Are you looking for a unique date idea in Rotterdam for you and your lover? And do you want to do something different than “just eating out”? Fortunately, a little creativity goes a long way!
Below we share fun, (inter)active (often free!) dates, for both indoors and outdoors and dates that are ideal if you don’t know each other very well yet.
Would you like to go out for dinner? Then discover these romantic restaurants in Rotterdam.
1. Laugh together at Comedy Club Haug
Laughing together creates connection. It’s not always possible to tell jokes yourself all evening, so it’s nice if someone else makes you laugh. At Club Haug you can watch shows by well-known comedians or visit an Open Mic evening and be surprised.
Address
Boompjeskade 11, 3011 XE Rotterdam
2. Go on an interactive journey together
Have you only just met? Then it is nice to do something interactive. For example, go 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 to travel in time and surround yourself with the paintings of Dutch Old Masters such as Van Gogh and Mondrian. Each time you enter a new world and you don’t know what to expect.
Read more about this unique attraction in the city and buy your entrance ticket here!
Address
Willemsplein 79, 3016 DR Rotterdam
3. Dinner and a movie – but extra fun
This date idea might sound cliché, but it doesn’t feel that way at KINO. This is because, in addition to the blockbusters, you can also watch art house films and real classics here. In addition, the entire cinema also looks very stylish.
Before or after the film, take a seat in NIKO’s resto, a “laid back but on point” burger restaurant with comfort food and healthy sides. Chef Kick Vogel has put together a menu of classic burgers (with vegan options) with a personal twist, prepared with homemade ingredients, especially for NIKO’s resto.
In KINO you can also enjoy a drink. Definitely the ideal date spot.
Address
Gouvernestraat 129-133, 3014 PM Rotterdam
4. Let your singing skills be heard at Dikke Mic
This might be for the couples who have been together for longer. Or maybe you’re just one of those people who doesn’t gives a shit (or can sing well, or both).
There has been a karaoke spot next to Mooi Boules for a while now: Dikke Mic. This place has a total of eight private karaoke rooms that can be booked from four to 30 people. So nice for a double or triple date with other couples. Of course you can only sing after a few drinks, but that will be all right there.
Would you rather go on a date just the two of you? At Dikke Mic you can also play games in the arcade room. You’ll find racing booths, basketball, boxing, air hockey, and more here. You do not need to make a reservation for the arcade room.
Got hungry? Enjoy the street food bar with Asian street food, composed by star chef Ron Blaauw. Order at the bar or order individual snacks to enjoy while singing.
Address
Vijverhofstraat 47, 3032 SB Rotterdam
5. Join a workout class
For the fit junkies among us, it may be a fun idea to do something active together. You can of course go for a simoke run, but it is even more fun to join a class together.
For example, take part in a class at The Social Sportsclub. Are you not a member? You can just participate in a single class to see if it is something for you. You can also join several classes and make it a weekly outing.
6. Coffee-to-go with a walk
Maybe a bit corny, but a great idea for a first date. Get a coffee from your favourite coffee shop and stroll through the city with your potential lover. Especially nice when the sun is shining or when snow has fallen.
For example, get a coffee at Williams Canteen and walk along the Wijnhaven and the Maas. Do you prefer to look at each other during the date? Then there are plenty of coffee places in Rotterdam where you can take a seat.
7. Streetart tour
The buildings of Rotterdam are sometimes given a touch of colour. And not just a touch, but true works of art.
Scattered throughout the city you will find huge murals painted by talented artists. So if you feel like taking a walk with your loved one, take a walk along these cool street art places in Rotterdam. Maybe in combination with the coffee you bought earlier!
8. Bake a cake together
Romantically kneading the dough together, decorating the cake and then eating it down to the last crumb. A super fun date, whether you’ve been together for years or have just met.
Because we are not all pastry chefs, you can simply order a nice Do-it-yourself box from Dudok. With this box you can make the tastiest apple pie in Rotterdam at home in your own kitchen!
Order the Dudok Apple Pie – Do it yourself box here.
9. Enjoy culture in one of the Museums of Rotterdam
Bovenop het dak bij het Depot heb je ook een mooie plek om op een zonnige dag samen rond te lopen.
Are you both fond of performances, paintings and sculptures? Then going for a day of culture exploration together is of course great fun. In any case, visiting a museum is a good idea, because it is a good conversation starter.
For example, you have all kinds of museums around the Museum Park. In the summer you can also enjoy all the green here. Immediately nice for a nice picnic date.
For example, visit the Boijmans van Beuningen Depot here. This is the very first art depot in the world that is actually accessible to the public. Walk around and admire between 151,000 art objects and watch the conservation and restoration of art.
In addition, visitors and residents can go to the freely accessible roof garden with restaurant to enjoy the view over Rotterdam.
Discover more museums in Rotterdam.
10. A visit to Kinderdijk
Captured by @marionro.cks
You might need a change of surroundings from time to time. Playing tourist in your own country could be a great solution. Fortunately, you don’t have to go far to see beautiful places.
