The best of Rotterdam and Kinderdijk
The tour starts in Rotterdam with a two-hour private walk. You step inside one of the Cube Houses, the tilted yellow cubes Piet Blom finished in 1984, see the arched Markthal with its painted ceiling, the pre-war ships in the Oude Haven, the medieval St. Lawrence Church that survived the 1940 bombardment, and end on the Erasmusbrug, the 802-metre bridge from 1996 that became the symbol of the new Rotterdam. At its foot you board the WaterShuttle together. Thirty minutes later you step off at the mills of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Your guide walks you along the dike between the two mill rows, explains how mills, reservoirs and pumping stations kept the polder dry, and takes you inside a museum mill where a miller's family lived. The boat trip along the mills is included, and so is a warm drink before you head back. Your guide says goodbye at Kinderdijk; your return WaterShuttle ticket is in the price, so you sail back to the Erasmusbrug whenever you are ready. Every ticket on this tour is included: the Cube House, the WaterShuttle both ways, the Kinderdijk entrance with the boat, and your drink.
What you'll see on this tour
What our guests say
Real reviews left by our guests on Google, Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide.
“We had a wonderful walking tour with Robin. He was very knowledgeable, informative & friendly. We saw a lot more than we expected.”
“This tour was a perfect way to get an extensive introduction to the highlights of Rotterdam. The guide was well-prepared and the city exceeded our expectations. Well done!”
“What a nice, smooth guide Robin is! Not the standard talk, but fun facts about the nice places in the city. Highly recommended!”
“Business Wat een leuke vlotte gids is Robin! Niet de standaard praatjes maar wel leuke weetjes over de leuke plekjes in de stad. Echt een aanrader!”
Translated from Dutch
What's included
Included
- Private guide
- 2-hour private walking tour of Rotterdam, including a visit inside a Cube House
- WaterShuttle tickets from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk and back
- Entrance ticket to the Kinderdijk World Heritage site: the boat trip along the mills, the museum mills and the pumping station
- 1.5-hour private guided tour of Kinderdijk
- A warm drink at Kinderdijk
Not included
- Lunch
- Gratuities for the guide (optional)
- Pick-up and drop-off in another city (can be added to your booking at check-out)
What to expect
Meeting at the Erasmusbrug
You meet your guide at the WaterShuttle pier on the Willemskade, at the foot of the Erasmusbrug, or at your hotel if it is in the centre of Rotterdam. The walk starts straight away and comes back to this pier for the boat.
Meeting point: At the WaterShuttle pier on the Willemskade, at the foot of the Erasmusbrug in Rotterdam, or at your hotel if it is in the centre of Rotterdam. You can also choose a custom starting location. Just add it as a comment when you book.
Rotterdam on foot
Through the Cube Houses, with a visit inside one of them, past the Markthal and its painted ceiling, the historic ships of the Oude Haven, the Witte Huis and the St. Lawrence Church, with the story of the 1940 bombardment and the rebuilding that gave Rotterdam its skyline. The route ends at the Erasmusbrug just before the boat leaves.
The WaterShuttle down the river
You board the WaterShuttle together at the Erasmusbrug. The crossing to Kinderdijk takes about thirty minutes along the Nieuwe Maas and the Lek, past the harbours and the shipyards, and ends at the Molenkade, at the entrance of the mills.
Kinderdijk with your guide
A walk along the dike between the Nederwaard and Overwaard mill rows, inside a museum mill still furnished as the miller's family left it, and the boat trip along the mills that is part of your entrance ticket. Your guide explains how nineteen mills kept the polder dry, and why they eventually were not enough.
A warm drink, then back when you like
The tour ends with a warm drink at Kinderdijk. Your guide says goodbye here; your return WaterShuttle ticket is included, so you can take the next sailing back to the Erasmusbrug or stay longer among the mills and take a later one.
Highlights
Step inside a Cube House and see the Markthal, the Oude Haven and the Erasmusbrug with a private guide
Sail from the heart of Rotterdam to the mills of Kinderdijk in thirty minutes by WaterShuttle
Walk the dike between nineteen UNESCO windmills, go inside a museum mill and take the boat along the mills
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly does the tour start?
