The 5 cosiest beaches in Rotterdam

This 3-kilometre stretch of coastline is much less crowded than the well-known Hoek van Holland. It has three entrances and several attractive cafe-restaurants on the beach, like Elements and De Pit, where you can lounge in hammocks and eat wood oven pizza. Metro line B takes you directly from the city centre to Hoek van Holland.”

An immensely popular beach, visited by both Rotterdammers and families and youngsters from the surrounding villages, who like to swim here, play volleyball and barbecue. The beach is 800 metres wide and is flanked by a boulevard, giving you the feeling of visiting a seaside town. Nesselande is easily reached by metro (end of line B).

Sick sailors who arrived in Rotterdam with a tropical disease were initially moved to the quarantine area of Heijplaat, a former site of the Rotterdam dry dock company. Behind this green area where artists now live in the former sick bays is a secluded natural sand beach. Follow the hand-painted signs and enjoy the beautiful view over the city. It is not safe to swim here.

Come early if you want to claim a good spot at this small riverside beach with a great view of the southern part of Rotterdam’s skyline. It’s not a well-known spot and mostly frequented by locals. Get there with trams 21 or 24 (get off at the last stop).

The beach of Rockanje is a little farther abreast than the beaches at Hoek van Holland or Maasvlakte 2, but worth the effort. The wide, south-facing sandy beaches gently recede into the North Sea. Because of a series of sand banks there are not many waves, making this beach very child-friendly.