One of our favourite areas of the city is Rotterdam-North. You will rarely see tourists here, but the Rotterdam people themselves all the more. North is actually a village in itself. You have great spots if you like vintage interior items or clothes. But you’re also in the right place here for the best coffee spots, a local beer brewery, cool hotspots and art. Let’s introduce you to this great neighborhood!
Vintage shopping in Rotterdam
Vintage, retro and second-hand clothing is now more popular than ever. North the place for that in Rotterdam! For the most beautiful retro furniture you should go to Oudstijl or Ding&Dingen, but for clothing there are three more spots in Noord. The shops are conveniently located close together at the Zwaanhals, one of the nicest streets in North.
- Betje Krul Vintage (Zwaanhals 344)
- Lily Scarlet (Zwaanhals 374)
- Volle Kast (Zwaanhals 329A)
But after that you are not yet done shopping in Rotterdam-North. Kookpunt is the largest store in Rotterdam for everything you could possibly need in the kitchen. Whiskybase has the best whiskey; Hop-In Bierwinkel the most original specialty beers; Barrels to Bottles top wines. Do not forget to visit Jeroen Bakt Brood for traditional sourdough bread.
The best Rotterdam hotspots
If you want to have a bite in North, there’s just so much to choose from. From breakfast to dinner you can go to several top places and choosing is not easy. For breakfast we recommend De Brunch Club, Sappi or Hopper. Hopper you may already know from the center and has the best coffee in Rotterdam-North. You can also buy the beans for at home.
At our favorite Wes Eettentje you eat Middle Eastern dishes in an interior that could be the movie set of a Wes Anderson movie. Lof der Zoetheid is the place for a high tea.
Our favourite for Italian food in Rotterdam-North is GaleriAAA by Mangiare for sure. Two more Mangiare restaurants are in the city center, but the one in North is the most beautiful. All the art work is from the artist group AAA, whose gallery is located in the building next door. A hole in the wall makes it possible to have a look there between your courses. And did you know that the men make live art at Mangiare as well? Highly recommended!
Rotterdam beer and the local market
North is also the place for local delicacies. The Oogstmarkt (translated ‘Harvest Market’) can be found on the Noordplein in Rotterdam-North almost every Saturday. All products are local and come from farms no more than 50 kilometers outside the city. Local products are not only better for our planet, but this market also gives a good impression of what is happening just outside the city.
Real Rotterdam beer is also brewed in North. Did you already see Rotterdam in Sebastiaan’s road trip along the 30 best beer brewers in the Netherlands? Rotterdam has several local brewers who make top quality specialty beer. One of our favourites is Brouwerij Noordt. You can buy specialty beer for at home, but also taste some beers in the taproom. They also offer tours around the brewery.
Reading tip: want to read more about Rotterdam? Check out our city guide of Rotterdam for all our tips for our hometown.