At the WaterShuttle pier on the Willemskade, at the foot of the Erasmusbrug in Rotterdam. If your hotel is in the centre of Rotterdam, your guide can meet you there instead: add the hotel as your start point when booking and you walk to the pier together as part of the tour. Rotterdam Centraal station is about fifteen minutes away by tram or metro, and the cruise terminal on the Wilhelminakade a ten to fifteen minute walk across the bridge.
Where does the tour end, and how do we get back?
The tour ends at Kinderdijk after your warm drink. Your return WaterShuttle ticket is included, so you sail back to the Erasmusbrug whenever you are ready, on the next boat or a later one if you want more time among the mills. Your guide leaves at Kinderdijk after the tour.
What is included in the price?
Everything you need for the day except lunch: your private guide for the whole tour, the visit inside a Cube House, the WaterShuttle from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk and back, the Kinderdijk entrance ticket with the boat trip along the mills, the museum mills and the pumping station, and a warm drink at Kinderdijk. There are no tickets to buy on the day.
What start times are possible?
The tour starts between 09:00 and 13:00, so that the walk, the crossing and ninety minutes at Kinderdijk all fit inside Kinderdijk's opening hours. Your guide times the Rotterdam walk to the WaterShuttle departures, which run roughly every seventy minutes in season.
Does this tour run in winter?
From late March to late October the WaterShuttle sails every day. From late October to the end of February it sails on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, and Kinderdijk closes for part of January and opens weekends only until early March. If you book a date without a sailing, we contact you and arrange the bus from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk instead, or suggest another day.
Is this a good tour from a cruise ship in Rotterdam?
Yes. The Erasmusbrug pier is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the Cruise Terminal Rotterdam on the Wilhelminakade, over the bridge. With a morning start you are back at the Erasmusbrug in the early afternoon. If you need to be on board by a set time, mention it when booking and we plan the return sailing around it. For a tour that starts and ends at the terminal itself, see our shore excursions.
Can we have lunch during the tour?
Lunch is not included, but there is time for it. The Markthal in Rotterdam is on the route and full of food stalls, and Kinderdijk has a café at the entrance. If you would like a lunch stop built into the tour, add it as a booking comment and we plan the timing around it.
Is the route suitable for guests with limited mobility?
The Rotterdam walk and the dike at Kinderdijk are flat, and the WaterShuttle and the boat along the mills are accessible. The inside of the Cube House and of a windmill are not: both have steep stairs, so guests who cannot climb them wait at the bottom while the rest of the group goes up.
Can I be picked up and dropped off in another city?
Yes. We offer paid pick-up and drop-off within roughly 100 km (62 mi) of the tour's meeting point, which covers Amsterdam and most of the Randstad. You can add this during the booking checkout, or book it separately, before your tour date. For longer distances, contact us for a quote.
How can I pay for my tour?
You can pay securely online during checkout with Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit or debit card, iDEAL, Bancontact or Sofort. Prices are listed in euros; your bank converts the amount automatically if you're paying from abroad.
Do I need to book this tour in advance?
The earlier you book, the better, but online bookings close 24 hours before the tour's start time. For a last-minute booking within that window, call, text or WhatsApp us at +31 6 46 52 69 11.
Is this tour weather-dependent?
This tour runs rain or shine. In strong wind the boat along the mills at Kinderdijk can be cancelled by the site, and in rare cases the WaterShuttle too; we then arrange the bus from Rotterdam instead. If you'd rather not walk in the rain, you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel this tour free of charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time.
Is a gratuity included in the tour price?
No, the tour price doesn't include a gratuity for your guide. Tipping is never required, but it's always kindly appreciated.
What if I'm not satisfied with my tour?
We want you to enjoy your visit. If you weren't satisfied, let us know and you'll receive a refund, excluding external costs such as transport, food or entrance tickets. We always appreciate feedback to improve future tours, too.
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes. You can buy a digital gift card for any amount, and the recipient can redeem it for any tour on hollandcitytours.com, discover-delft.com or discover-the-hague.com.
I have another question.
For any other questions, do not hesitate to contact us. Email info@hollandcitytours.com or call/WhatsApp +31 6 46 52 69 11, we respond quickly.
More about Rotterdam and Kinderdijk
What else there is to see in each of them, how to get there, and when to come.
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