This year, the Women's Handball World Championship is coming to Rotterdam!
As the defending world champions since their 2023 victory, the French team will be one of the main contenders for the world title, although the Norwegian team (latest titles: Olympic Games and Euro 2024) will once again be the competition's powerhouse to beat.
After 3 preparation matches in Dunkirk, the "Bleues" will settle in the Netherlands to play all their matches there: the preliminary round in 's-Hertogenbosch, and the main round and final phase in Rotterdam.
The atmosphere promises to be particularly lively in Rotterdam, as the Dutch national team also has great ambitions and will be eager to shine in front of their home crowd, hoping to replicate the feat achieved in 2019 by winning the world title. Given the fervor and commitment of the "Oranje" fans for their teams, the Ahoy Arena and the city will be ready to ignite for their team in the event of a successful run to the final four.
This event will also be an opportunity to discover the second-largest city in the Netherlands.
A lesser-known destination, Rotterdam is a very dynamic and cosmopolitan city with significant economic activity, being the largest port in Europe.
To get to know the city better, we've put together a small selection of things to know and visit in Rotterdam.
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Places to visit in Rotterdam:
A large part of the city was wiped off the map during the Second World War. Recently rebuilt, traditional Dutch houses are rare. However, the city has proven to be a true open-air architectural museum.
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The Port of Rotterdam:
It is the largest port in Europe and a major global player. It is a strategic industrial-port zone stretching over 40 kilometers, specializing in various activities such as container traffic, oil refining, coal, ore, and chemical products.- Boat tours: The most popular activity to admire the port from the water. They offer a unique perspective on the intense port activity and iconic city sites: the SS Rotterdam ocean liner (a former flagship turned floating hotel) and the Old Port with its restored sailboats.
- Maritime Museum: Located in the historic Scheepvaartkwartier district, it explores the history of the port and navigation.
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The Cube Houses:
The Oude Haven district brings together 38 cube-shaped houses, tilted at 45°. One of them, the Kijk-Kubus house, is open to visitors for a few euros.
- Delfshaven district:
This neighborhood, spared from the bombings, bears witness to pre-war architecture with its typical, historic residences and its small harbor with banks lined with boats. Its windmill, the Distilleerketel, initially built in 1727, is still in operation today.
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Climbing the Euromast:
Visible from a good part of the city, it is located in Rotterdam's Het Park, in front of the eastern bank of the Parkhaven inner harbor. This 185-meter-high tower is the tallest building in all of the Netherlands.
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The Markthal (nicknamed the Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam):
This architectural masterpiece is the first covered market in Holland. It brings together dozens of stalls selling local specialties and other products. The interior facade is covered with an immense illustration symbolizing abundance and saturation.
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Erasmus & Luchtsingel bridges
The first one, over 800m long, is one of the symbols of Rotterdam. It spans the Nieuwe Maas river and connects the Wilhelminapier tip to the Maritime and Nieuwe Werk districts.
The second, known for its atypical yellow color, is the world's first crowd-funded infrastructure project. Located in the middle of a beautiful street art site, it is made up of 17,000 wooden slats funded by citizens.
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Where to eat?
- De Ballentent: The name means "the meatball tent." The specialty is the famous Dutch meatball (gehaktbal), served with various kinds of sauce.
- Fenix Food Factory (or Foodhallen): Less flashy than the Markthal, it is a converted former factory/port warehouse on the Katendrecht peninsula. You will find small local producers, craft beers, a cheese shop, barbecue, etc.
- Vessel 11: You eat on a former British lightship moored in the harbor. On the menu: a modern English Gastropub.
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Especially for Christmas:
In the Netherlands, festivities begin on December 6th with the celebration of Sinterklaas. On this date, the city is immersed in a warm and authentic atmosphere with Christmas markets, temporary ice rinks, street illuminations (especially on the Lijnbaan and the Koopgoot), shows, and choir concerts.
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Proximity to Amsterdam:
The journey between Rotterdam and Amsterdam is very simple and quick by train (~45 min), making the capital an excellent choice for a day trip. Things to see/do there:
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Amsterdam Light Festival:
Every year, artists from all over the world create monumental and often interactive light installations along and above the famous canals. The most popular and comfortable way to admire the works is to take a canal cruise.
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Christmas Markets:
- Ice Amsterdam (Museumplein): Often set up near the Rijksmuseum, it offers an outdoor ice rink and a small winter village (chalets, food, hot drinks).
- Funky Xmas Market: If you are there on a Sunday, this market is sometimes held in the old industrial Westergasfabriek site and is oriented toward creators, art, and original gifts.
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Museums:
- The Rijksmuseum: It is the national museum of the Netherlands, dedicated to Dutch art and history, from the Middle Ages to the present day.
- The Anne Frank House: This is the refuge where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War. The adjacent museum tells the story of the persecution of Jews and the life of the young girl through her diary.
- Van Gogh Museum: It houses the world's largest collection of Vincent Van Gogh's works, including The Sunflowers and several of his self-portraits.
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Neighborhoods:
- The Canal District and Dam Square: The canal area, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the heart of Amsterdam. Enjoy the beauty of the old facades. Dam Square houses the Royal Palace and often hosts a large illuminated Christmas tree in December.
- The Jordaan: It is a historic and picturesque neighborhood, often considered the most charming in Amsterdam, with its narrow streets, tree-lined canals, and hidden inner courtyards.
- "Brown Cafes": These are the traditional pubs of Amsterdam, named for their dark wood interiors stained by decades of tobacco smoke. They are perfect for having a local Dutch beer (Bokbier in winter) or a jenever (Dutch gin) and enjoying the gezellig (warm and convivial) atmosphere typical of the Netherlands.
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Proximity to The Hague:
The Hague is the closest city to Rotterdam; you can get there by train in about twenty minutes. Things to see/do there in a day:
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The Royal Christmas Fair:
It is an elegant and prestigious market, considered one of the most beautiful in the Netherlands, with hundreds of stalls offering handicrafts, local products, mulled wine, and festive delights. The Lange Voorhout is surrounded by historic buildings beautifully illuminated for the occasion.
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The Binnenhof and the Hofvijver:
This is the seat of the Dutch Parliament and one of the most beautiful medieval building complexes in the Netherlands, along with its pond (Hofvijver).
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The Mauritshuis
This museum is a former princely residence housing a collection of Dutch Golden Age masterpieces (the famous Girl with a Pearl Earring by Vermeer).
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The Peace Palace (Vredespaleis):
A symbol of The Hague, it houses the United Nations' International Court of Justice.
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Escher Museum (Escher in Het Paleis):
If you prefer more modern art, this museum is dedicated to M.C. Escher and based on illusion.
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See you in Rotterdam starting December 4th for the 2026 Women's Handball World Championship!