Rental homes in Rotterdam

Much of central Rotterdam was rebuilt after the Second World War, which is why the city has more high-rise and modern architecture than most Dutch cities. You see it best along the river Maas and on the Kop van Zuid. If you prefer older streets and houses, Kralingen, Blijdorp, Delfshaven and the Oude Noorden are the areas renters usually check first.

Erasmus University Rotterdam draws a large student population, and its Woudestein campus sits in Kralingen, so that part of the city has plenty of rooms. The port, the hospitals and the head offices of several large companies bring in professionals and expats as well. Trains from Rotterdam Centraal go to The Hague, Delft, Dordrecht and Amsterdam, and a metro line also runs to The Hague. Crossing the river by bike is easy, and the city is flat and well laid out for cycling.

One thing to check before you commit is whether the address needs a housing permit. Some Rotterdam neighbourhoods require one, and without it you cannot register there. The municipality can tell you.