For several decades, the Dutch city of Rotterdam has hosted one of the largest and most festive events in the world. This is a port festival that takes place annually on the first weekend of September.
The port festival in Rotterdam is very popular. To participate in it, on the first weekend of September, several hundred thousand people gather in this city, among whom there are a lot of tourists. That is why, if you want to see fireworks, concerts, themed exhibitions, boat “parades”, etc., come to Rotterdam in advance, or at least book your hotel rooms a few weeks before the holiday. Otherwise, there is a risk that due to the influx of tourists, you will have nowhere to stay.
In Rotterdam, the problem of lack of free parking spaces is acute on ordinary days, and on a port holiday it becomes almost impossible to park a car closer to the harbor. If you decide to rent a car, arrive early, otherwise you risk missing the event by spending too much time looking for a parking space. It will be much easier to get there by public transport, having specified the route in advance.
Arriving in Rotterdam, check the holiday schedule and outline the activities that are of most interest to you. This will help you determine where to go first. In addition, it should be borne in mind that not all events held within the framework of the port holiday are free of charge. Tickets for concerts and excursions can cost up to 3-5 euros. Just in case, take some money with you to be able to see the most interesting events. If you plan to visit tankers, helicopters, river boats, etc., please note that you will have to pay extra for such a pleasure. Plan your expenses ahead of time.
Get ready to devote a whole day or even two days to a port holiday. Only in the port of Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, you can visit many fascinating and unique excursions within a few hours, see a “light parade”, a demonstration of the best marine technology, listen to interesting stories about the peculiarities of modern ships, etc.
