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Icons of Rotterdam: free self-guided audio tour of Rotterdam
Icons of Rotterdam 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 4.5 km in straight lines between the stops (a little more on foot) |
| Start | Erasmus Bridge |
| Finish | Kunsthal |
| Price | Free (some sights charge their own entry ticket) |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese |
Erasmus Bridge, Cube Houses, Euromast
The stops, in order
- Erasmus BridgeWelcome to the Erasmus Bridge, affectionately nicknamed 'The Swan' by locals due to its 139-meter-high white asymmetric pylon. Completed in 1996 by architect Ben van Berkel, this 802-meter-long cable-stayed bridge has become the undeniable emblem of Rotterdam's skyline. It connects the historic center to the modern Kop van Zuid district on the left bank of the Maas River.
- Maisons CubesWelcome to the Rotterdam Cube Houses, one of the most fascinating architectural sights in the Netherlands. Designed by architect Piet Blom in the early 1980s, these yellow and gray dwellings are tilted at 45 degrees atop hexagonal pillars. The concept involves an 'urban village' where each house represents a tree, and the entire complex forms a forest.
- MarkthalThis is the Markthal, Rotterdam's modern gastronomic cathedral. This spectacular horseshoe-shaped building, opened in 2014, is a feat combining a covered market, apartments, and shops. Looking up, you will discover the largest artwork in the Netherlands: 'The Horn of Plenty', a titanic 11,000-square-meter fresco depicting fruits, vegetables, and flowers falling from the sky.
- EuromastWelcome to the Euromast, Rotterdam's pinnacle, soaring proudly to 185 meters. Built in 1960 for the Floriade exhibition, this lookout tower was for a long time the city's tallest building. Its design evokes a ship's mast, honoring the city's rich maritime heritage.
- 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…
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 Icons of Rotterdam.
- Start whenever you like: the app guides you to Erasmus Bridge and the story plays when you arrive at each stop.
Other audio tours of Rotterdam
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Icons of Rotterdam 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 Icons of Rotterdam tour take?
- About 1 h 40 for 5 stops, including time at each stop.
- Where does the Icons of Rotterdam tour start and finish?
- It starts at Erasmus Bridge and finishes at Kunsthal.
- Which languages is the narration in?
- English, French, Spanish, Italian and Chinese, with natural-sounding synthetic voices.