gathering places), and how they fit into Rotterdam's transformation over the past 70 years.

The first rooftop is the NH Atlanta hotel on the Coolsingel, where you get a clear view of the city hall and the old Post Office. Next is the rooftop garden that won the award for Best Rooftop of the Netherlands, a working green space with chickens, vegetables and fruits. The third stop is the longest rooftop in the country: a 2-kilometer stretch of an old train track being converted into an elevated park. The fourth rooftop sits in the city centre and looks out over the medieval Laurenschurch, and the guide uses this spot to walk you through the city's 70-year transformation. The tour ends at the White House in the Old Harbor, where you climb up for views of the Maas river, the cube houses, and the entire city centre laid out below.

The whole route takes roughly 2.5 hours, though it may run a little longer depending on the pace and the group. You'll be on your feet and climbing stairs, so moderate fitness helps. The tour runs in all weather except heavy rain, so dress for the season. A professional guide leads the group in either English or Dutch, whichever you choose at checkout. Minimum group size is four people.

What’s included

• Access to five exclusive rooftops in Rotterdam's city centre.
• a professional guide in English or Dutch.
• introduction to the city's rooftop history and reconstruction story.
• views from the NH Atlanta hotel, the award-winning rooftop garden, the 2-kilometer elevated park, the central rooftop overlooking Laurenschurch, and the White House in the Old Harbor.

Options for this experience

2 options

English-speaking tour14:30

Dutch-speaking tourGuide in English · 14:00Dutch-speaking tour

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDepartures at 14:00 and 14:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (12 to 88 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Inside Rotterdam

Is this one for you?Book the English-speaking tour if you want the guide's full explanation of Rotterdam's post-1940 rebuilding and rooftop innovation. Choose Dutch if that's your language. The 2.5-hour duration and moderate fitness requirement mean this suits people comfortable on their feet and climbing stairs, not a leisurely stroll.

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Top questions

What's the view like from the NH Atlanta rooftop on the Coolsingel?

The NH Atlanta rooftop gives you a direct view of the Coolsingel with the city hall and the old Post Office, and the guide uses this stop to explain examples of new rooftop uses taking shape across Rotterdam.

Is the rooftop garden really the Best Rooftop of the Netherlands?

Yes, the rooftop garden you visit on this tour was awarded that title. It's a working green space with chickens, vegetables and fruits growing on it.

How long is the elevated park rooftop you walk?

The third rooftop is 2 kilometers long, making it the longest rooftop in the Netherlands. It's an old train track being converted into an elevated park.

What do I see from the rooftop at the Old Harbor where the tour ends?

The White House in the Old Harbor gives you a view of the Maas river, the cube houses, and the entire city centre of Rotterdam from above.

Do I need to book this tour in a specific language?

You choose either an English-speaking or Dutch-speaking guide when you book. Both options cover the same four rooftops and follow the same route.

What's the minimum age for this tour?

The minimum age is 12 years old. The tour involves climbing stairs and walking across rooftops, so a moderate level of physical fitness is needed.