Our loyal followers know that we at Dining Traveler are fans of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Yes I’m a little biased with it being my hometown and all, but the city really has a lot to offer. This past summer, as a first stop on our annual Europe trip, we again spent a couple of days in the city and this time we had the pleasure of staying at the fabulous Mainport Rotterdam Hotel, a 5 star design hotel on the river Maas.
Location
Let’s begin with this: it has its own water taxi stop! The river Meuse (Maas) divides the city between North and South and connects it to the North Sea. Mainport Rotterdam Hotel finds itself right next to one of Rotterdam’s (and indeed the country’s) most iconic bridges: the ‘Erasmusbridge’.
A water taxi will take you to other hotels, restaurants, and museums along the river. The property is a short 5-10 minute walk to the shopping heart of the city. Just watching ships of all shapes and sizes go by I find incredibly relaxing – and yet, you are in walking distance of many of the main attractions. In short: a great location!
Style: Rotterdam & the World
The story of Rotterdam simply does not let itself be told without that one, fateful event: the bombardment of May 14, 1940. German war planes bombed and leveled large parts of the inner city with its ornate, classic buildings. The result is that today Rotterdam is a city of modern buildings, and Mainport Hotel fits right in.
Entering the hotel lobby, you’ll see clean, sleek minimalistic lines yet the colorful furniture and artwork avoid it being sterile. As said, Rotterdam is Europe’s biggest port, a “Mainport”, this is where the seven continents meet. Therefore, every floor in Mainport hotel represents a different continent. We’re not quite sure whether it was coincidence or not but our room just happened to be on the floor representing….North America. We loved the symbolism.
The Rooms
Not to be missed was the wallpaper in our room, images of dollar bills and the Statue of Liberty. You may cringe at the words “wallpaper” but the designers at Mainport Rotterdam knew what they were doing. Although not a huge space, this was a very comfortable room with a clever lay out. Modern luxury bathroom with a walk-in shower and bubble bath, a very comfortable bed, a desk and chairs to make the business traveler (or blogger) feel right at home.
The hotel also has some rooms that have an in-room sauna, should you want to indulge in total relaxation. As a matter of fact: the hotel has an award winning spa and wellness program!
The Food
With lots of people to meet in and around Rotterdam, this time we only enjoyed breakfast at Mainport Rotterdam. And enjoy it we did. A great buffet with all the breakfast staples; egg, sausage, plenty of fresh bread, a separate omelet bar, salmon, granola, yogurts,fruit and coffee and tea. And don’t be too shy to ask for a glass of champagne!
The Spa
Although we did not get to experience the spa, we did have the opportunity to tour the spa area. With an eclectic decor of funky lounge chairs and colorful artwork, the spa at Mainport Rotterdam keeps up with the rest of the property. I highly advise to book your spa experience ahead of time as it gets booked quite quickly. Jessica tried to book during our stay but was not able to get a last minute slot.
Mainport Rotterdam Hotel: The Verdict
I have to say: I felt right at home from the second we walked into Mainport Rotterdam Hote’sl 5 star design atmosphere. It’s comfortable, bright, modern, and at a great location. We were so lucky to have mild evenings for a lovely walk across the bridge and along the water. The staff is friendly and helpful and the rooms have all you need. With this level of comfort, you’ll see a healthy mix of business travelers and tourists, adding to Rotterdam’s cosmopolitan vibes.
Mainport Rotterdam Hotel, Schiedamsedijk 140, 3011 EN Rotterdam, Netherlands, Website
