A Day in Rotterdam: Markets, Cube Houses and Family Fun

Our stop in Rotterdam was a bit of a surprise in the best way. We hadn’t really known what to expect when we stepped off the cruise ship, but it turned out to be a place that the whole family and especially our teens really enjoyed.

One of the first things we noticed was how familiar it felt. The city is full of high street shops we recognised from home, which instantly made our teens happy. After a couple of days of exploring more traditional European streets, there was something comforting about being able to pop into familiar stores and do a bit of casual browsing. It gave the stop a relaxed, easy feel.

The real highlight for all of us, though was the food market. The Markthal is an incredible modern building shaped like a giant arch, with colourful artwork stretching across its ceiling. Inside, it’s packed with stalls selling everything from fresh fruit and cheese to warm pastries and street food from around the world. We tried a few different things and could easily have spent hours wandering around, tasting as we went. It wasn’t just food either the whole place had a lively buzz to it and our teens loved the mix of smells, sights and snacks.

Just outside, there was also a smaller local market selling clothes, accessories and random little bits and pieces. It wasn’t huge, but it was fun to stroll through and see what was on offer. We had secretly been hoping for a Christmas market, but Rotterdam doesn’t really go in for that, so that was a little disappointing. Still the markets we did find kept us happily occupied.

Of course, we couldn’t visit Rotterdam without seeing the famous Cube Houses. Designed in the late 1970s by architect Piet Blom, these quirky yellow and grey tilted cubes are one of the city’s most iconic sights. They’re meant to resemble trees, with the whole cluster forming an abstract “urban forest.” Walking around them felt a bit surreal, almost like stepping into a science fiction set. You can even tour one of the houses that’s been turned into a museum, which gave us a fascinating peek inside and answered the question we’d all been asking how on earth do people actually live in these?

What made the day even better was how walkable Rotterdam is. From the ship to the markets to the Cube Houses, everything was within easy reach and the flat streets made it stress free. It was one of those places where you don’t need to plan much you can just wander and enjoy.

As a family our final thoughts were that we felt we’d seen everything we wanted to in Rotterdam in a single stop, but would we come back? Yes, absolutely. The city had a nice atmosphere, a mix of modern design and everyday life, and plenty of places that kept the teens happy. It wasn’t what we expected, but that’s what made it such a good surprise.