Football Visitor Guide to Rotterdam

Hey guys, since Feyenoord - Man City is due in a few week andd I'm doing fuck all so I'll give you a little insider info on Rotterdam. I've been to the Etihad stadium and I loved the tour I got, and as a history teacher I always use the story of Bert Trautmann in my classes to describe post-war relations between England and Germany.

Restaurants

If you like seafood, definately go to Restaurant Zeezout (http://restaurantzeezout.nl/). It has the best seafood I've ever had, it's a little on the pricey side of things but nothing unaffordable. It's located on the Westerkade, which is really close to the Feyenoord stadium (5-10 minutes walk). Just cross the big Erasmus bridge and take a left turn (coming from de Kuip).

If you like Italian, you should visit Restaurant Olivia, also near the Erasmusbridge. I know for a fact that Graziano Pelle ate here three times a day, so it has to be a good Italian. (http://www.restaurantoliva.nl/)

If you like something else, you can eat some great Turkish food at Hotel Bazar. Not your average midnight kebab, but an actual great restaurant. It is located near Restaurant Olivia, just a few hundred meters from the Erasmusbridge. Ask for it, people will know where it is.

If you like something simple, cheap and Dutch, you can always go to Bommel Beer, across the street from the Kuip. You get a shitload of meat and fries here for your penny and it's actually really good. It will be busy on matchday so make sure you call ahead or go there on time.

Drinks/Getting hammered

You can have a great time in Rotterdam, but people are so very touchy. I barely go out in Rotterdam city centre because there will be a lot of agressive cunts. Say or do one thing wrong and you can get in a fight really really quickly, so don't bump into the wrong person. On the other hand most Rotterdammers are very social compared to the rest of the country, so you'll find no trouble talking to people. Especially about Football - everyone in Rotterdam absolutely loves Feyenoord and you'll see it everywhere, so you'll always have something to talk about. Don't say you like Ajax or Amsterdam.

Traditional pubs as you know it barely exist in Rotterdam. Most places are clubs with loud music and people dancing. If you like that, go to 'De Apres Skihut' one of the most popular clubs in the Netherlands, known for it's great atmosphere. If you like something more quiet, there are plenty of 'Bruine Cafe's' all over Rotterdam, although you might find that it's not that crowded there. Essentially all of Rotterdam comes to life at night so you'll have no trouble finding something to do or a place to have a beer.

Cultural/architectural sightseeing

Most of Rotterdam was bombed in the Second World War, making for a very, very different Dutch city compared to the rest of the Netherlands. It is often nicknamed 'Little-Brooklyn' and rightfully so. We have a great skyline and a lot of modern architecturally progressive buildings. If you're a fan of old historic buildings, Rotterdam might not be your cup of tea. There is still the Oude Haven (the Old Port), which contains the famous Hotel New York, but besides that not much is left from the era before WW2.

You should really visit De Markthal. A great building with a market inside selling all sorts of (overpriced) stuff. Would't recommend buying anything here, but it's definately worth a visit.

If you're into football, which you probably are, you should pay a visit to the Sparta Rotterdam stadium, which is absolutely beautiful and old school. It's not ideally located but a bus or metro fare isn't that expensive.

Another fun thing to do is to take the Amphibian bus, which will drive you around the city, including trough the river.

Matchday

Be prepared for a shitty away section. Dutch hooliganism still runs rampant so we are forced to mistreat away-supporters like criminals. You'll be put either in the first or second ring, in a section that resembles an aquarium more than a stadium. The view is great though. The stadium is sold out, but there's one section closed down (the hardcore fan section) because of incidents in Rome two years ago. The atmosphere towards visiting fans can be very, very hostile. We don't care about you bringing great players to our grounds. We want to win and Feyenoord fans will use any means necessary.

Just do me a favour and don't visit Amsterdam. It's a tourist trap and hell on earth.