Car Rental in Rotterdam

Why rent a car in Rotterdam?

The second city of the Netherlands, Rotterdam is a unique place. A large industrial hotspot, it has fewer historic attractions than other cities in the region - it was also heavily bombed during the second world war - but, thanks to a mix of daring contemporary architecture and some older surviving landmarks, the city is a unique breed of its own. The city is right next door to The Hague, a more traditionally scenic destination, and impressive traditional Dutch windmills are also just a stone’s throw away. 

Top ways to enter Rotterdam

• Rotterdam Airport: Also known as Rotterdam The Hague Airport, it handled 1.9 million travelers in 2018. The airport is a large hub for Transavia and also has flights by nine other airlines. The airport is especially active during the summer months when it hosts many flights to and from destinations in Southern Europe, Turkey, and Morocco. Located just 7km (4 miles) from Rotterdam city center, the airport can be reached in 15 minutes or less.
• Amsterdam Airport: Amsterdam Schiphol is not only the largest in the Netherlands but also the third-busiest airport in Europe (behind only Heathrow in London and Charles de Gaulle in Paris). A hub for KLM, Delta Air Lines, and other carriers, the airport handled 71 million travelers in 2018. Amsterdam Airport is also one of the few international airports that are located below sea level. Located just 57km (35 miles) north of Rotterdam, the airport can be reached in about 40 minutes.
• Eindhoven Airport: Located in the south of the country, Eindhoven Airport handled 6.2 million travelers in 2018. Favored by low-cost companies like Ryanair and Wizz Air, the airport is often seen as the cheapest to fly to (and from) in the Netherlands. Located 106km (66 miles) southeast of Rotterdam, the airport can be reached in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Maastricht Airport: Located even farther south than Eindhoven, Maastricht Airport is served by six different airlines, although some only have flights during the summer months. The airport is sometimes also called Aachen Airport after the German city that is right on the other side of the border. Located 190km (118 miles) from Rotterdam, Maastricht Airport can be reached in two hours.
• Brussels Airport: The busiest in Belgium, Brussels Zaventem Airport handled more than 25 million travelers in 2018. The main hub of Brussels Airlines, it hosts flights to and from most European countries as well as destinations in Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Located 140km (87 miles) south of Rotterdam, Brussels Airport takes just 90 minutes to reach. You’ll have to cross the border between the Netherlands and Belgium, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it.

City facts

• Located practically on the coast of the North Sea, Rotterdam has a temperate oceanic climate with mild summers and cool winters. The average high temperature is 22°C  (72°F) in July and August, the warmest months, and 4°C  (39°F) in January and February. Precipitation is fairly high throughout the year with a small decrease in April. Rotterdam experiences snow only very rarely. 
• Rotterdam is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in Europe. About 50% of the city’s inhabitants have at least one parent born outside the country. Many residents of Rotterdam have their roots in former Dutch colonies like Suriname, the Dutch Caribbean Islands, and Indonesia; others come from countries like Turkey, Morocco, and Cape Verde. The city’s eclectic demographic makeup is represented in its diverse cultural institutions, restaurants, and languages spoken. Knowledge of English, like elsewhere in the Netherlands, is very high.

