Rotterdam/Feijenoord

Feijenoord is a district of Rotterdam, located on the southern bank of the New Meuse. This former industrial area has largely been converted to housing.

Understand

Feijenoord, historically simply known as "Noord" or "Noort". Whereas this word nowadays means "North" in Dutch, the name is thought to be a bastardisation of "Den Oord", meaning the land outside of the dikes' protection. Feijenoord is, however, the northernmost tip of the southern bank of Rotterdam and a former island in the New Meuse river. Before Rotterdam's industrial sprawling, the island was home to the less-flattering services of Rotterdam, housing its pest house and gallows field.

The island grew largely thanks to self-taught engineer Thomas Joannes Stieltjes sr. (1819 - 1878), who, after having served some 15 years in the Dutch army as a volunteer and eventual lieutenant in artillery was dishonourably (which in 1860 was revised to be honourably) discharged in 1849 after refusing to swear oath to the new king, offering to instead swear oath to the newly written 1848 constitution. Being fired from the army, he started working for the Overijssel Canal Company, going on to make a career as the technical advisor to the Rotterdamsche Handelsvereeniging (Rotterdam Trade Association). As a result, Stieltjes is seen as the architect of Rotterdam's southern harbours in Feijenoord. Feijenoord's industrial sprawl saw the addition of many harbours, the industrial function of which has almost completely disappeared:

  • Koningshaven (King's Harbour) between the Noordereiland and Feijenoord itself. Construction on the harbour started in 1868. Spanning across it today are the Hef (disused railway lifting bridge) and the Koninginnebrug (Queen's Bridge).
    • Binnenhaven (Inner Harbour), dug between 1874 and 1878, being a branch off of the Koningshaven. Upon completion, the Binnenhaven was one of the most modern harbours of the Netherlands, being fitted with steam and hydraulic cranes from the start.
    • Entrepothaven (Entrepôt or Transshipment Port Harbour) branching off of the Binnenhaven is a former goods surplus harbour, which nowadays serves as a marina. It was constructed during the same time as the Binnenhaven.
    • Spoorweghaven (Railway Harbour), dug between 1873 and 1879, also branching off of the Koningshaven, is located slightly south of the Binnenhaven. It used to have the Meuse's water flowing through it from the Mallegat, on the other side of the railway. The Spoorweghaven as a whole has largely been reclaimed since its glory days, being developed into a residential area as of 2021.
  • Rijnhaven (Rhine Harbour), constructed between 1887 and 1895 was constructed as a harbour for Rhine ships, which are designed for goods transport on inland waterways. The harbour was for a while made deeper to house larger seafaring vessels, which was demoted to server inland ships later. It lost that function completely in 2015, with inland ships being moved to the Maashaven instead. Most of the former goods warehouses have been demolished and replaced with skyscrapers. On the north quay you can find the former departure point for many European immigrants to the United States, with it housing the former headquarters of the Holland-Amerika Lijn (Holland-America Line), which operated ferries to New York City from here for almost a hundred years (1873 - 1971).
  • Maashaven (Meuse Harbour), constructed between 1898 and 1905, the Maashaven too is intended for storing surplus. The most notable building along the Maashaven is the Maassilo, a former grain warehouse which, since 2004, is an events venue.
  • Nassauhaven (Nassau Harbour), located directly west of the railway, was constructed between 1890 and 1892 with an intent on housing factories that needed to be connected to both the railway and the river. Most of the serviced industry has disappeared with the area redeveloped for housing, barring the Unilever butter factory located where the harbour meets the Nieuwe Maas. Since 2005, it is supplied via the river again, and Unilever seemingly has no plans to relocate.
  • Persoonshaven (Persoons Harbour) was dug as soon as all plots around the Nassauhaven were sold out. Even though the name literally translates from Dutch as "Peoples' Harbour", the harbour is named for Claes Jermiasz Persoons, who in 1692 straightened the tower of the Sint-Laurenskerk in the city centre.

Get in

By car

Feijenoord is served by two highways, both southbound. Access from the north means that you will have to use Rotterdam's motorway ring.

