How to get to Rotterdam Centraal Train Station

Travel from Rotterdam city centre to Rotterdam Centraal train station

Six centuries of history combined with seven decades of modern architecture combine to make Rotterdam, Holland, one of the most interesting and diverse cities in Europe. People of 180 different nationalities call Rotterdam home. In fact, over half of the residents living in the Rotterdam city centre were not born in The Netherlands and almost three-quarters of businesses in the city are owned by foreign-born citizens. Rotterdam’s multicultural community might have much to do with its location. The city is Europe’s largest seaport, situated on the coast of the North Sea and at the delta of three rivers that lead into Western Europe: The Rhine, The Meuse and the Scheldt.

With its efficient and extensive network of waterways, roads and railways, Rotterdam has become known as “The Gateway to Europe.” Near the heart of Rotterdam is the city’s central train station, Rotterdam Centraal. Travelling from Rotterdam city centre to Rotterdam Centraal train station is convenient because local trains, buses, trams, taxis and the metro all go to Rotterdam Centraal. Indeed, the central station gives travellers access to all the attractions of Rotterdam, from Chinatown to the restored Gothic church The Grote of Sint-Laurenskirk.

How far is it from Rotterdam city centre to Rotterdam Centraal train station?

Rotterdam Centraal train station is an architectural marvel, with a massive angled roof pointing towards the city centre. The station is located at the northern edge of the city, which was destroyed in WWII during the Rotterdam Blitz and rebuilt over the decades. Many consider the very centre of the city to be the statue which memorialises the destroyed city, De Verwoeste Stad. The De Verwoeste Stad statue is 2 miles (3.2 km) from Rotterdam Centraal and across the street from Beurs metro station. Getting to the city centre from Rotterdam train station takes about 6min on the metro and 6min by car or taxi. A bus or tram can get you there in about 9min. If you want to walk, it will take a little over 20min. No matter your budget or schedule, Rotterdam is easily accessible to travellers.

What is the best way to get to Rotterdam Centraal train station from Rotterdam city centre?

There are several convenient and affordable ways to get to Rotterdam train station from the Rotterdam city centre, but travelling by metro might be the best way. Metro lines A, B, C, D, and E all run between the city centre and Rotterdam Centraal station, operating every few minutes during the day. Trams also run from the city centre to the train station in Rotterdam all day, including lines 4, 7, 8, 21, 23, and 25. Bus 38 runs between Rotterdam city centre and Rotterdam Centraal as well, several times every hour. All these modes of public transport are quick and affordable. A taxi costs about twice as much as public transportation, but is still affordable, and taxis stop at both the north and south side of the station.

Where are the airports near Rotterdam and how to get there?

Three airports are accessible from Rotterdam: Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Amsterdam Schiphol and Eindhoven Airport. Only 5 miles (8 km) from Rotterdam Centraal train station, Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the closest airport to Rotterdam. The line 33 bus can make the trip in about 21min and a taxi will get you there in about 10min. Amsterdam Schiphol Airport is about 38.6 miles (62.2 km) to the north of the Rotterdam city centre.

Trains from Rotterdam Centraal depart every hour and take about 53min to arrive. Flixbus and Blablacar Bus also operate along the route from Rotterdam to Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. These bus journeys take about 1h 15min, but only one bus per day makes this trip. Eindhoven Airport is the furthest away, located around 68 miles (110 km) to the southeast. The best way to get there from Rotterdam Centraal is by train. The direct journey with no changes takes about one hour. Train tickets and schedules from Rotterdam Centraal to the nearest airports are easy to access through Omio.

How accessible is Rotterdam main train station for those with limited mobility?

Rotterdam Centraal was completely rebuilt and re-opened in 2014 and is equipped to assist travellers with limited mobility. If you use a wheelchair, the station has lifts and ramps to the train platforms, elevators throughout the station and wide gates that accommodate users of wheelchairs and mobility scooters. To assist the visually impaired, the station has guide lines to the ticket machines, check-in points and the OV Service and Ticket Shop. Gates and check-in points are furnished with Braille pictograms and the OV Service and Travel Shop has tactile station maps that passengers may study.

You can also order a tactile station map to use at home. There is an audio connection at the OV Service and Ticket Shop and at the information desk to assist travellers who are hearing impaired. In addition, the station features accessible bathrooms and designated parking for those with limited mobility.

Rotterdam Train Station. Source: Shutterstock

Night trains to/from Rotterdam Centraal

Taking a night train from Rotterdam Centraal is convenient for a number of reasons. Taxis operate at night and bicycle storage is available for a fee. Night trains from Rotterdam to The Hague, Leiden, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam and Utrecht run every night, departing approximately every hour. On Friday and Saturday nights, you can usually catch one extra late train that departs Rotterdam Centraal around 1:00 a.m., bound for Eindhoven, Utrecht, Amersfoort or Zwolle.

Travelling by train in Rotterdam: Sustainable journey

Rotterdam Centraal was reconstructed in 2014 with a focus on improving sustainability. The station’s iconic angled glass roof is more than an architectural wonder: it is also covered in solar panels that generate energy to power the station’s elevators, escalators and lights. The angled roof also has mirrors on its ceiling that redirect sunlight to illuminate the lower levels of the station. In an effort to reduce waste, the station has separate bins for recycling waste and invests in educational campaigns that encourage travellers to recycle.

Local tips: Rotterdam main train station points of interest

The spacious interior of Rotterdam Centraal train station is infused with natural light during the day thanks to its huge glass roof. Services at the station include bathrooms, luggage lockers, a waiting room, parking, bicycle parking, elevators and assistance services. There are several shopping outlets as well as many places to eat and drink. The station itself has won many awards in a city famous for its daring architecture.For more local tips, you can check Omio magazine.Following are some other architectural marvels you will want to see in Rotterdam:

• Erasmus Bridge – a cable and pylon bridge that also features Europe’s largest drawbridge
• Cube Houses – these diamond-shaped structures seem to defy gravity
• Maeslantkering – the city’s storm surge barrier with massive moving halves
• Het Witte Huis (The White House) – this 19th century, ten-story building was Europe’s first high-rise
• De Rotterdam – the largest building in The Netherlands, this three-tower building appears to shift when viewed from a moving car

What to do in Rotterdam

A wonderful way to see and learn about Rotterdam is to take a Rotterdam boat tour, which is a unique introduction to a city that features breath-taking architecture, museums and churches. The Rotterdam Zoo focuses on breeding programs to help endangered species and the Markthal has awe-inspiring structure as well as an international marketplace. And what would a trip to Holland be without seeing windmills? Just 12 miles (20 km) east of Rotterdam, you’ll find the small village of Kinderdijk, famous for the windmills that line its canal.