Top sights and activities

• Van Nelle Factory. One of the very few factories in the world to have the status of being a UNESCO World Heritage site, Van Nellefabriek is the symbol of Rotterdam. A prime example of constructivist architecture, it will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2025. If you want to see the factory from inside, you can only visit as a part of a pre-booked tour and the effort is worth it.  
• Grote of Sint-Laurenskerk. The Great or St. Lawrence Church is one of the most famous churches in the Netherlands. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, the church is one of the very few buildings that survived the bombing of Rotterdam during the Second World War. The church is faced by the statue of Erasmus, another great landmark of the city.
• Delfshaven. Another survivor of the war, the neighborhood of Delfshaven is an interesting place to visit. Travelers love walking along the two canals that bisect the area, checking out the old docks, hangars, warehouses, and quirky local museums along the way.
• Maritime Museum. Home to one of the busiest ports in Europe, Rotterdam has long taken advantage of its location on the North Sea coast. The naval connections have not only brought the city wealth, but also an exchange of knowledge and culture, and there’s no better place to learn about it than in this museum. Known for its interactive exhibitions, it is right next to the Maritime Museum Harbour, an open-air museum that has a number of historical ships on display. Visit the museum’s official website to learn more.
• Cube Houses. These famous cube-shaped houses, completed in 1984, were meant to be a model for creating housing on a human scale. You can judge for yourself by touring the inside one of them at the Kijk-kubus Museum.
• The Markthal. A more recent and well-loved addition to the modern architecture collection in Rotterdam is this arched apartment house that shelters a market hall within its arch. It’s a great place to stop for lunch.
• The Erasmus Bridge. This bridge has become a symbol of Rotterdam, with its asymmetrical sweep of cables. 
• De Rotterdam. The large irregular blockish building on one side of the bridge is De Rotterdam. Designed by Rem Koolhaas and completed in 2013, it is meant to be a vertical city, housing a range of different functions like housing, hotels, shops, offices, and so on.

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 100km/h (61 mph) between 6:00 and 19:00 on motorways or autosnelwegen, and sometimes higher at night, though the signs will indicate how much higher. On smaller highways (marked as N-routes), the speed limit is usually 100km/h (61 mph), though sometimes it’s marked differently. On smaller, non-highway routes outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 80km/h (50 mph). Inside built-up areas it’s 50km/h (31 mph) or 30km/h (19mph) in residential areas - usually indicated by a raised sidewalk serving as a speed bump on entering the area.
• Parking in central Rotterdam can be very pricey and the number of available spaces is limited. A good idea is to park either at one of the large car-parking centers or at the Park and Ride (P+R) outside the city center where the parking is much cheaper, usually costing less than €10 for a full day. There are also many free parking spaces in the Amsterdam-Noord area. 
• While it is certainly possible, and sometimes quite enjoyable, to drive around Amsterdam by car, do keep in mind that local etiquette demands that the drivers fully respect cyclists, even if they are not using hand signals for the turns they are about to make.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced drivers and 0.02% for novice drivers and drivers under the age of 24. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, an EU-wide license ban, or imprisonment.
• A better choice is to park and walk - it’s a very walkable city - and take public transportation for larger distances. Alternatively, rent a bike and use the excellent system of bike paths. Just keep in mind that locals bike fast and expect to be able to pass you on the left.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s registration needs to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

The only roads in the Netherlands that require paying a fee are two toll tunnels, the Kiltunnel at Dordrecht (about a 30-minute drive south of Rotterdam) and the Westerschelde Tunnel near Terneuzen (about a 1 hour and 20-minute drive south of Amsterdam).

For using the Kiltunnel, you can only pay by cash. The price is €2. For using the Westerschelde, the price is €5. Electronic payment tags are also available, but most rental cars are not equipped with them and they are mainly used by locals who use either of the tunnels frequently.

