The 22 nicest shopping streets in Rotterdam

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Rotterdam is the 2nd largest shopping city in the Netherlands, where stores are open 7 days a week, allowing you to shop till you drop. Rotterdam has numerous shopping streets, shopping centers, and shopping areas. You will find a mix of unique stores from local designers and luxury department stores selling exclusive brands. Wherever you wander in this metropolis, you will always find something unique.

In addition to unique boutiques and luxury department stores, Rotterdam also hosts a number of well-known retail chains loved by both locals and tourists. Whether you are looking for the latest fashion, electronics, sports equipment, or home accessories, the major retail chains in Rotterdam offer a wide range of products and services. Here are some of the most well-known retail chains you can find in Rotterdam:

• MediaMarkt - Electronics
• IKEA - Furniture
• H&M - Fashion
• Primark - Fashion
• Decathlon - Sporting Goods
• Bijenkorf - Department Store
• C&A - Fashion
• ZARA - Fashion
• Albert Heijn - Supermarket
• Kruidvat - Drugstore
• Douglas - Cosmetics
• Blokker - Household
• Coolblue - Electronics
• Sports World - Sporting Goods
• Pets Place - Pet Supplies
• Prenatal - Baby Products
• Casa - Home Decor
• BCC - Electronics
• Xenos - Home Accessories
• ToyChamp - Toys
• Bristol - Fashion
• Hema - Department Store
• Forever 21 - Fashion
• Urban Outfitters - Fashion
• TK Maxx - Fashion
• Peek & Cloppenburg - Fashion
• Scotch & Soda - Fashion
• Cavallaro - Fashion
• Nikkie Brand Store - Fashion
• Tommy Hilfiger - Fashion
• Hugo Boss - Fashion
• Michael Kors - Fashion
• Oger - Fashion
• Caesar Donna - Fashion
• Caesar Uomo - Fashion
• Lacoste - Fashion
• Vanilia - Fashion
• America Today - Fashion

On this page, we tell you where to go if you're looking for a truly unique shopping experience or just want to casually shop at the international retailers. Below you will find the most popular shopping areas in Rotterdam that are definitely worth a visit.

City Triangle

The City Triangle is located in the center of Rotterdam and stretches from the Coolsingel to the Goudsesingel and the Boompjes. Here you will find iconic locations such as the Beurstraverse (Koopgoot) and the Markthal, making it an ideal place to shop.

1. Beurstraverse (Koopgoot)

   Koopgoot, with over 40 stores, lies between the Lijnbaan and the Hoogstraat and runs directly under the Coolsingel. The offerings vary from fashion and lifestyle to gifts and hospitality. Here, you will find fashion stores like America Today, Lacoste, and Vanilia, large department stores such as C&A, Hema, and De Bijenkorf, and flagship stores like Zara, Forever 21, and H&M. The H&M in the Koopgoot is the largest in the Netherlands.

2. Binnenwegplein

   Binnenwegplein is a car-free shopping area on the Coolsingel. On the square, you will find major attractions like Mediamarkt and Zara, as well as more exclusive stores like Urban Outfitters and TK Maxx. It is also home to the iconic Bram Ladage fries stall, the Feyenoord Fanshop, the largest Primark in Europe, and the largest bookstore in the Netherlands (Donner).

3. Botersloot

   Botersloot is like a quiet village street in the middle of Rotterdam’s city center. It runs from the Meent to the Hoogstraat and is filled with small-scale (second-hand) clothing stores, bookstores, design shops, and eateries.

4. Coolsingel

   Coolsingel is the bustling central boulevard and the most famous street in the city, running from Hofplein to Blaak. It is also the venue for special events like the Feyenoord celebrations on the City Hall balcony, the Summer Carnival, and the Rotterdam Marathon. On the Coolsingel, you will find various international chains such as Decathlon and Zara Home, as well as De Bijenkorf.

5. Goudsesingel

   Goudsesingel is a busy, lively street forming the boundary between the city center and Crooswijk. It is the connecting road between Pompenburg and Oostplein and the access route to the Meent, Koopgoot, Lijnbaan, and Coolsingel. Where the market once was, Goudsesingel is now a bustling shopping street in the heart of Rotterdam, home to various hotspots.

6. Hoogstraat

   Hoogstraat is a narrow shopping street in the heart of Rotterdam, running from Beursplein and the Koopgoot past the Markthal and the Central Library to Goudsesingel and Oostplein. On Hoogstraat, you will find large clothing department store Peek & Cloppenburg as well as smaller stores, galleries, and eateries from local entrepreneurs.

7. Markthal

   The first covered market in the Netherlands is located in Rotterdam! This Rotterdam icon in the shape of a horseshoe - also known as the Sistine Chapel of Rotterdam - stands at the corner of Binnenrotte and Blaak, opposite the Central Library, and is simply unmissable. Under the colorful roof of the Markthal - which is also the largest artwork in the world - you will find 96 market stalls and 20 shops and eateries. The Markthal is a place where good food, fresh products, and diverse cultures come together.

8. Meent

   Meent - located between the Coolsingel and Goudsesingel - is the most vibrant and glamorous shopping street in Rotterdam. In addition to stores of well-known and exclusive brands such as Scotch & Soda, Cavallaro, and the Nikkie Brand Store, you will also find smaller boutiques from local entrepreneurs. If you are tired of shopping, you can relax on one of the many terraces of the eateries Meent has to offer.

9. Pannekoekstraat

   Pannekoekstraat (Rotterdam's Soho) is a long shopping street and side street of Meent and is one of Rotterdam's emerging shopping streets. You will not find large chains here, but rather small cozy stores with their own assortment. Pannekoekstraat is a delight for lovers of specialty stores. In addition to all these beautiful boutiques, you can also enjoy good food in one of the many eateries.

