Are you going to explore Rotterdam with a group of friends? Then check out these 18 fun activities in Rotterdam! There is plenty of fun things to do and there is something for everyone. Visit a 90s arcade hall, play a few games of lawn bowling, visit a renowned museum or go up in the air.
In this article you can find lots of inspiration for fun activities with friends in Rotterdam. If you need more ideas, be sure to check out our article with fun activities in Rotterdam.
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1. Join the Splash tour
It may look like a normal bus tour, which takes you to the most special places in Rotterdam, but that’s not the only thing! During the tour, the bus literally takes a dip in the water of the Maas. The bus continues on and shows you the city from the water.
A super fun experience to experience with a group of friends. Don’t forget to buy a ticket in advance!
TIP: buy the tickets for the Splash tour here.
2. Play games at POING
POING is an arcade hall with classic pinball machines, a karaoke room and a classic dance machine! If you are more in the vibe for board games, not a problem! Take a seat at one of the tables and play a game of Jenga, the Tower of Pisa or (for a long evening) Risk. Order a drink and something delicious from their menu and you will definitely have a great evening with your friends!
Does the karaoke room sound like something for you and your friends? Then be sure to make a reservation!
3. A game of lawn bowling at Mooie Boules
You can find Mooie Boules in a characteristic metal factory in the emerging ZOHO area. The factory has been completely transformed into a French village square. Local restaurants serve signature dishes and the bar serves a wide range of wine, specialty and local beer.
And of course you can play a game of lawn bowling here. And just like at POING you can also play all sort of (board) games.
4. Enjoy karaoke at Dikke Mic
Foto door Laura Siliquini.
Do you love karaoke? Then you better visit Dikke Mic, the place next to Mooie Boules (and with the same owners). The karaoke club was actually created out of sheer necessity, because the karaoke room of the adjacent Mooi Boules was bursting at the seams.
In the basement of Dikke Mic, discover the various karaoke rooms, each with its own theme and inspired by the small Asian streets and alleys. In total there are eight private karaoke rooms that can be booked from 4 to 30 people. So make sure you book for your group of friends!
Got an appetite? Enjoy the street food bar with Asian street food, composed by star chef Ron Blaauw. Order at the bar or order individual snacks for while singing.
5. Get out of one of the Escape Rooms
Photo by Live Escape in Rotterdam.
Do you and your friends love adventure? Then a visit to one of the Escape Rooms in Rotterdam is a great idea. For instance, you can visit Live Escape. Here you have three rooms: The Safe House, Lab13 and The Boiler Room.
At The Safe House, you and your friends unexpectedly witnessed a murder in the Rotterdam Underworld. In anticipation of the court case, in which you are the most important witnesses, you will be placed in a Safe House. But is it really safe?
In LAB13, horrible experiments were done by Russians. According to local residents, the lab is still being used. You must do the first exploration…
In The Boilerroom, your group enters a largely burned-down apartment to find Sophie. Once inside you will find out what has happened in the apartment and that Sophie is not the only one who has disappeared without a trace. Will you be able to find Sophie before you get caught?
Read Mathilde’s article for more fun Escape Rooms in Rotterdam!
6. Join one of the Quest Escapes
The games of Quest Escapes are slightly different than most escape rooms. Think of an action-packed quest through the city with friends, family or colleagues, solving riddles, answering questions and carrying out assignments according to the scenario of your chosen game.
All you need to participate in a Quest Escapes game is a tablet or smartphone. One of the games you can choose is Narcos, where you infiltrate Carlos E.’s secret drug network and make sure this gang of criminals disappear behind bars.
Address
Everywhere in the city with your own phone!
7. Experience Virtual Reality at Zero Latency VR
Experience virtual reality in Rotterdam! For instance, you can do this at Zero Latency VR. Here you can experience the most advanced free-roam virtual reality with two to eight people at the same time. Free-roam VR means that you can move and walk around freely, in this case in a gigantic hall of 200 square meters.
Together with your team, you fight against zombies, space robots or discover a fantasy world. A fun and exciting way to work on team building!
8. Team building during a pub quiz
How well is your general knowledge? Time to test it during a pub quiz! Grab a drink and make sure to work together as a team. Where can you take a pub quiz in Rotterdam? One hotspot where you can enjoy a pub quiz with friends is Weena Rotterdam. Here they organise a pub quiz every Tuesday night from 8:30 pm to 11:00 pm.
Check these 3 nice places for a pub quiz in Rotterdam.
9. Remastered Experience
Go with your friends to this cool interactive experience in Rotterdam: Remastered. In this attraction you will be taken on an audiovisual journey for an hour and you will become one with the art.
