5 Fun Things To Do In The Museumpark In Rotterdam

There are so many things to do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam. Many museums are situated in the area and that should be obvious from the name itself. You won't be able to cover everything in a day unless you breeze through it all.

That means that it is also hard to choose between the things to do in the Museumpark in Roterdam if you are in the city for a limited amount of time. We decided to head out and explore as many as we could during our time in the city.

My advise is to use the museum card if you can. It provides free or discounted entry to these museums. I'll cover that in a bit. Since the museums are close to each other, you don't really have to go far to reach the next one. It saves you time and effort.

Let's talk about all the things you can do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam and how you should plan your trip.

Where To Stay In Rotterdam

You are spoilt for options when it comes to accommodation in Rotterdam. I do however recommend booking your accommodation in advance because it gets costlier as you book closer to the date. All the good options also sell out. Here are some great accommodation options should you choose to stay.

Hotel Breitner - Budget but basic
Numa Rotterdam Coolsingel - Budget, modern
The Usual Rotterdam - Budget, Central
Holiday Inn - Mid Range, Next to train station
Hilton Rotterdam - Mid Range, next to train station
Rotterdam Marriott Hotel - Luxury, Next to the train station

How To Get To Museumpark In Rotterdam

The easiest way to get to the Museumpark is from Rotterdam Centraal is to take tram 18. It's an 8 minute ride and an easy walk from there.

Parking At The Museumpark

If you are driving in and need parking, note that there is a large parking garage right in the museumpark in Rotterdam. Its clean and convenient though like most big Dutch cities, it is expensive. You can easily explore the museumpark from here and get to other parts of the city by tram or on foot.

Things To Do In The Museumpark In Rotterdam

If you don't want to traverse up and down the city, then think about spending a day at exploring all the things to do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam. The park is large and around it, you will find plenty of places to stop and catch a bite to eat too. Or you could just choose to eat at one of the museum cafes.

While the park is great in summer and the weather is good, it is also great when its cold and wet because there are so many indoor activities and things to do in museumpark in Rotterdam. I'll get to that in a bit.

1. Art Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

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One of the most iconic buildings in the park is the Art Depot museum. The building towers over the rest of the park and is located centrally with a large garden around it. But its height is not what makes it stand out. It is one of the iconic buildings in Rotterdam because of its architecture. The building looks like a giant mirror and you can see yourself in it from afar. Which in my opinion is pretty cool!

The inside of the Art Depot house thousands of pieces of art. You can see different exhibitions on different floors and many of the exhibits are interactive. There are also tours that you can take see older art and ceramics. Keep an eye out for those because they are time based.

Don't miss heading up to the terrace where there is a restaurant and a panoramic view of the city. It is by far one of the best things to do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam. The view is just spectacular and so worth it!

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2. Natural History Museum

The Natural History Museum is much smaller than the Naturalis museum in Leiden but it is also worth visiting. The museum houses a number of interesting exhibits that covers animals that live in the Netherlands and other countries. It has a large collection of different butterflies which my daughters loved going through. It also has audioguides for adults and children.

That being said, if you have been to the one in Leiden, this one may not wow you. It still pretty impressive though.

3. Kunsthal Rotterdam

We really did not expect much when we visited the Kunsthal. We were surprised and it is easily one of the top things to do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam. Kunst in Dutch means art. There are a number of exhibitions in the museum. Each one is by a different artist. Some help visualize problems that we face as a planet.

When we visited there was an exhibition about the impact of plastic on the world. There was also information on greenhouses, cultivation and migration. My kids found this very interesting. The chair exhibition was well loved. One of their favorite ones was the one with the penguins that talked about their shrinking habitat due to global warming.

One of the nice things about the Kunsthal is that it has a lot of light entering many of its spaces. So even though it is rainy or dark outside, the inside of the museum remains cheerful and vibrant. There is even a nice cafe where you can take a break if you would like to.

4. The Nieuwe Instituut

We did not have time to visit the Nieuwe Instituut but it is on my bucket list of things to do when we visit Rotterdam again. This museum covers architecture, design and digital culture. Considering that Rotterdam is one of the most famous places in the world for its unique modern architecture, visiting this museum is a must.

The National collection is also open to anyone who is interested in designed environments. Worthwhile noting if this is something that piques your interest.

5. Enjoy The Park

There are a lot of things to do in the Museumpark in Rotterdam and most of them involve visiting museums which shouldn't come as a surprise. Do not forget that it is also a park. It is a great place to spend time in the great outdoors which is remarkable given that it is right in one of biggest and busiest port cities in Europe.