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Practicalities
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Rotterdam's large centre is bordered by its main rail terminal,
Centraal Station
, which serves as the hub of a useful
tram
and
metro
system, though it's a seamy, hostile place late at night. The main
VVV
office is a ten-minute walk away at Coolsingel 67 (Mon-Thurs 9.30am-6pm, Fri 9.30am-9pm, Sat 9.30am-5pm; April-Sept also Sun noon-5pm; tel 0900/403 4065;
www.vvv.rotterdam.nl
), where you can pick up free city transport maps and a comprehensive city brochure (a?¬1.80). There are plenty of central, reasonably priced
hotels
. Southwest of the station is
Wilgenhof
, Heemraadssingel 92-94 (tel 010/425 4892; A?20-25/$32-40/a?¬36-45; tram #1/#7 or bus #38/#45). Immediately north of the station,
Bienvenue
, Spoorsingel 24 (tel 010/466 9394; A?10-15/$16-24/a?¬18-27), is excellent value. A five-minute walk from Wilhelminaplein metro, on the south bank of the Nieuwe Maas, is the stunning
New York
, Koninginnenhoofd 1 (tel 010/439 0500; A?10-15/$16-24/a?¬18-27), occupying the building where trans-Atlantic cruise liners once docked; the place breathes atmosphere and also boasts an excellent restaurant. The
HI hostel
,
City Hostel Rotterdam
, is a 25-minute walk from the station, Rochussenstraat 107 (tel 010/436 5763; A?5-10/$8-16/a?¬9-18; tram #4). The nearest
campsite
,
Stadscamping
(tel 010/415 3440), is north of the station at Kanaalweg 84 (bus #33).
The cheapest sit-down meal in town is at EetcafA© Streetlife , Jonker Franslaan 237; De Eend , Mauritsweg 29 (Mon-Fri 4.30-7.30pm), is also inexpensive. Oude and Nieuwe Binnenweg support a number of good eetcafA©s , including Rotown , Nieuwe Binnenweg 19. De Consul , Westersingel 28, serves a variety of dishes at reasonable prices, and vegetarians should head for EetcafA© BlaBla , Piet Heynstraat 35 in Delfshaven. Grand CafA© Dudok , off Beursplein on Meent, is a good place to drink , and Jazzcafe Dizzy , 's-Gravendijkwal 127, has regular live music.
From the
Leuvenhaven
harbour, there are numerous
boat trips
through the harbour (year-round; 1hr 15min; a?¬7.50), along the river delta (July & Aug; 2hr 15min; a?¬12) and day-trips south to the Deltawerken (July & Aug; 7hr; a?¬35; reserve in advance); contact Spido for details (tel 010/275 9988;
www.spido.nl
). Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Netherlands,
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