Where river cruise ships moor in Rotterdam
River cruise ships do not use the ocean Cruise Terminal on the Wilhelminakade. They moor at the city’s river cruise berths on the north bank: the Boompjeskade along the Nieuwe Maas, the Leuvehoofd at the foot of the Erasmus Bridge, the Oosterkade by the Oude Haven, and the pier at the Rhijnspoorkade. All of them are inside the centre: the Markthal, the Cube Houses and Blaak station are 5 to 15 minutes on foot, and Rotterdam Centraal is one metro stop or a 20-minute walk.
The city charges river ships a high-season surcharge in March, April and May, which tells you when they come: tulip time. Your cruise line tells you the quay and the hours; we work from those.
Any tour can start at your ship
Tell us the quay
Put your ship’s name, the quay and your sailing time in the booking comment. Your guide meets you at the gangway, or at the quay entrance where the ship’s own security asks for it.
On foot, by train or by WaterShuttle
Rotterdam is a walk from the quay. Delft is 15 minutes by train from Blaak or Centraal, with your guide. Kinderdijk goes by WaterShuttle from the Erasmus Bridge pier, a few minutes from the river cruise quays, with your guide on board.
Back before you sail
We plan the day backwards from the time your ship leaves and keep a margin. If your ship moves quay during the day, as sometimes happens, your guide brings you to the new one.
In your language
Every private tour below can be guided in English, Dutch, German, French, Spanish or Italian. Say which when you book.
What fits a day in Rotterdam
Prices are per group, guide included, with the tickets each tour lists. Your guide meets you at your ship.
Private walking tour of Rotterdam
The Netherlands' second city and nothing like Amsterdam: a skyline risen from the war, its one medieval church, Europe's oldest skyscraper and the Cube Houses.
Cube House entry includedFree cancellation up to 24h before
Private tour of Rotterdam & Kinderdijk
Rotterdam's Cube Houses, Markthal and skyline, then thirty minutes down the river by WaterShuttle to the nineteen UNESCO windmills of Kinderdijk. One private half day, all tickets included.
WaterShuttle and all tickets includedFree cancellation up to 24h before
Private tour of Kinderdijk
Nineteen windmills from 1738 and 1740 in one UNESCO landscape: a private guide, the boat along the mills and a working mill from the inside, with an optional start in Rotterdam.
Entrance and boat trip includedFree cancellation up to 24h before
Private tour of Rotterdam & Delft
Dynamic Rotterdam and classic Delft in one half day: a medieval church and the Cube Houses, then the Delft of Vermeer and William of Orange. Transfer included.
Cube House entry includedFree cancellation up to 24h before
Delft on its own, by train with your guide, is the private walking tour of Delft. Everything we run is on the private tours overview.
Kinderdijk from a river ship
Many river itineraries sail past Kinderdijk or stop there. If yours does not, the private Kinderdijk tour with the Rotterdam start and the Rotterdam and Kinderdijk combination both go by WaterShuttle from the Erasmus Bridge pier, 30 minutes up the river, with the boat past the mills and a working windmill included. The tourist boat sails every day from late March to late October, and on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only in winter; on a winter weekday ask us when you book and we arrange the transfer.
On an ocean cruise instead? The Rotterdam cruise ship schedule has every call at the Cruise Terminal with the excursions that fit.
Frequently asked questions
Where does my river cruise ship moor in Rotterdam?
At one of the city’s river cruise berths on the north bank: Boompjeskade, Leuvehoofd, Oosterkade or the Rhijnspoorkade pier. Your cruise line confirms the quay, usually a day or two ahead. All four are in the centre, a short walk from Blaak.
Can the guide meet us at the ship?
Yes, always. Put the ship and the quay in the booking comment and your guide waits at the gangway at the agreed time. For Kinderdijk your guide walks with you from the ship to the WaterShuttle pier.
How long do we need for Kinderdijk from a river ship?
About three hours door to door for the private Kinderdijk tour with the Rotterdam start: a short walk to the WaterShuttle pier at the Erasmus Bridge, 30 minutes on the river, up to 90 minutes at the mills with the boat and a museum mill, and the WaterShuttle back whenever you like. The Rotterdam and Kinderdijk combination takes about four and a half hours.
Can we get to Delft and back in an afternoon?
Yes. Delft is 15 minutes by train from Blaak or Rotterdam Centraal. The private walking tour of Delft takes two hours; allow about three and a half hours from gangway to gangway.
Do the shore excursion guarantees apply to river ships?
The written guarantees in article 15 of our terms are for the excursions sold from the Cruise Terminal. For a tour starting at a river ship we still plan backwards from your sailing time with a margin, and you cancel free of charge until 24 hours before the start.
What if our ship arrives late or leaves early?
Tell us as soon as you know. The guide shortens the walk or the visit to fit, and a tour we cannot run because the ship skipped Rotterdam is refunded.
