City Parks & Nature
Tuin Schoonoord
Many people from Rotterdam do not know about this beautiful 300 year old garden. Hidden away lies a fairylike garden with luscious greenery. It’s the perfect place for a romantic moment with your lover or just a relaxing afternoon stroll.
Entrance opposite Het Park on the Kievitslaan, open Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11.30am-4pm
Beach of Hoek van Holland
When you prefer sand over trees and fancy a swim in the sea, the nearest beach is only half an hour away by train from Rotterdam to Hoek van Holland Strand.
The train leaves every half hour from Central Station and a roundtrip ticket costs € 9.30. In summer there are lots of activities and lots of places on the beach where you can hang out, have a drink and enjoy the view. When you’re more the nature type there are organized hikes, but you can also walk around the dunes yourself and enjoy the scenery. Get Hoekt!
Quarantaine island
The Quarantaine island (actually a peninsula) is in the middle of the Eemhaven and Waalhaven. It’s a hidden treasure in the busy port. The Quarantaine complex was built in1934 for sailors with infectious diseases like cholera or typhus but it was never really used for that purpose.
To get to the little beach there you have to walk towards the Quarantaineweg 1. You will enter a terrain which is now inhabited by a collective of artists, musicians and writers. After strolling find the beach for a nice break. During low tide the beach is perfect for sunbathing and swimming! Do mind the privacy of the people living there, so only go through the gate when it’s open Mon-Fri from 7am-11pm. Weekends from 10am-11pm. You can visit the island easily on weekdays by Aqualiner.
Take the ferry from the Willemskade where the Waterbus stops too. In 15 minutes it will take you across the river to the RDM terrain, Heyschehaven. One way ticket € 2.50, Return ticket € 4,- Mon-Fri from Willemskade the first trip at 7.40am and last one leaves at 7.30pm. On weekends Quarantaine island is only accessible by bus 61 & 68 or by an expensive but fun ride by Watertaxi.