Kinderdijk is located no less than 15 km from Rotterdam. A real attraction thanks to the 19 windmills from the 18th century. Did you know that Kinderdijk is even on the UNESCO World Heritage List?
Walk or cycle between the windmills and along the canals and relax in this beautiful area. To make your date extra fun, we recommend taking the waterbus to Kinderdijk!
Do you want to discover even more places around Rotterdam after this date? Then read our article with nice places near Rotterdam.
11. Discover the hidden gems of Rotterdam
Photo by our blogger Fatima @timavisual.
Is your lover a real Rotterdammer? Then it may be difficult to take him or her to a place that is still unknown to them.
Yet there are plenty of places in the city where people do not usually come, but are worth a visit. For example, you have the viewpoint Lührs, which is beautiful during sunset. Or the historic Schoonoord garden, near the Euromast Park.
Check out our article with hidden places in Rotterdam and surprise your date with a new experience!
12. Book a duo massage
A duo massage at QoQo Massage clinics.
Get completely zen. That is important in such a busy city as Rotterdam. You can do that by taking yourself on a date, but it is also nice to book a duo massage with your lover.
This is possible, for example, at QoQo, a massage parlour with multiple locations in Rotterdam where they offer very nice relaxation massages.
Discover even more massage parlours in Rotterdam.
13. Play tennis on public courts
For the lovers among us who like a bit of competition, there are public tennis courts where you can play some tennis for free.
In Crooswijk you have the Schuttersveld with two tennis courts, located next to a basketball and a football field. You can also play tennis at the Krajicek Playground at the Esch, with two tennis courts, a skating park and a soccer field.
The surface is made of stone, so wear good shoes. And maybe obvious, but don’t forget to bring a racket and tennis balls.
14. Take your camera out
Photo by our blogger @olivia.in.rotterdam
Do you and your lover share a passion for photography? Then make it a creative date! It is no news that Rotterdam is a beautiful photogenic city, filled with the most beautiful architecture that calls to be photographed. Therefore the ideal stage for your photography date.
For some inspiration with cool photography spots, you can read this article with instagrammable spots in Rotterdam. Ps. Don’t forget to tag us with #WeekendsinRotterdam on Instagram!
15. Organize your own beer tasting
Attending a tasting is of course great fun. Rotterdam has several cool breweries that brew the tastiest beers in our own city. Often a beer tasting is only possible for larger groups, but you can also take a box home.
Check out Brouwerij Noordt, for example, where they regularly release new cool boxes, filled with different beers and other goodies. Another nice one is Stadsbrouwerij De Pelgrim in Delfshaven, where they brew delicious I.P.A., bock and steam beer, among other things.
16. Ga samen wijn tappen
Do you prefer wine over beer? Then this special wine bar is something for you!
The unique concept of Walsjérôt works as follows: upon entry you put an amount of your choice on a card. With this card you can then go to the tap wall. Yes, you heard that right: this bar has a wall where you tap your own wine!
After you have chosen, hold your card in front of the wine taps and choose from a sip, a whole glass or half a glass and tap the wine you want! At Walsjérôt, tasting is encouraged.
Each wine is provided with a card with a description of the grape variety, origin and taste. A super fun (first) date idea!
Address
Bentinckplein 5, 3039 KL Rotterdam
17. Go skating together
Is the sun shining? Then go skating! Active dates are great fun and a little competition while skating makes the date a lot more exciting. Bring a backpack filled with some refreshing drinks and settle down on the grass when you need a break or a good conversation.
The route? The Kralingse Bos is perfect for this. A route that is not overly long, has a beautiful environment and has enough room to take a break from time to time.
18. Cross off the biggest highlights of Rotterdam from your list
How much of Rotterdam have you actually seen? Every year thousands of tourists come to our city to admire the beautiful buildings, and for a good reason!
This is of course even more fun if your date is from another city but you’re from Rotterdam. Then give him/her a tour of the most beautiful city in the Netherlands and cross off the biggest highlights of Rotterdam from your bucket list.
Need inspiration? Check our article with the best sights in Rotterdam here.
19. Rent a sloop
Do you want to impress your date? And are you not afraid of being trapped together on a boat for a few hours? Then I advise you to rent a sloop and enjoy the water, the sun, music and a fresh drink together.
There are plenty of rental companies in Rotterdam where you can rent a sloop. Fortunately, you do not need a license for this. So rent a boat and float around on the Kralingse Plas or the Rotte!
20. Picnic in sunny weather
It might not happen a lot in The Netherlands, but when the sun is shining you have to make the most out of it and go outside. A great idea is then to organize a picnic.
But how do you put together such a picnic basket? Easy! Get tasty cheeses from the Rotterdam cheese shops, buy a fresh wine, get some fruit at one of the many Rotterdam markets and for dessert you get something at the tastiest pastry shops in Rotterdam.
Don’t forget to bring a something to sit on, cutlery, maybe some music and enjoy the sunbeams together.
Need inspiration for a nice picnic location? Read our article about picnicking in Rotterdam here!
These were some original date ideas for Rotterdam. Is there something that appeals to you? Or do you have even better ideas? Let us know in the comment!