Walk under a waterfall, go on an adventure with the unearthly creatures of Hieronymus Bosch, learn time travel and surround yourself with paintings by Dutch Old Masters such as Van Gogh and Mondriaan. Each time you enter a new world and you don’t know what to expect.
TIP: buy your entrance ticket to Remastered here.
10. Hit a hole in one at Glow Golf in Schiedam
Photo by Marc Verhees Fotografie
In the EUROSCOOP Cinema and Leisure center in Schiedam you can enjoy a unique experience: Glowgolf! Here you play mini golf in a very special setting, with the World of Fantasy as theme.
Meet flying dragons, strange creatures and huge candies. Can you hit a hole in one?
Address
Noorderweg 24, 3119 XX Schiedam
11. Exploring arts & culture in Rotterdam
Foto door Jeroen Musch.
Want to enjoy a day of arts and culture? Fortunately, Rotterdam has a lot of art to offer. For instance, on the streets you can find a lot of street art and sculptures, but of course the city offers a lot of amazing museums.
For example, pay a visit to the Kunsthal. Every Rotterdammer has been here at least once in his life. At the Kunsthal there are always various, high-profile exhibitions to visit. From modern, contemporary art to forgotten cultures, photography, fashion and design, there is something for every target group!
The Kunsthal is located on the edge of the Museum Park, where you can find a lot of other interesting museums as well.
Are you with a larger group than 10 people? Then it’s recommended to let the museum know before you go.
12. Enjoy the view from the Euromast
If you and your friends have never been to Rotterdam before, then a visit to the Euromast is definitely a must-do.
With its 185 meters, the Euromast is the tallest building in the Netherlands. It is part of the World Federation of Great Towers (WFGT): the 37 most beautiful and tallest towers in the world, such as the Burj Khalifa, the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building.
It is possible to book a tour with large groups at the Euromast. Here you can not only enjoy the beautiful view over Rotterdam, it is also possible to reserve a table and have a nice dinner or you can just have a drink. With a view of our city of course!
TIP: Get your ticket for the Euromast here.
13. A day of shopping in Rotterdam
Rotterdam is a great city for shopping. There are many great shops in our city, from boutiques and vintage stores to internationally known stores.
Do you and your friends love vintage items? There are enough stores in our city that sell beautiful second-hand items. Check out these vintage stores for inspiration for your day of shopping in Rotterdam. Or use this shopping route for a successful day of shopping in our city!
14. Ice skating on the ice rink
In December, January and February you can visit the Rotterdam Schaatsbaan (ice rink) in Kralingen. Chocolate milk, mulled wine, a Unox sandwich and wrapped in a thick coat. That is the real winter feeling! A super fun (winter) outing in Rotterdam with your friends.
15. Enjoy a high tea/high wine or beer tasting
There is nothing that can bring people together as well as food! And there is the perfect food related activity for every kind of occasion. Are you going for a tasty high tea with unlimited cups of tea and sweet treats such as scones, pies and chocolate? Or for a high wine with tasty savory snacks and delicious wines?
Another possibility is a beer tasting in Rotterdam. Something different than a simple beer in the local pub. During a beer tasting you can taste special beers and enjoy snacks.
All three are perfect activities to chat with your friends while enjoying a drink and some good food!
16. Visit Dutch Dukes
Photo by Wendy van Bree.
Did the beer tasting sound like music to your ears? Then visit the first English gastropub in Rotterdam: Dutch Dukes. This hotspot would like to introduce the city to the casual British pub atmosphere.
Here you will be welcomed by the smell of typical English dishes, such as fish & chips and steak & guiness pie, but you can also opt for appetizers such as avocado fries and beetroot balls.
A nice place to hang out with your friends. Read more about this English gastropub.
17. Movie night at one of the cinemas
Rotterdam has a lot of cool cinemas, such as Cinema, Lantaren Venster and KINO. At these three cinemas you can watch classics and watch art house films. So pick out a movie, buy a big bowl of popcorn and enjoy the warm, cozy cinema (ideal during the rainy days in our city).
Combine your visit to the movies with a nice dinner and drinks. KINO is the perfect spot for this, because they have a great restaurant where you can eat before or after the movie and have a bar where you can have a drink.
18. Take a flying lesson together
Have you always wanted to admire Rotterdam from above? That’s possible. At Rotterdam The Hague Airport you can board a small plane and then fly over the city and see the city from the air.
For example, book a flying lesson or a sightseeing flight via Sand Air. Together with an experienced pilot you will fly over Rotterdam in no time. Wave immediately to all icons: the Erasmus Bridge, Euromast and the Market Hall. A really special experience!
Please note: there is a maximum of 3 people per plane. So you could experience it with more people by booking multiple planes.
With these 18 fun activities in Rotterdam you definitely have plenty of fun new ideas for your time in our city. Enjoy!