  • The A16 is a major southbound highway, connecting to Dordrecht, Breda and Antwerp. At Breda, this road connects to the A58, which in turn connects to the A2 (Maastricht, Liège) and A67 (from Venlo, Duisburg) near Eindhoven. Together, these roads connect much of North Brabant and Limburg. Additionally, the A16 also meets the A15 just south from Rotterdam, connecting to much of Gelderland. Northbound, the A16 meets the A20, A13 and A4, connecting to the rest of the country:
    • From Amsterdam, use the A4, turn onto the A13 near Den Haag, turn onto the A20 (dir. Utrecht) once you're past Rotterdam-The Hague Airport, following this, turn onto the A16 after exit 15 (dir. Dordrecht). Exit 24 is located immediately after the bridge across the Nieuwe Maas.
    Note that starting in 2024, the A16 will have been continued to meet the A13, which means you can prevent a part of the ever-so-busy motorway ring of Rotterdam. The two highways will meet each other around the time you'd reach exit 11 (Rotterdam-The Hague Airport).
    • From Utrecht, use the A12. Rotterdam should be signposted the entirety of the way, which brings you past Gouda, where you enter onto the A20, turning onto the A16 after exit 16 (dir. Dordrecht). You're now on the same bit of road as the directions from Amsterdam describe, meaning that your exit, 24, is waiting for you once you've crossed the Nieuwe Maas.
  • The A29 is another major southbound highway, connecting to Bergen op Zoom and Antwerp. Heading north, this highway will bring you to the Vaanplein Interchange following the exit for Barendrecht. Take exit 19a, exiting the highway and following route S103 (Vaanplein). This road makes up part of the western border of Feijenoord. You get to the Kop van Zuid via the Strevelsweg, Dordtselaan and Maashaven Oostzijde, signposted as S122.

By public transit

Feijenoord has three train stations near it. Two of which are located within Feijenoord, while only one of those gets a regular service (🌍 Rotterdam Zuid  SPR ), with 🌍 Rotterdam Stadion  IC  SPR  seeing only service on match days of local football club Feyenoord. Located just south of Feijenoord is 🌍 Rotterdam Lombardijen  SPR , which is connected to the tram network directly on lines  2  and  20 . Line 2 connects to the metro network at 🌍 Maashaven  D  E  2 , line 20 at 🌍 Wilhelminaplein  D  E  12  20  23  25 . Other metro station in Feijenoord is Rijnhaven  D  E , which is located between Wilhelminaplein and Maashaven.

See

  • 🌍 Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photo Museum), Wilhelminakade 332 (Wilhelminakade  D  E  12  20  23  25 ), ☏ +31 10 203 405. Tu-Su 11:00 - 17:00. Age >26: €14; 18-25: €7; <18: free. (updated Aug 2021)
  • 🌍 Villa Zebra, Stieltjesstraat 21, ☏ +31 102 411 717. W Sa Su 10:00 - 17:00, F 10:00 - 13:00; during school vacations: Tu-Su 10:00 - 17:00. A children's museum for modern art. The museum develops and displays interactive expositions and art installations and workshops. (updated Aug 2021)

Do
  • The main event space in Rotterdam is 🌍 Rotterdam Ahoy (Ahoyweg 10), which hosts some of Rotterdam's largest events, including:
    • ABN AMBRO World Tennis Tournament (Rotterdam Open). Men's indoor tennis tournament taking place in early February. The Rotterdam Open is one of the largest (and typically the opening tournament) in the ATP Tour 500. (updated Feb 2022)
    • North Sea Jazz Festival. On the second weekend of July. It began in The Hague, but since 2005 the festival has taken place in Ahoy. (updated Feb 2022)
    • Premier League Darts. The Premier League Darts typically sees at least one round played in Ahoy, usually around the end of March. (updated Feb 2022)
    • Six Days of Rotterdam (Wooning Zesdaagse). Since 1936, this six-day track cycling race has been held in Rotterdam almost 40 times. The event is typically held in December or January, and has, unsurprisingly, a slight track record for having at least one Dutchman finish on the podium. (updated Feb 2022)
    • Vrienden van Amstel LIVE!. Usually in late January, Vrienden van Amstel is a Dutch series of concerts, sponsored by beer-brand Amstel. It is one of the largest indoor events of the Netherlands with over 100.000 attendees each year. The artists performing are some of the largest artists that the Netherlands has to offer, and though entirely Dutch-spoken, understanding the language isn't a requirement to have some fun. You'll want to bring some friends though - the event is difficult to enjoy if you're just partying on your own. (updated Feb 2022)
    • Nacht van Oranje (Night of Orange). Also a Dutch-only concert, taking place the day prior to King's Day (April 26th), previously prior to Queen's Day (April 29th). The event is more about partying than anything else, and the line-up of artists only confirms this. The event is as Dutch as it gets, both linguistically and musically, but like Amstel LIVE!, you can always bring some friends and just enjoy yourself. (updated Feb 2022)
  • 🌍 Maassilo, Maashaven Zuidzijde 1 (Maashaven  D  E  2 ), ☏ +31 104 762 452. Event venue that hosts business and nightlife events, as well as concerts across several halls, all located within an old repurposed warehouse. (updated Aug 2021)
  • 🌍 Stadion Feijenoord (De Kuip), Van Zandvlietplein 1 (Stadion Feyenoord  12  23  / Rotterdam Stadion  IC  SPR ), ☏ +31 104 929 444. 51,000-seat football stadium, hosting the biggest club of the city, Feyenoord. The stadium also doubles as a venue for concerts. (updated Aug 2021)

