Ascension Day/Rotterdam’s Remembrance day

Tomorrow is another day filled with events! Read on for an overview on what to do tomorrow!

The Official Program of Rotterdam’s Remembrance day:

14^th of May, next to being ascension day, is the official remembrance day of the bombardment of 1940, during the second world war. This year marks the 75^th year, enough reason for an extensive program!

Statenweg / 10.00 – 10.30: The program starts at the monument at the Statenweg, near number 147. This is the remembrance of the ultimatum given to the city. Major A. Aboutaleb will start of the day.

Laurenskerk Rotterdam/ 12.00 – 12.45: Remembrance, followed by a walk to Plein 1940

Plein 1940 / 13:00: Remembrance of the bombardment at the monument ‘The Destroyed City’ by Ossip Zadkine.

13:29-13:39 : All (church)bells will ring within the fire limit as remembrance of the duration of the bombardment.

Onderzeebootloods Heijplaat / 14.00 – 17.00: Exposition ‘The Attack’ about the may days in 1940, start of WO II.

Laurenskerk Rotterdam / 14.30 – 15.30: free entrance to the performance ‘l’Histoire du Soldat’ of Igor Stravinsky.

Hal Rotterdamse Schouwburg / 15.00 – 16.00: official handing over of the book ‘Rotterdam and the bombardment – 75 years of memories and forgotten memories’.

Museum Rotterdam ’40-45 NOW Coolhaven/ 16.30 17.30: presentation of the neon-artwork by Dick Rutten.

Binnenrotte, behind Laurenskerk / 21.00 – 24.00: fire limit run. A run following the 12 km fire limit.

Food Truck Festival

Unfortunately, the speeches of remembrance day will be held in Dutch. However, there are still enough other things to do where the language barrier won’t be an issue! One of these instances is the Food Truck Festival Trek. This Festival will take place in Rotterdam from the 14^th of May till the 17^th, after which it travels to Utrecht, Maastrich, Enschede, Nijmegen, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Amsterdam and Den Haag!

The Food Truck Festival is a free festival, paradise to all foodies. This ‘gezellige’ festival offers a wide variety of food, from sushi to sate. Not yet hungry? Don’t worry! The Festival is completed with music, live acts, shows and an overall good atmosphere!

The Food Truck Festival takes place at Vroesenpark and is open on Thursday and Friday from 14.00 – 23.00; on Saturday from 12.00 – 23.00; and on Sunday from 12.00 – 22.00.

Shopping

Do you want to do some shopping on your day off? Most stores in the city center are open from 12.00 onwards!

Would you want to live in Rotterdam? Check Domica Rotterdam for more information!

Circus City Festival

This week there is a very special festival taking place in the city, fun for all ages, so perfect to take your kids to! With the city as its background and podium, the Circusstad (circus city) Festival will take place at Schouwburgplein. The whole square will be filled with multiple stands, acts, food, drinks and much much more will fill up the days from the 6^th of May until the 10^th of May.

Do you still think of dancing elephants or funny clowns when you hear about the circus? The circus city festival is a modern take on the circus! Imagine free runners, acrobats, hip-hop, dance and theatre all taking place at the same festival!

And if you feel really adventurous, you can join the act! Always wanted to swing the trapeze? Be part of a human pyramid? This festival you can!

In the evenings the acts will take place in the Luxor Theater and the Rotterdamse Schouwburg. Here as well the visitor will be surprised with multiple international acts.

Enough fun for the whole family!

Would you like to live in Rotterdam? Check DomicaRotterdam for your new home!

Kingsday Rotterdam!

It’s almost Kingsday again, the Dutch are preparing to turn the whole country orange again, and you’ll be surprised about all the activities happening in the city. If you’re still not sure about what to do, I will list a few nice options below!

Vrijmarkt Rotterdam (Free market)

During Kingsday it’s very normal for people to sell their old stuff on little mats in the streets. This is legal from 9.00 till 17.00. So are you looking for second hand toys, vintage clothes, or do you just want to enjoy the atmosphere? In between the second hand sales there are also enough food stalls, street artists, or even small concerts. Enough to experience! The biggest free market will be in the center of Rotterdam near the Coolsingel, Hofplein, Hoogstraat and the Blaak.

Kids-freemarket:

A special oriented kids free market is at the Witte de Withstraat and the Nieuwe Binnenweg. This will be from 11.00 onwards. But the carnival in the Euromastpark is also a big hit with the kids.

Festivals:

There are many festivals taking place in the city!

Koningsdag Festival Rotterdam: This beautiful festival takes place at the foot of the Erasmusbrug. You’ll enjoy the view of the beautiful skyline, with music such as Dj’s Sluwe Vos, Benny Rodrigues, Josh Butler and many more!

