Discover the Rotterdam of locals with a bicycle tour Rotterdam

I love seeing a city that is familiar to me in a completely different way. I mentioned that in my last blog about Rotterdam. Back then I viewed this city on the river Maas from the water with the Splashtours.

Recently I did another tour in Rotterdam, but a lesser known one. I went on a bike tour Rotterdam with Arianne from Inside Rotterdam.

Inside Rotterdam Bike and Walking Tours

Inside Rotterdam provides several biking and walking tours through Rotterdam. This time we chose the Wild West Bike Tour Rotterdam. With this tour you will be guided through Rotterdam West by bike. A part of Rotterdam that is full of colors, contrasts and initiatives. Instead of taking us around Rotterdam’s tourist hotspot, Arianne took us on our NS bikes to the Rotterdam of its residents.

Cycling through Rotterdam West

So she took us to the Middellandplein. Here we were introduced to the Turkish bakery Kaya Pastinesi where we got to taste delicious traditional and trendy varieties of baklava. On the square itself she told us about the population composition in this neighborhood. How the multicultural residents joined hands when it appeared that certain neighborhoods were on the nomination list for demolition. She also explained to us how the street composition of A, B and C streets ensures that the different walks of life in the neighborhood have traditionally lived together here.

We followed Arianne to the Justus van Effenblok. An architectural housing complex and she talked about the history of this building. Like how they got the first air streets here. And about how the residents lived together in the central courtyard, to which all the front doors also lead. And how the homes went through a metamorphosis to meet today’s living requirements. With stories like these, you certainly get a good sense of how the people of Rotterdam lived their lives in the past and how they live today.

Anyone can become a Rotterdammer

What Arianne herself likes about Rotterdam is that, according to her, anyone can become a Rotterdammer. No matter where you originally come from, as soon as you settle in Rotterdam and put your shoulders to the wheel, you will soon belong.

The bike tour continued to the industrial area near Schiedam. There we paid a visit to a Rotterdam entrepreneur. Then we continued our way by bike towards Rotterdam Central Station to neatly return our OV bikes.

Get to know the Rotterdam of the locals

This bike tour definitely made me see Rotterdam in a new way and gave me an insight into the life of the Rotterdammer. His work ethic and character. How he lives together and stands up for his immediate surroundings. And how a fusion of nationalities can challenge each other but also be there for each other when it matters.

Dear Arianne, unfortunately I was not able to attend the last part of the tour. Thank you for your stories and the background information you gave us about colorful Rotterdam West.