Further useful information

About Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands with over 600,000 inhabitants and currently one of the largest ports in the world. As a result of international trade, Rotterdam has an intercultural, cosmopolitan character with over 170 nationalities. It is a young, dynamic, international city with a passionately beating heart. The city keeps reinventing itself at a rapid pace while continuously redefining and expanding its already impressive skyline. Rotterdam is simply bursting with architecture, design, art and culture, but also boasts a wide and varied range of shops, attractions, festivals, restaurants and parks.

Please see also the Rotterdam City Guide [Netherlands Tourism].

 

Weather

The Netherlands has a maritime climate with mild winters and cool summers, so any time is a good time to visit. Rainfall occurs throughout the year and it can be windy especially in spring and autumn. Spring is the driest season and summer is the wettest. The warmest season is summer with daily highs of 20°C / 68°F on average.

 

Time zone

The time zone for the Netherlands is Central European Time (CET):

– GMT+1 during Standard Time

– GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time

 

Electricity

Electricity in the Netherlands is: 220V, 50 Hz AC.

 

Telephone

The country code for the Netherlands is: +31
The area code for Rotterdam is: (0)10
To call a number in Rotterdam from abroad: Dial the international access code, followed by 31 (country code for the Netherlands), then the area code 10 (omitting the first zero) and the local number.

 

Language

Dutch. Most people also speak English.

 

Visa

For a visit of up to 90 days to the Netherlands, tourists from nearly 60 countries only need a valid passport (including most of Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA and Japan). Nationals of most other countries will need a Schengen visa, named after the Schengen Agreement that eliminated passport controls between 26 EU member states. A Schengen visa for a stay of up to 90 days is issued by Dutch embassies or consulates. To apply for a Schengen visa, you need a passport that is valid until at least three months after your visit, and you must be able to prove that you have sufficient funds for your stay. Fees vary depending on your nationality.
More information: www.government.nl

 

Currency

Like other EU countries, the currency in the Netherlands is the euro (€). Notes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500. There are coins for one, two, five, 10, 20 and 50 cents, and €1 and €2. The one and two cent coins are still in circulation, but most shops now round up or down to the nearest five cents. Note that not all shops will accept notes of €100, €200 or €500.

 

Payment methods

The most common means of payment is cash. Most stores and restaurants also accept credit cards (Visa, Mastercard and sometimes American Express). Travellers' cheques are often not accepted. Withdrawing money from an ATM is the cheapest way to exchange your money. You can also exchange money at banks and the GWK offices at Rotterdam Central Station or Rotterdam The Hague Airport.

 

Tipping

In the Netherlands, service charge and value added tax are included in the price. A tip is seen as a way of complimenting the service. It is common to tip 5 to 10% of the bill, except when the service is bad.

 

Smoking

Smoking is prohibited in the Netherlands in offices, public buildings, restaurants and bars. Some restaurants and most bars have a special smoking area.

 

Free Wi-Fi internet

Free Wi-Fi internet access is available in the city centre of Rotterdam. Connect to the Rotterdam Draadloos Wi-Fi network for free internet access. The coverage of this network is best outdoors. In addition, city promotion centre ROTTERDAM.INFO and various hotels and restaurants offer free Wi-Fi internet, including the La Place restaurant in the V&D department store Hoogstraat 185), Bagel & Beans (Hoogstraat 129b), Bagel & Beans in the Selexyz Donner bookstore (Lijnbaan 150), The Coffee Company (Eendrachtsplein 2) and McDonald's restaurants.
More information: www.rotterdamdraadloos.nl

 

Places to go

Rotterdam is simply bursting with architecture, design, art and culture, but also boasts a wide and varied range of shops, attractions, festivals, restaurants and parks. That's why Rotterdam is a city that you can rediscover time and again.
http://en.rotterdam.info/visitors/places-to-go/