Itinerarly
Itinerarly › City guides › Rotterdam › Art & History
Art & History: free self-guided audio tour of Rotterdam
Art & History is a free self-guided audio walking tour of Rotterdam, Netherlands: 5 stops in about 1 h 40. The Itinerarly app walks you from one stop to the next and plays a short narrated story when you arrive, in English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.
| Stops | 5 |
|---|---|
| Duration | about 1 h 40, including time at each stop |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Distance | about 8.3 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Depot Boijmans |
| Finish | Fenix Food Factory |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Museums, Delfshaven and Fenix
The stops, in order
- Depot BoijmansThis is the Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, a unique architectural and museological revolution. This curved mirror-clad building, resembling a giant bowl, is not a traditional museum but the world's first publicly accessible art depot. Opened in 2021, it houses the entire Boijmans museum collection—over 151,000 artworks carefully preserved.
- KunsthalThis is the Kunsthal, an unparalleled laboratory for art and culture located in Museum Park. Designed by world-renowned architect Rem Koolhaas and opened in 1992, the building itself is an experimental curiosity with its sloped floors and bold use of raw materials. Unlike a traditional museum, the Kunsthal has no permanent collection; it hosts about twenty temporary exhibitions a year, ranging from haute couture and contemporary photography to classical…
- Witte de WithstraatThis is Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam's most vibrant and cosmopolitan artery. Known as the city's 'cultural axis', it buzzes with energy day and night. You'll find an eclectic mix of contemporary art galleries, independent design shops, trendy bars, and restaurants featuring global flavors.
- DelfshavenWelcome to Delfshaven, a historic district and one of the few to have miraculously survived the devastating bombings of 1940. Strolling along its canals lined with 17th-century brick houses, you will take a true journey back in time. This picturesque marina has deep historical significance: it was here that the Pilgrim Fathers spent their last night in Europe before embarking for the New World in 1620.
- Fenix Food FactoryThis is the Fenix Food Factory, located on the Katendrecht peninsula in a renovated former port warehouse. This food market perfectly embodies Rotterdam's creative reinvention. Far from sterile shopping centers, you'll find a collection of passionate local producers: bakers, craft brewers, cheesemakers, and coffee roasters.
How to take this tour
- Install the free Itinerarly app on iPhone or Android and create a free account.
- Open Guided tours, choose Rotterdam, then Art & History.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Depot Boijmans and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Rotterdam
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Art & History tour in Rotterdam free?
- Yes. It is one of 4 free self-guided audio tours of Rotterdam in the Itinerarly app. Some sights charge their own entry ticket.
- How long does the Art & History tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Art & History tour start and finish?
- It starts at Depot Boijmans and finishes at Fenix Food Factory.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.