Car hire in Rotterdam at the best prices

Occupying a very strategic location where the Rhine spills into the North Sea, Rotterdam is considered by many to be one of the main gateways to Europe due to its large port and favourable geographic position.

With a history stretching back to 1270, the city has metamorphosed in recent years into one of the world’s most modern and forward-thinking cities.

Since its humble beginnings as a fishing village when the Rotter dam (hence the city’s name) was first built in the 13th century, it has steadily grown into a major hub for trade and commerce, revolving around its thriving shipping industry and enhanced by a temperate oceanic climate.

A fascinating mix of the old and the new with historic buildings, stunning modern architecture, fascinating museums and a lively night-life, Rotterdam is a place known for its impressive riverside setting, bustling cultural vibe and rich maritime heritage, all of which reflects its status as the country’s second-largest city (after Amsterdam).

Auto Europe has over 60 years of experience providing quality car hire at the cheapest prices with over 24,000 pick up and drop-off points in more than 180 different countries around the world. Call our reservation specialists on tel. +441233225114 to book your car hire in Rotterdam 7 days a week.

How's the traffic in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is easy to reach by car. When you're driving into Rotterdam city centre, just follow the signs for Centrum on the ring road. When you leave the motorway and enter the city's perimeter, keep in mind that the maximum speed is 50 kph. At many point in the city there are speed cameras as well as traffic light cams. There are several highways giving access to Rotterdam from all directions. These highways connect with the ring road which encircles Rotterdam's city centre. The Rotterdam ring road comprises the A15 highway (South), A4 (West), A16 (East) and A20 (North). As mentioned, yo need to keep an eye on your speedometer on the Ring Rotterdam because there are many speed cameras and maximum speed limit is clearly indicated on electronic road signs. For reasons concerning noise reduction and environmental issues, you are only allowed to drive at 80 kph (or 100 kph during the rush hour). On Rotterdam's other ring roads, the maximum speed allowed is 100 kph. In the city's outskirts, you're allowed to drive at 120 or 130 kph. For more specific information about getting around Rotterdam and all other parts of the Netherlands by car, please consult our handy Netherlands driving guide.

Where can I park my car hire in Rotterdam?

In and around the city, you can find several P+R (Park and Ride) car parks where you can park your car and use the extensive public transport network. You can also leave your rent a car in Rotterdam in a large number of city car parks; Rotterdam has 17 municipal car parks, plus there are also car parks managed by Q-Park, APCOA PARKING and Interparking. Many indoor car parks are also available that accept both cash and credit cards, while street parking is also permitted in many parts of the city bearing in mind that the entire downtown area is paid parking (tariffs and times are stated on nearby ticket machines). Please note that it is not possible to use coins in Rotterdams’ on-street parking meters. You may also pay for street parking by downloading an app on your mobile phone and using the following providers: Pay010, Parkmobile, Park-line, Yellowbrick, EasyPark, SMSParking, ANWB Parkeren, MyOrder and MKB Brandstof.

Rotterdam Airport

Serving both cities, Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the third largest air transportation hub in the Netherlands, handling around 2 million passengers each year. The airport is situated next to the busy A13/E19 motorway, which makes it easily accessible for visitors arriving and departing in their car rental in Rotterdam. On-site facilities include the popular Espresso bar, De Horizon restaurant, Ako shop and GWK currency exchange.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM)
Address: Rotterdam Airportplein 60, 3045 AP Rotterdam, Netherlands
Phone: +31 (0)10 446 34 44
Website: Rotterdam The Hague Airport

What to do in Rotterdam

There's much to see in this pulsating metropolis, a city of wonderful parks, unusual buildings and hidden gems. It's a city that blends the old with the new, a place packed with historic buildings and stunning modern architecture standing side by side. After the war, many free-thinking architects were called upon to restore the city to its former glory. As a result, you'll see many things of great interest in and around the centre, such as the Cube Houses, De Markthal and Erasmus Bridge. West of the centre, you'll discover Rotterdam's medieval past in the harbour area known as Delfshaven. This picturesque marina was fortunate to escape intensive bombing during the war and was the place from whence the famous Pilgrim Fathers set sail on their voyage to settle in America in 1620.

• Delfshaven: West of the city centre lies Rotterdam’s medieval quarter set around the harbour district known as Delfshaven. Full of history, it was the Pilrim Fathers' departure point some four hundred years ago but today it’s a bustling tourist centre with many old shops selling antiques and bric-a-brac interspersed with some lovely cafés and restaurants.


• Euromast Observation Tower: Located in the city’s Scheepvaartkwartier district, the popular Euromast Observation Tower stands almost 200 metres high, making it the tallest building of its kind in the Netherlands. The lift takes 30 seconds to whisk visitors up to a height of 100 metres to a point where an observation deck and restaurant is located. The 360-degree view over Rotterdam is spectacular and for more thrills it’s worth taking the Euroscope Revolving Lift to rise an additional 85 metres!


• Kinderdijk Mill Network: In the city’s eastern suburbs stands the impressive mill network of Kinderdijk, which represents an outstanding contribution to the technology of handling water. The construction of hydraulic works for the drainage of land for agriculture and settlement began in the Middle Ages, continuing uninterruptedly to the present day. The site illustrates all the typical features associated with this kind of technology – dykes, reservoirs, pumping stations, administrative buildings and a series of very well-preserved windmills.


• Church of St Lawrence: Originally built on the banks of the River Rotte between 1449 and 1525, the Church of St Lawrence (known locally as the Laurenskerk) is located in the very birthplace of Rotterdam. The city's only surviving late Gothic building, it somehow survived the bombing of World War Two and today cuts a striking figure amid all the modernity of Rotterdam's present-day architecture.


