Rotterdam: 17th in our ranking
The attractiveness of Rotterdam for people from other countries is interesting. The number of foreign residents in the city is growing steadily and now exceeds 45% of the total population.
According to our survey results, it is a place with very positive aspects, ranking in the top 10 in categories such as public transport, safety, climate, culture and cost of living.
The Netherlands is represented in our survey results through a number of cities. Rotterdam is one of them and is the second most populous city in the country. At the same time, it is a multicultural place that is attracting a lot of interest from professionals from all over the world as a new place to live.
The summers are not considered hot enough, something that respondents noted as an important aspect in their assessment of Rotterdam as a place to live.
During the winter, however, the days when the temperature drops significantly stand out. Rotterdam is not rated in the surveys as a place where it is too cold to make life difficult, but it is a place where the temperature drops sharply. It is this balance between seasons that has led to the city being ranked last in the top ten cities in terms of climate.
Our respondents gave Rotterdam sixth place in the public transport ranking. It achieves this by means of a good structure in which there are both train, metro and tram systems. The latter two transport systems are most efficient when combined, as they make it possible to reach practically every corner of the city.
The trains have a high quality infrastructure as do the bus lines. Overall it is considered a good transport system and this helps to rely on public transport at all times. Additionally, living in Rotterdam is synonymous with a lot of cycling and has been rated positively in surveys.
Rotterdam is home to the famous Erasmus University Rotterdam, which is world famous because the philosopher Desiderius Erasmus, after whom it is named, studied there.
There are also many other universities in the city, including the Nord Anglia International School Rotterdam, a city-run international school that allows any child to grow up in a multicultural environment. This school is very popular with the children of displaced residents from other countries who live in Rotterdam.
This is not one of the categories in which it does not particularly stand out. According to respondents, it is not an attraction for the development of life or tourism.
Nevertheless, Rotterdam’s gastronomic side brings together a wide variety of flavours and recipe styles that are rooted in some of the most traditional Dutch dishes. For example, pea soup, known as erwtensoep, kibbeling fish, hutspot meat or rijsttafel rice. According to surveys, these are tastes that are easy to get used to and have the potential to become some of the favourites of any new resident in the city.
Rotterdam’s proximity to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport means that the city’s airport is not the only one that can be used. It takes about 25 minutes to get to Rotterdam Airport by bus, but Schiphol Airport can be reached by train for a little longer. This is an advantage because of its location, but it is not an airport structure of its own.
In fact, the most frequent access route for respondents is Schiphol, especially since Rotterdam airport does not have as many international connections as one might wish. By sea, on the other hand, the city’s port has historically been of great importance for various industries.
The crime rate is higher than in other European regions, but the situation in Rotterdam has changed a lot in the last decades. It is only important to be careful in certain areas at certain times of the night when light is scarce.
En outre, residents do have to be wary of the high level of bicycle theft in the region. They are often stolen, so it is essential to have a good lock to protect the bike while, for example, at the office or running errands. Nevertheless, Rotterdam closes the top 10 cities with the best perception in terms of security according to our survey.
Starting in 2019, Rotterdam began implementing a new green plan with the intention of reducing waste, pollution and providing the environment with additional support. While this is still a work in progress for now, it points to the city having a stronger presence in sustainability in the future.
Our respondents did not choose to recognise Rotterdam as a particularly sustainable city, but initiatives such as a circular economy and the implementation of green spaces combined with smart city structures are underway.
Prices in Rotterdam remain in line with other cities in the Netherlands, but are slightly more affordable than those in Amsterdam. This places the city in ninth position in a top ranking in which the top positions are held by Lyon, Lisbon and Madrid.
The price of housing varies greatly depending on the area and it should be noted that it is worth making sure whether or not central heating is included in the flat, as this will encourage savings in winter. Other services and food are moderately priced below prices in other parts of Europe.
Rotterdam and Amsterdam often compete for the unofficial title of most cultural city in the Netherlands. In our ranking, respondents placed Rotterdam in tenth position, two places below Amsterdam, giving more recognition to the city of canals.
Rotterdam is noted for its philharmonic orchestra, cultural events such as the annual film festival, major concerts and, of course, its museums. Some of the highlights include Museum Rotterdam, which allows you to get to know the city better if you start living there, or Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.
Neither is one of the city’s greatest assets and has not been included in the Top 10 in this category. Nevertheless, there is plenty to enjoy in Rotterdam and spend a weekend or a holiday here. The Diergaarde Blijdorp Zoo and the Oceanium are perfect for children. The Arboretum Trompenburg from 1820 is also ideal, as is Park Schoonoord, which was designed in 1860. Those who want to go out at night can go to trendy places such as Nhow Bar or Huiskantine.