Oranjebitter Rotterdam: One of the largest festivals in Rotterdam! This is really a playground for grownups. There are trampolines, the house of Lords, pole dancers, music, food…. Enough to make a great day!

Kralingse Bos Festival: located in the Kralingse Bos, you’ll be at a great location once again. This year there are 3 stages with acts such as Fritz Kalkbrenner, Gui Boratto, Kink, Vaal, Beesmunt and many more!

Would you like to live in Rotterdam? Check Domica Rotterdam for more information!

Want to live in Rotterdam before the summer?

Spring is in the air, and the city lives up because of it! The streets are filled with  music, people, food and overall a great atmosphere. Just last weekend Motel Mozaïque, an open air music, theater and culture festival took place.

Coming weekend the start of the national museum week will start off and we’re also racing toward kings day!

Are you looking for a place in Rotterdam? We can help you to find your dream house! Domica Rotterdam is trained to help you with everything in term of housing. We start our search of your perfect house while you’re still abroad when that’s needed. Once you arrive we can begin our tour to find the perfect home. We can also pick you up at your hotel if you don’t have transport.

We can offer you different types of units for rent, such as apartments, family homes, villas or studios. Whatever suits your fancy. You can also choose to rent it furnished or not at all. All of our furnished houses are in perfect condition. Domica Rotterdam has many apartments and family houses in "De Stadsdrihoek", HIllegersberg, Kralingen and Blaak. Also near International Schools or near all the international companies located in the city, or a little outside. 

Domica Rotterdam also works with a lot of relocation agencies including Tulip Expat Services, which can help you with your other questions. Domica Rotterdam ensures you that we will find you the perfect home! Are you an expat and looking to live in Rotterdam? Call or email us! + 31 (0) 10 268 00 24 / rotterdam@domica.nl. We will be happy to help you!

Are you looking for a place in Rotterdam?

Rotterdam is becoming more and more populair and culturally more important in the international spheres. Are you can expat and are you new to Rotterdam? Your first priority is to find a lovely home or apartment in Rotterdam. 

We can help you to find your dream house! Domica Rotterdam has years of experience in housing of Expats in Rotterdam. We can offer you different types of units for rent, such as apartments, family homes, villas or studios. Whatever suits your fancy. You can also chooce to rent it furnished or not at all. All of our furnished houses are in perfect condition. Domica Rotterdam has many apartments and family houses in "De Stadsdrihoek", HIllegersberg, Kralingen and Blaak. Also near International Schools or near all the international companies located in the city, or a little outside. 

Domica Rotterdam is trained to help you with everything in terms of housing. We start our search of your perfect house while you're still abroad. Once you arrive we can begin our tour to find the perfect home. We can also pick you up at your hotel if you don't have transport. 

Domica Rotterdam also works with a lot of relocation agencies including Tulip Expat Services, which can help you with your other questions. Domica Rotterdam ensures you that we will find you the perfect home! Are you an expat and looking to live in Rotterdam? Call or email us! + 31 (0) 10 268 00 24 / rotterdam@domica.nl. We will be happy to help you!

New Exhibition de Kunsthal

Rotterdam is the place to be! And definitely the place to live! Are you looking for a house, apartment or studio? Check www.domica.nl/rotterdam for your new home!

The Rotterdam museum De Kunsthal, a modern art museum, launched their new exposition on the 28^th of February. The exhibition called Your Light is My Life is the first solo exhibition in the Netherlands of the Czech artist Kristof Kintera. His work is imaginative, powerful and still gives a subtle food for thought. The light provoking, often melancholic and poetic works investigate the boarders of contemporary sculptures.

His sculptures are one of a kind. The sculptures and installations really seem to ‘live’. The interaction with the works is therefore sometimes even weird. By changing the exhibition space, the whole visit feels uncanny.

Yet, the exhibition doesn’t only provide us with sculptures. On the balcony in the room there is a miniature exhibition that offers a look into the way of work of Kintera, by exposing sketches, photographs, prototypes, collages, and much more. The move Undercover and the catalogue I am not You are also available for viewing.

Would you love to live in Rotterdam? Check Domica Rotterda

m!

expat in rotterdam?

Rotterdam is ever growing and getting more and more interesting for expats! As expat you can expect great work opportunities, companies such as Unilever, Shell, Erasmus, Q8, Heerema, Imtech, Oceanco, Vopak, and many more are located in the city. But only work and no play is not what you’re looking for either. Rotterdam has many restaurants, museums, parks and events to keep you occupied. For example, this coming weekend is museum night in the city, which means that all museums in the Witte de With kwartier, are open from 8 pm till midnight and have special exhibitions during this time. The Witte de With street will be the center of all fun, with bands playing in various bars, and an overall vibrant atmosphere.  

