Rotterdam a shopping city? Hell yes! Populair chain stores such as Zara, H&M and Weekday all have a place in the city centre. In addition, there are also lots of great vintage shops and unique boutiques where you can score some beautiful items.
To give you a little bit of insight when shopping in Rotterdam, we share an easy route with which you get to visit as many stores as possible in one day.
We recommend following this route by foot, as this is the easiest and most efficient way to get to all the shops.
1. Blaak
We start at Blaak. Perhaps you have had a long trip and you want to get some extra energy before you start your shopping spree. Visit the Markthal for a smoothie, sandwich, ice cream or another tasty snack.
On Tuesdays and Saturdays there is also a big market where you can buy both food and clothes. Be sure to read our article with all markets in Rotterdam.
2. Pannekoekstraat
After visiting Blaak, you leave with the Markthal on your left and walk towards the Bagels & Beans. Enter the street called “Botersloot” and find all sorts of nice boutiques and vintage stores like Vidi Vici and Very Cherry.
Parallel to these stores you will find the Pannekoekstraat. Here you will also find nice shops that are worth a look. A few great places are Louen, Imagine by Kim and a bit further in the street you’ll find the colourful interiorshop Homestock.
3. Meent
Once the first shops are visited, continue shopping on the Meent. In order to get here, keep walking on the Botersloot or Pannekoekstraat. Here you’ll soon see the Soap Treatment Store and as you go to the left, you’ll find stores like Cheap Fashion, Supertrash, Zola, Rituals, The Shoe Club and Scotch and Soda.
TIP: Also look at the side street called De Oppert, where you have Most Wanted and Dior Vintage.
4. Koopgoot
Once you have reached bar 1NUL8, turn left onto the Rodezand street. You then see the Koopgoot on your right hand. Here you’ll be busy for a while!
From here you can walk to the Hoogstraat (with, among others, Søstrene Grene and CASA), the Korte Hoogstraat (with, among others, Dille Kamille and Funkie House) or the Koopgoot (with, among others, Zara, H&M, Lush and Vanilia).
Above the Koopgoot you will also find Weekday and Monki! In the center of the Koopgoot you can also enter De Bijenkorf which is a department store filled with clothing, jewelry, bags, cosmetics and shoes.
5. Lijnbaan
Once you get out of the Koopgoot you will arrive on the Lijnbaan. Here you have the option to go right or left where on both sides you will find well-known stores like H&M, Manfield, Hollistor, JD Sports, Bershka, Pull and Bear, Mango, Aspact and more.
6. Karel Doormanstraat
At this point, the biggest and busiest part of the city is behind us. Do you have any time left? Good! Then let’s continue our shopping spree in Rotterdam.
Parallel to the Lijnbaan lies the Karel Doormanstraat. In order to get to the Karel Doormanstraat, simply enter one of the side streets of the Lijnbaan (like Korte Lijnbaan or Aert van Nesstraat). You can also get there by turning right with your back to the main square (With the Bram Ladage in the middle).
On the Karel Doormanstraat and its side streets there are (boutique) shops like Voila!, Omoda, Iittala Outlet and Caesar Donna.
7. Oude Binnenweg
The Oude Binnenweg is located near the main square where you find the Bram Ladage (Binnenwegplein). If you cross the street with your back to the square, you’ll walk straight into street. Here you will find, among others, Sissy Boy, Swan Market Store, WAAR Rotterdam and Unconventional Wardrobe.
WHERE Rotterdam is, for example, a nice little gift shop that focuses on sustainable and ecological products. Be sure to read our article with amazing gift shops in Rotterdam!
Bonus: Zwaanhals in Rotterdam Noord
Photo by @marionro.cks.
This shopping spot is not on the route at all, but still worth mentioning. Because if you are crazy about vintage clothing and interior items, then you have to go here!
For example, here you’ll find stores like Lily Scarlet, Vintage Oudstijl Rotterdam, Ding & Dingen, Betje Krul Vintage, Showroom 41 and Jouw Marktkraam. All great vintage shops where you can score the most beautiful second-hand gems.
It’s quite a lot for one day, but when you’ve visited all the above, you don’t have to worry that you have missed something major! Of course, you can also start halfway through the route, walk it from back to front, or cut it up in parts. Have fun!