 

City Center

The majority of the shops can be found in Rotterdam's bustling city center. If you walk from Central Station through the covered Central Plaza to the center, you will soon come across one of the popular shopping streets such as Lijnbaan, Karel Doormanstraat, and Oude- and Nieuwe Binnenweg. If you walk a little further, you will arrive at Witte de Withstraat, one of the most lively streets in Rotterdam.

10. Hofbogen

    The Hofbogen are located under the old railway viaduct, between Station Hofplein and Station Bergweg. Where trains used to run between Rotterdam and Scheveningen, you will now find 2 kilometers of design, fashion, and hospitality with sun-drenched terraces. Do not expect international brands or designer stores, but rather small specialty stores with unique products run by Rotterdam entrepreneurs.

11. Karel Doormanstraat

    Karel Doormanstraat is a well-known shopping street in the heart of Rotterdam, running from Weena to Westblaak. With its wide sidewalk, wide range of shops, and hospitality options, it is an ideal place to shop. Here, you will find Caesar Donna and Caesar Uomo, a clothing and shoe store where you can find the latest fashion from exclusive designer brands such as Christian Louboutin, Balmain, Dsquared2, Valentino, Lanvin, and Givenchy.

12. Kruiskade

    Between Karel Doormanstraat and Coolsingel lies Kruiskade, also known as Rotterdam's fashion district. It is the most exclusive shopping street in Rotterdam, where you will find major fashion brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, and the Dutch brand Oger. In addition to all the fashion stores, there are many eateries like Cafe Beurs and entertainment venues like Villa Thalia and TIWYA.

13. Lijnbaan

    Next to Karel Doormanstraat and perpendicular to Kruiskade runs Lijnbaan, the bustling shopping heart of Rotterdam. Lijnbaan leads to Binnenwegplein and connects to Koopgoot. It is Rotterdam's most famous shopping street and once the first car-free shopping area in Europe. Here, you will find large branches of international brands where you can browse for hours. Even in rainy weather, you can shop comfortably as a large part of Lijnbaan is covered.

14. Nieuwe Binnenweg

    Nieuwe Binnenweg is the longest shopping street in the Netherlands, running all the way from Eendrachtsplein to Delfshaven. Along with Oude Binnenweg and Binnenwegplein, it offers 2.5 kilometers of shopping pleasure with the most diverse range of stores, cafes, and restaurants from a wide variety of cultures.

15. Oude Binnenweg

    Oude Binnenweg is a cozy, historic shopping street located between Nieuwe Binnenweg and Binnenwegplein. Here, you will find smaller stores and eateries, including some catering to people with specific lifestyles.

16. Witte de Withstraat

    Just outside the center - on the other side of Westblaak - lies Witte de Withstraat, one of the best-known and most popular entertainment streets in Rotterdam, full of cafes, restaurants, art galleries, various cozy shops, and monuments. Witte de Withstraat is also the street where Hotel Restaurant Bazar (Bazar is Persian for market) opened its doors in 1997, offering a piece of the Middle East in Rotterdam.

17. Van Oldenbarneveltstraat

    Van Oldenbarneveltstraat is an exclusive shopping street in Rotterdam between Karel Doormanstraat and Mauritsweg. Van Oldenbarneveltstraat has a luxurious appearance, and due to the presence of exclusive fashion boutiques, luxury shoe stores, and charming lunchrooms, you will feel as if you are in Paris. Here, people with good taste shop.

18. Weena

    Weena is the street with many skyscrapers running from Central Station to the fountain at Hofplein. Here, you will find various shops, including Central Plaza, where you will find trendy and exclusive clothing stores and several eateries. But also in Central Station itself, you will find nice shops and can grab a snack or coffee from Starbucks. For a night out, you can visit Holland Casino or the underground nightclub TOFFLER.

 

Alexandrium

Alexandrium shopping area is located in the Prins Alexander district and is the largest shopping center in Rotterdam. The shopping area consists of three parts: Alexandrium Shopping Center, Alexandrium Megastores, and Woonmall Alexandrium, with over 200 stores in fashion and sports, beauty and care, audio-visual, living, lifestyle, leisure, and services. There are also plenty of eateries to relax from all the shopping and enjoy a snack and a drink.

19. Alexandrium Shopping Center

    Alexandrium Shopping Center (also known as Alexandrium I, or Oosterhof) is a large (covered) shopping center located in Rotterdam Prins Alexander. In Alexandrium Shopping Center, you will find over 140 stores in a mix of big brands, small entrepreneurs, and various eateries.

20. Alexandrium Megastores

    In Alexandrium II, you will find Alexandrium Megastores, a shopping boulevard with 17 mega stores of well-known chains in household goods, electronics, toys, sportswear, and pet supplies. Here, you will find XL stores of Coolblue, Sports World, Pets Place, Prenatal, Casa, BCC, Xenos, Blokker, Decathlon, ToyChamp, Mediamarkt, and Bristol. For a quick bite, you can visit Burger King.

21. Woonmall Alexandrium

    Alexandrium III is the Woonmall Alexandrium. Here, you will find over 55 home stores under one roof. It is the place where you can gather home inspiration all day long. Whether you are looking for new furniture, a complete new interior, or just some home accessories, you will find it at Woonmall Alexandrium.

 

Other Shopping Areas

22. Zuidplein

    Shopping center Zuidplein in Rotterdam South is one of the largest covered shopping centers in the Netherlands with 155 stores, and it is within walking distance of Ahoy and Theater Zuidplein. In addition to small cozy boutiques, you will also find big names such as Primark, H&M, and C&A. At Zuidplein, there is always something to do besides shopping and dining. At the end of 2022, a new section of the Zuidplein shopping center was completed, adding even more stores.