• Rotterdam Zoo: One of Europe’s most impressive zoos, the Diergaarde Blijdorp (as it is known locally) offers a wealth of attractions, including a large oceanarium and the chance to enjoy a magical voyage through a variety of coastal regions along the bottom of the sea, meeting many marine creatures such as sharks and a large group of king penguins along the way. Other sections highlight the beauty of Africa, Asia and the Amazon rain forest.


• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen: This world-class tourist attraction houses the crème de la crème of Dutch art, from the masterful medieval paintings of Jan van Eyck, Bosch, Brueghel and Rembrandt to the country’s most revered contemporary artists. Opened in 1849, the collection now surpasses 150,000 works and today the museum also features a magnificent collection of household objects that chart the history of design over eight centuries.

Best day trips with my car rental in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is ideally location for all those looking for the perfect base from which to explore the Netherlands and its neighbouring countries of Belgium and Germany. There's much to see and do in the city's surroundings, particularly for those prepared to travel further afield in their car hire in Rotterdam.

Schiedam

Visiting Schiedam to the west of Rotterdam will give you a chance to see the tallest windmills in the world, some of which are several hundred years old. The town is also famous for its gin, with many old warehouses, distilleries and roasting houses having been converted into shops, restaurants, museums and art galleries.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam needs no introduction, its dazzling cultural qualities and bustling city life have established it high on the list of the world’s most popular destinations. With more canals than Venice, the city is renowned for its scenic cityscapes and must-see tourist attractions, notably the famous Rijksmuseum and the house of Anne Frank.

The Hague

Visitors to The Hague - the Netherland's third-largest city - can expect to find a lovely place full of royal history. The Dutch government and parliament reside in the delightful Binnenhof complex, as well as the royal household and many embassies and ministries. The Mauritshuis Museum located in a former royal palace houses many masterpieces from the country's golden age.

Haarlem

The centre of the country's bulb-growing industry, Haarlem has many tourist attractions within easy walking distance of Grote Kerk, a bustling square overlooked by the imposing 15th-century Grote Kerk church. Built in 1355, the medieval gateway called Amsterdamse Poort once formed the city's defences.

Alkmaar

Further up the coast north of Amsterdam, the small town of Alkmaar is dominated by its massive Gothic church, which was completed in 1520. Featuring some of the finest diary products in the Netherlands, the weekly cheese market held every Friday morning since medieval times is one of the most traditional culinary showcases in the country.

Geographic Information & History

The area's first settlement that emerged at the lower end of the River Rotte dates from at least 900 AD. Almost three years later a dam was built where the present-day Hoogstraat is located, from the city's name derives. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city status by Willem IV of Holland.

By the end of the 19th century, the city was already expanding rapidly and grew into one of Europe's most important ports. During World War Two, Rotterdam's mediaeval centre was badly damaged by Nazi bombs and it took many years to rebuild the city.

Rotterdam's modern history - in light of such heavy bombardment and very tasteful reconstruction - has driven the local residents to speculate, innovate and reshape the city's skyline in order to make Rotterdam an interesting place to visit.

Divided by the River Nieuwe Maas, and built mostly behind dykes, much of Rotterdam is located below sea level and covers a total area of 41 square-miles, with its port alone stretching over a distance of 25 miles. The Port of Rotterdam is the largest in Europe and from 1962 until 2004 was the world's busiest port, an accolade currently attributed to Shanghai.

How to get around Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a compact city and transportation is key to its continuing development, with the focus on more cycling lanes and an increase in sustainable public transport. The main services are provided by NS (railways), RET (trams, city buses, metro and ferries) and Arriva Netherlands, Connexxion and Veolia (regional buses).

Metro

Rotterdam's extensive underground network is the best way to travel around the city because there's a metro station close to all the main tourist attractions. Besides getting around the city centre quickly and easily, Rotterdam's metro system can be used to get to some of the surrounding areas like Capelle aan den IJssel, Spijkenisse, Hoogvliet and Rhoon, as well as the popular beach resort of Hoek van Holland. To reach the lovely city of The Hague, take the metro line E for trains directly to its impressive Central Station.

Tram

Another popular form of public transport in Rotterdam (and the rest of the Netherlands) is the tram, which is particularly convenient for travelling short distances in and around the town centre, especially to destinations not covered by the city's metro system. Pulled by a horse, Rotterdam's first tram began operating in 1879 and nowadays you can find two types of trams running around the city, including the new and very comfortable quick low-floor Citadis trams which will eventually replace all the older trams. There are nine tram lines in total, all of which serve Rotterdam's city centre. Operating during the summer months, a special hop-on-hop-off tram (line 10) covers all the tourist highlights.

Bus

Buses in Rotterdam take you around and across the whole of the city centre, as well as the suburbs and many of the surrounding towns and villages. Services are operated by three different bus companies, with the main inner-city routes run by RET (recognisable by their white and green colours). These buses run very frequently, up to every ten minutes during the morning and evening rush hours. A special express bus service runs between Rotterdam Central Station and Rotterdam The Hague Airport.

Taxi

Taxis offer a convenient door-to-door service, which is especially useful (and safe) throughout the night when Rotterdam's public transport system isn't running. There are a number of dedicated taxi ranks in Rotterdam but you can also book your taxi in advance in order to be picked up at your hotel or any other location in the city. During the day you can also use a bike taxi which you'll find in the city centre. Bike taxis can be used for short distances and are a very popular way for tourists to get around the city. Another type of taxi available in Rotterdam is the water taxi which is a fun and very fast way of getting around town. Bear in mind that water taxis don't need to stop at traffic lights and neither do they get stuck in traffic jams, plus they offer some of the best views of Rotterdam's striking city skyline.

Useful links

Car hire Rotterdam Rail Station

Rotterdam Tourism