Buy
  • 🌍 Afrikaanderplein Markt (Maashaven  D  E ). W Sa 08:00-16:30. It is a more exotic and colourful than the former one. This market (~300 stalls) is geared very much towards Rotterdam inhabitants of Antillian, South American or African descent (a lot of whom happen to live nearby). (updated Sep 2021)

Eat

You will find restaurants to be located around several streets:

  • Hillestraat (Rijnhaven  D  E  / Vuurplaat  20  23  25 ) - Home to many world cuisines, featuring the cuisines of Afghanistan, West Africa, but also featuring somewhat more general BBQ restaurants.
  • Wilhelminakade/Otto Reuchlinweg (Wilhelminaplein  D  E  20  23  25 ) - The North end of the Rijnhaven, home to the more expensive and hipster restaurants, though smaller, more accessible restaurants can be found on the opposite side of the Rijnhaven.
  • Paul Krugerweg/Pretorialaan (Maashaven  D  E  2  25 ) - Home to chicken restaurants, and South-African-inspired dishes.
  • Groene Hilledijk/Beijerlandselaan (Randweg  2  20  25 ) - A long corridor of two streets which house all sorts of restaurants and shops, from your average McDonalds or KFC to smaller restaurants of Caribbean, Surinamese or Turkish cuisines.
  • 🌍 S.S. Rotterdam, 3e Katendrechtse hoofd 25 (Metroline D Rijnhaven, then bus 77, bus stop Katendrechtsestraat), ☏ +31 900-337 68 83. A ship built in 1959, now permanently moored and converted to a hotel/restaurants venue. There are two fine restaurants and a bar. When the weather is nice there is a great terrace with a view. Before the F&B you can book a tour. Or even better, spend the night at this fabulous cruise ship. Guided tours around the ship are also available. (updated Aug 2023)

Drink

Bars and cafés in Feijenoord are mostly located on the banks of the Rijnhaven;

  • On Katendrecht (between the Rijn- and Maashaven, metro: Rijnhaven):
  • Between the Meuse and Rijnhaven (metro: Wilhelminaplein):
    • 🌍 Foodhallen Rotterdam, Wilhelminakade 58. Establishment with ten smaller restaurants with worldly cuisines and three bars within it. (updated Feb 2022)

Sleep

Go next
  • A self-explanatory suggestion would be Rotterdam's city centre, which in almost every aspect is a more extensive version of Feijenoord.
  • Dordrecht is a wonderfully quaint and historical city, about fifteen minutes away by train from Rotterdam Zuid, roundabout 20 minutes by car, or an hour by waterbus (from Willemskade, north side of the river).
  • Breda can be seen as the gateway into North Brabant, which features both large cities with bustling nightlife, as well as more rural destinations.
  • Gouda, famous for the cheese of the same name, as well as more traditional Dutch goods like stroopwafels, candles and clay pipes. The city also happens to have a lot of historical sights to behold.


Routes through Feijenoord
Spijkenisse ← Slinge ←  SW  NW  → Centrum
Slinge ←  SW  NW  → Centrum → Den Haag


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