Are you worried about not finding a suitable place to live? Domica Rotterdam can help you further with that! We are specialized in the housing of expats. We have a large offer on furnished houses, apartments or studios for rent for short stay, or for a few years. Whatever you’ll need to feel at home in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, we’ll help you find it.

Check for more information our website, Domica Rotterdam. 

De Doelen - concerthal

Rotterdam has always a lot to offer in the field of cultural events. De Doelen is not an exception in this, better yet, it’s one of the best known concert buildings in the Netherlands.

There took about 1200 events  place in the Doelen last year, with a variety of themes such as classic, worldly music or fun jazz nights! They also played an important role during the International Film Festival. Of the Rotterdam inhabitants about 25% visit the Doelen at least once a year. Not only for cultural events, the Doelen building can also be used as congress building.

The monumental building is located in the middle of the city (literally), next to the central station, and in the middle of the ever-growing city center. But it wasn’t always located here. In 1844 the Doelen opened its doors at the Coolsingel. After almost  100 years the doors of this old concert building had to be closed.

The current building opened its doors in 1966, after 4 years of building. This building was seen as the crown on the whole ‘wederopbouw’ (rebuild) of the city. In the first 20 years after the war the rebuilt has focused on houses and offices. The 18^th of May was not a random day for the opening of the concert hall, it was literally 20 years after the start of the wederopbouw.

Right away the Doelen became a huge success. Today still the halls are of the best acoustic quality, and a right diverse schedule. There are concerts for children, indoor jazz festivals and much much much more!

Would you like to live in Rotterdam? Domica Rotterdam helps you with your search for an apartment, house or studio. Check our website, Domica Rotterdam

, for more information! 

Housing in Rotterdam

You are an expat and you are new to Rotterdam. Your first priority is to find a good home or an apartment on a fine place in Rotterdam. 

Domica Rotterdam has years of experience in housing of Expats in Rotterdam. Domica Rotterdam offers different types of units for rent. This includes apartments and family homes. Also you can choose if you would like to rent a furnished house or not. All our furnished houses are in perfect condition. Domica Rotterdam has many apartments and family homes in "De Stadsdriehoek", Hillegersberg, Kralingen en Blaak. . Also near International Schools in Rotterdam has Domica Rotterdam several beautiful homes for Expats in the rental. Domica Rotterdam organizes everything for Expats in the area of housing. We start our search for your perfect house allergy while you are abroad. Once you arrive in the Netherlands we can directly begin our tour to your perfect home. Domica Rotterdam always picks you up at your hotel. Domica Rotterdam also works with a lot of different relocation agencies including Tulip Expat Services, which can help you with your other questions. Domica Rotterdam ensures that we will find you the perfect house! Are you an Expat and looking for houses in Rotterdam? Apartments of family houses? Furnished of unfurnished? Call or email us! + 31 (0) 10 268 00 24 / rotterdam@domica.nl. We will be happy to help you!

Housing in Rotterdam

U bent een expat en u bent nieuw in Rotterdam. U eerste prioriteit is het vinden van een goed huis of een appartement op een fijne plek in Rotterdam.

Domica Rotterdam heeft een jarenlange ervaring in het huisvesten van Expats in Rotterdam. Domica Rotterdam heeft verschillende soorten woonruimten te huur. Denk hierbij aan appartementen, eengezinswoningen, of een studio. Ook heeft u de keuze of u een gemeubileerde of een gestoffeerde woning wilt huren. Domica Rotterdam heeft veel appartementen en studio's in het centrum, de Stadsdriehoek, Blaak en Kralingen. Ook nabij de internationale scholen in Rotterdam heeft Domica Rotterdam verscheidene mooie woningen voor Expats in de verhuur.

Domica Rotterdam regelt alles voor Expats op het gebied van huisvesting. Wij beginnen onze zoektocht naar u perfecte gemeubileerde of gestoffeerde woning al terwijl u nog in het buitenland bent. Zodra u voet zet op Nederlandse bodem kunnen we dus gelijk beginnen met een tour van woningen die voldoen aan uw woonwensen.

Als Domica Rotterdam voor u de juiste woning heeft gevonden, verzorgt Domica Rotterdam voor u het huurcontract en de sleuteloverdracht. Ook werkt Domica Rotterdam veel samen met verschillende relocation bureaus, waaronder Tulip Expat Services, die u verder kunnen helpen met uw overige vragen.

Domica Rotterdam zorgt dat u zich bij ons thuisvoelt! Bent u een Expat en op zoek naar woonruimte in Rotterdam? Een appartement of een eengezinswoning? Gemeubileerd of gestoffeerd? Bel of mail ons! 010- 268 00 14, wij helpen u graag!

