Are you looking for the perfect present for a Rotterdammer and in need for some inspiration? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this article we share perfect gifts for all kinds of people from Rotterdam. Young, old, born and raised or those that have only recently come to live in this beautiful city. From beautiful books and puzzles to scented candles and pyjamas. There is something for everyone! Check out these 25 perfect gifts for a Rotterdammer below. We’ve also included links so you can purchase it right away!
25 Perfect presents for the real Rotterdammer
1. Habitat Rotterdam – Shaping City Life
The beautiful book Habitat Rotterdam is available in both Dutch and English and shows stories from Rotterdam makers. Read the interviews with Rotterdam designers, artists, architects, choreographers and writers and admire portraits in their home and studio.
2. Real Rotterdam candy
Every local from Rotterdam knows De Rotterdammertjes, because those are the only real Rotterdam sweets. They are even called ‘de bouwstenen van Rotterdam’ or the Building Blocks of Rotterdam. But did you also know that the taste of these Rotterdam treats has been adjusted based on the opinion of the Rotterdammer? Cinnamon, orange and fresh mint flavor. The size has also been halved, making it a smaller candy that is much nicer and easier to enjoy. You can buy the Rotterdammertjes in iconic places such as the Euromast, Hotel New York, Rotterdam Tourist Information and the Markthal.
Buy the Rotterdammertjes on their website.
3. The Rotterdamse Ball
We have candies from Rotterdam, but also bonbons from Rotterdam! The city bonbon from Rotterdam are made with mint from the Rotterdam city garden. Check out here where the Rotterdam ball is available.
4. PUUR Rotterdam
A new chocolate bar has been brought to the market. PUUR is the only real chocolate bar from Rotterdam and developed by the DakAkker (a city farm) on the roof of the Schieblock. With a mix of milk and dark chocolate and caramelized honey from Rotterdam bees, fudge, almond pieces and sea salt, it is certainly a real treat! The product also comes in a super cool packaging that shows Rotterdam icons: the Erasmus Bridge, De Rotterdam and the Euromast.
Buy the PUUR chocolate bars at Donner, Foodelicious, Het Rotterdams Warenhuis, Op Het Dak or online at puur-chocolade.nl.
5. A Susan Bijl bag
Almost every cool Rotterdammer has one: the Susan Bijl bag. When Susan Bijl was a student at the Willem de Kooning Academy, she wanted to create a bag that made other bags unnecessary: The New Shoppingbag. The original design was based on the silhouette of a simple plastic bag, but in colorful variations made of Ripstop nylon. Now the bag is part of our city. Buy a bag on the Susan Bijl website.
6. Rotterdam block calendar 2020
With this calendar you get to see typical Rotterdam expressions, the funniest jokes, anecdotes and surprising facts every day! But also beautiful quotes and one-liners, chauvinistic songs and poems and beautiful photographs of the past and present. This is an ideal gift for the Rotterdammer who wants to be reminded every day that he lives in the most beautiful city in the Netherlands.
7. 111 Places in Rotterdam that you must have seen
The book 111 plekken in Rotterdam die je gezien moet hebben, meaning “111 places in Rotterdam that you must have seen”, is about a journey of discovery in your own city. Rotterdam is more than Feyenoord, the new central station, the Erasmus Bridge or the Markthal. A must for the real Rotterdammer who wants to know every popular and hidden gem in Rotterdam.
8. Playstation Controller with Feyenoord Rotterdam sticker
This Feyenoord sticker is a nice gift for a true Feyenoord fan who likes to play on the Playstation 4. The sticker has the Feyenoord sign with iconic buildings from our city in the background.
9. City map of Rotterdam
This canvas painting from Rotterdam of 30x40cm is a great gift. Perfect to decorate a living room, bedroom or office! It is the perfect gift for someone who needs some decoration in his or her home and has a love for this beautiful city.
10. The Rotterdams ABC
This book contains a collection of typical words that are often used by the people of Rotterdam. It has actually become a small dictionary with the best of what the Rotterdam vocabulary has to offer, supplemented with various nice drawings.
11. De kleine geschiedenis van Rotterdam voor Dummies
De kleine geschiedenis van Rotterdam voor Dummies or “The short history of Rotterdam for Dummies” offers a concise overview of the turbulent history of Rotterdam, birthplace of Erasmus, residence of Willem van Oranje, departure point of Admiral Piet Hein.