Ideas for day trips

• Kinderdijk. The small village of Kinderdijk is best-known for its 19 windmills which can be seen on the covers of many tourist booklets and in documentaries about the Netherlands. The windmills are not only picturesque but also help to keep the water from flooding the area. Located just 24km (15 miles) southeast of Rotterdam, Kinderdijk can be reached in about 30-40 minutes.
• Schiedam. Even though the town is famous for more windmills, when it comes to the Rotterdam area, it’s simply impossible to ignore Schiedam. The six windmills in this town have the honor of being the tallest in the world. As if that wasn’t enough of a reason to visit, Schiedam is also home to the Stedelijk Art Museum and a picturesque city hall. Just 7km (4.3 miles) west of Rotterdam center, Schiedam can be reached in about 15 minutes.
• The Hague. Better known as the seat of government of the Netherlands and the home of the International Court of Justice, the Hague is also a lovely travel destination. The city’s attractions include beautiful buildings like the Mauritshuis and Binnenhof, high-quality museums that host works of world-famous Dutch artists, and large parks and gardens. Located just 27km (16.7 miles) northwest of Rotterdam, the Hague takes 40 minutes to reach.
• Biesbosch National Park. A tidal wetland, Biesbosch is one of the most popular natural attractions in the Rotterdam-Hague area. The area can be explored on foot or by bike as there are numerous trails, although some visitors will say the right way to travel along the countless waterways of Biesbosch is via a boat tour, something that is also available for visitors. The drive from the center of Rotterdam to the national park takes only about 30 minutes.
• Leiden. Fitting the classic Dutch bill of being a historical city with a large and youthful student population, Leiden is one of the most popular day trips in the area. Its university is the oldest in the country, and it also boasts such architectural gems as the Gothic Church of St. Peter and Bibliotheca Thysiana, a 17th-century library. Leiden is north of Rotterdam, and it takes only about 40 minutes to drive to it.
• Delft. Another next-door neighbor of Rotterdam, Delft is in some aspects like a smaller (and less busy) version of Amsterdam. The picturesque mid-sized city is known for its well-preserved architecture, many canals, and also its own historical brand of beautiful ceramics. Delft also has noticeably fewer tourists than the large metropolises of the Netherlands. The drive northwest of Rotterdam takes only about 20 minutes.
• Amsterdam. One of the great cities of Europe, Amsterdam is one of the main reasons why visitors come to the Netherlands. Go see the medieval wooden architecture, take a long walk along the city’s canals, visit the Rijksmuseum, or simply relax in Vondelpark - there are many ways to have a great day in Amsterdam. Located 87km (54 miles) northeast of Rotterdam, Amsterdam can be reached in 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Rotterdam is the Ford Focus STW, closely followed by the Toyota Yaris and the Citroen C1. The most popular rental car types are the compact, economy, and mini classes.

Further destinations

• Keukenhof. If there is a symbol of the Netherlands that’s just as famous as windmills, then its tulips - and there’s no better place to see them than Keukenhof. Sometimes called the Garden of Europe, this large flower plantation is open only for eight weeks every year from mid-March to mid-May, but if you can time your trip to make a visit, it’s definitely worth it. In addition to tulips and other flowers, Keukenhof also has a very pretty castle. The garden is in the town of Lisse which is 57km (35 miles) north of Rotterdam and can be reached in one hour.
• Antwerp. Located in the Dutch-speaking part of neighboring Belgium, Antwerp is a unique city. The city’s port is the second-busiest in Europe (after only the port in Rotterdam), but the real pleasures of Antwerp can be found in its unique Diamond District, old Jewish Quarter, and old market square, all of which have many landmarks and are home to a special atmosphere. Antwerp is just 102km (63 miles) south of Rotterdam and can be reached in 1 hour and 40 minutes. To go there from Rotterdam, you’ll have to cross an international border, so ask your rental car provider in advance if they permit it. 
• Groningen. Located in the north of the country and relatively distant from the large conurbations of the Netherlands, Groningen is a unique city not just geographically, but also culturally. Characterized by a mixture of historical and contemporary architecture (the latter of which includes the stunning Groningen Museum), it also has a large and lively student population, making it a truly fun destination. The drive from Rotterdam takes about three hours.

Car rental prices in Rotterdam

• Large cars - from $64 per day
• Small cars - from $45 per day
• Medium cars - from $53 per day
• Station wagons - from $59 per day
• SUVs - from $65 per day
• Vans - from $167 per day
• Premium cars - from $162 per day

Money-saving and other tips

There are a number of things you can do to get a good rental car deal in Rotterdam. Start with:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Rotterdam is the cheapest in November when renting a car is about 77% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 90% cheaper than renting a vehicle in May.