The market hall

Everyone seems to want to live in the market hall, with its beautiful apartments and perfect location, and just the same does everyone want to visit the market hall. It opened back in October 2014 and we’re getting quite used to it already, so what is the final verdict on the market hall?

Lovely!

Yes, the market hall is really the place to be. Not only do they offer a large variety of fresh, biological products, it’s also a place with multiple restaurants. The products are not the only thing that offers  a large variety, the restaurants also have very different menus. There is one specialized in hamburgers, one specialized in fish, an Italian restaurant, tapas restaurant and many many more!

You don’t want to go out for dinner, or you rather do your groceries somewhere else? You can also enjoy a nice drink in one of the many bars that the market hall has to offer. In the middle of the hall you’ll find two elevated terraces, where you can overlook the whole hall while enjoying a drink.

But to be honest, you don’t even have to spend money to experience the hall. It’s already nice to walk through the hall, see the beautiful ceiling (which actually is the largest artpiece of the Netherlands) , enjoy all the different people and just look at all the products on offer.

However…

On the downside, the market hall did experience some problems with its ventilation. Especially in the winter it draught sometimes gets so unbearable cold inside that they switch between opening the sides of the market hall. The doors are not opened both at the same time, which creates a line at on or the other side of the hall.

Even though it’s not as cold as sitting in front of a café on the streets in the winter weather, it is not warm. So you’ll still have to enjoy your drink with your jacket on.

Yet, in the end those are only technicalities and you can easily enter the hall without standing in line by entering through one of the restaurants on the sides. The market hall is really a busy and fun place to visit. There is so much you can do there, and the product really are lovely. Yes, I think the market hall is a great addition to the city!

Would you love to rent an apartment near the market hall? You’ll be within walking distance of the Blaak station, public transport, the market hall, the center of the city and the popular shopping street the Meent! Check out our website www.Domica.nl/en/rotterdam/listing for more information. We can help you and answer all the questions you’ll might have about the city! 

Coffee time!

Previously I wrote about where to get a good beer, or a nice glass of wine, but where to go for a cup of coffee? This week I’ll present to you a few of the many good coffee bars of the city!

The Urban Espresso Bar

Probably the most populair coffeebar of the city! The small bar is located at the Botersloot, in the center of Rotterdam (near the new Markethal!) and is runned by the Australian Jo McCambridge. The bar got so popular that they needed to open a second bar on the Nieuwe Binnenweg.

The coffee is made of beans of Ethiopia or Panama, and with a homemade piece of cake (or a lovely sandwich) your coffee is complete!

Hopper Coffee & Bakery

Decorated with a lot of wood and concrete this coffee bar looks much like any other, but Hopper Coffee & Bakery is much more than that. Just like the name says this bar included their own bakery. The bar and the bakery are in the same room so it’s not only fun to watch, but the constant smell of baked bread will welcome you for a lovely lunch!

It’s not surprising that this bar won the prize for best coffee bar in the Netherlands of 2012!

You can find Hopper Coffer & Bakery at the Schiedamse Vest!

Cappucino

Even though a lunch is a bit more expensive  (and it’s not really worth it) the coffee is an absolute winner! The cappuccino is served with liqueur and whipped cream, a glass of water, and a cookie. A very complete coffee! Three years in a row they won the Ketelbinkie coffee prize (2009 – 2011), and because it’s located near the Koopgoot it’s definitely a popular place to have a nice cup.

Would you love to live in Rotterdam? Check Domica Rotterdam for more information!

 

A few facts about Rotterdam

Did you know the following about our city?

• ·         Rotterdam is the second largest city of the Netherlands with more than 600.000 inhabitants
• ·         1/3^rd of the city is actually water
• ·         And had a total surface of 325.79 km2
• ·         It’s not surprising that the harbor of Rotterdam the largest is of Europe
• ·         And number 8 of the world!
• ·         The harbor extends 40 km from the city to the North sea
• ·         The city holds 170 different nationalities
• ·         And more than 700 restaurants
• ·         The city has two spots on the Dutch Monopoly (Blaak and Coolsingel)
• ·         The city motto is: stronger by action (or stronger by struggle)
• ·         This refers to the bombardment of the city on the 14^th of May 1940
• ·         The city slogan is: Rotterdam works
• ·         The city holds the 4 tallest buildings of the country
• ·         These are: The Maastoren(165m); New Orleans(158m); the Delftse Poort(151m); and The Rotterdam (149m)
• ·         The last one also the biggest building of the country with its 160.000 m2
• ·         The most popular attraction of the city is the Blijdorp zoo
• ·         The city also has a lot of ‘firsts’
• ·         Such as the first car free shopping street of Europe, the Lijnbaan
• ·         Or the first subway of the country

Interesting, isn’t it?

Would you love to live in Rotterdam? Take a look at our website, Domica Rotterdam!