A great gift for new citizens of Rotterdam!
12. Rotterdam Cookbook
Are you looking for a gift for the Rotterdammer who likes to cook? Then the renewed, fifth edition of the Rotterdam Cookbook is the ideal gift. We all know the Turkish pizza, “patatje oorlog” and the Kapsalon in Rotterdam. But there are many more ingredients and dishes that not everyone is familiar with.
Writer Linda Roodenburg searched for chefs and cooks from different cultures who are praised in their own environment for their cookery. She describes their lives and stories, the stores where they do their shopping and she noted down the recipes of their favorite dishes. Together with photographer Carel van Hees, she followed them before, during and after a special meal for family and friends.
13. Poster of the Kuip
A nice gift for a Feyenoord fan? How about a poster of the iconic Kuip, the stadium of Feyenoord. For the Rotterdam Topsport Magazine, Paul was the first to photograph De Kuip during an evening competition on October 20, 1994. On this poster is that iconic photograph
14. Scented candle from Rotterdam
The scented candle from Home Delight in Rotterdam has a wonderful midnight orchid scent and immediately creates a warm feeling at home.
15. Pyjama for the little Rotterdammer
This Rotterdam pyjama is perfect for children from Rotterdam. The pyjamas are available in various sizes, from size 62 to size 176.
16. Rotterdam play mat
A play mat from your favorite city! This play mat includes the Markthal, the Erasmus Bridge, the SS Rotterdam and the Cube Houses. A super nice gift for the little Rotterdammer.
17. A real Rotterdam board game
In this haven or port game everyone plays an entrepreneur who transports the necessary raw materials from all parts of the world to the port of Rotterdam. The game contains all aspects of the harbor, such as sailing with ships, transshipment in the ports, loading of raw materials and more.
18. The Rotterdam giftcard
With the Rotterdam Pass you can do more than 750 fun activities, free or with a discount. A nice gift to give and to receive! The gift bag costs 60 euros and you can buy it online or in the Rotterdam shop. Here you can find more information about the gift bag (only in Dutch).
19. A bottle of Baron
We also have our own vermouth in Rotterdam. Rogier Wilmink and Jean-Jacques Sliepen have released their own drinks on the Rotterdam market. The name Baron derives from the port barons who are the founders of the Rotterdam we know today. This gift is Rotterdam in a bottle! Here you can read where you can buy a bottle of Baron.
20. Flikken Rotterdam
Give the dvd set Flikken Rotterdam as a gift. Ideal for someone who is looking for a new series to binge watch!
21. Rotterdam Hooligan
Rotterdam Hooligan is about the battle between the hooligans of Feyenoord against rival groups of other football clubs. Certainly an interesting book and especially a good gift for the real Feyenoord fan!
22.Wat zeggie? Azzie val dan leggie!
Wat zeggie? Azzie val dan leggie! is a book about the Rotterdam dialect. Prepositions, harbor slang, nicknames for people, nicknames for parts of Rotterdam and more are discussed in this book!
23. Zeemansboter Peanut butter
Do you know someone who can’t get enough of peanut butter? Then the Zeemansboter peanut butter is the perfect present. In the past ships with peanuts came from far away and arrived in Katendrecht. Eventually, these peanuts were made into a delicious peanut butter in the former Rotterdam home port. And not only natural flavour, Zeemansboter also comes in a variant with chili pepper and a variant with raisins. Check out the product here!
24. The 500 hidden secrets of Rotterdam
This English book about Rotterdam is a great gift for someone who has just moved to Rotterdam or to a Rotterdammer who would like to discover more of his own city. The book contains 500 places with beautiful photos and handy lists.
25. Puzzle Rotterdam
The City Puzzle Magnets is perfect for someone who loves Rotterdam and puzzles. The puzzle consists of 100 pieces and the result is a beautiful city map that is magnetic, so after the puzzle is completed you can stick it on the fridge.
That was all! Hopefully this list has give you some inspiration for presents for Rotterdammers!
In addition to all these nice gifts, it’s also a great idea to treat someone to an experience instead of a physical gift. For example, take someone out for a lovely dinner in Rotterdam, a tasty breakfast, or go enjoy a delicious high tea together. You can find enough inspiration on our website!
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