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district of Rotterdam, Netherlands
Europe > Benelux > Netherlands > Western Netherlands > South Holland > Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region > Rotterdam > Rotterdam/Kralingen-Crooswijk

De Lelie and De Ster windmills.

Kralingen-Crooswijk is a district of Rotterdam on the northern bank of the New Meuse (Nieuwe Maas) river. Also covered is the Noord district.

Understand

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Kralingen is the part east of the water Boezem and is a former town to the east of Rotterdam. The town originally grew around the Honingen Castle, which fell victim to the Eighty Years' War. Kralingen spanned along a single road running from east to west, with to its north a peatfield which was reclaimed for fuel. This came to a height in the 17th century, with peat being reclaimed up to far below the water level, resulting in a large number of "veenplassen" (peat field lakes) to the north of Kralingen. These were reclaimed halfway through the 19th century and are now known as the "Prins Alexanderpolder" (named after Prince Alexander of the Netherlands, heir apparent to the Dutch throne from 1879 until his death in 1884, not, as occasionally misunderstood, Prince William Alexander, the modern-day king of the Netherlands).

Kralingen has undergone some damage during the Second World War, being located on the flight path to the 1940 bombardment of Rotterdam. As a result of the damage here and in Rotterdam proper, the railway line serving the town was relocated to the north, as its terminus didn't have the move convenient location and was completely destroyed during the war. Instead, the former town has been served by the Rotterdam Metro since 1982.

Crooswijk is bordered by the river Rotte (after which Rotterdam is named) and the water Boezem and used to be polder. From 1864 houses were built for the working class of Rotterdam.

Noord can be best described as a former working-class neighborhood that has transformed into a design Valhalla. You will find galleries, vintage furniture boutiques, lunchrooms and restaurants. The district is just north of Centrum and the railway, bordered by the Delfshavense Schie in the west, the A20 in the north and the Rotte in the east.

Get in

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The sun setting over the Kralingse Plas.

By car

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The district of Kralingen is bounded in the north and east by the A20 and A16 highways. These provide ample opportunity to reach Kralingen by car, though these highways do form the ringway of Rotterdam, which tend to get crowded during rush hour.

  • Coming from Breda and further south-east, firstly get to Breda and from there take the A16 heading north towards Dordrecht. Simply follow this highway and use exits 25, 26 or 27 for Kralingen.
  • Coming from Roosendaal and further west, take the A17 heading for Dordrecht. This highway merges into the A16, where you want to head for Dordrecht. Then follow this highway (A16) until you reach the exits for Kralingen (25-27).
  • Coming from the east, the A12 and A15 are the most straightforward options. The A15 merges south of the river, so you will again approach the way you would coming from Dordrecht. The A12 on the other hand goes to The Hague. Therefore, switch onto the A20 near Gouda, heading for Rotterdam. After exit 16, head south onto the A16. From here, you can use exits 26 and 25 for Kralingen.
  • From The Hague and the north in general, use the A4 towards The Hague, then switch onto the A13 for Delft. In the not too distant future you will be able to transfer onto the A16 before reaching Rotterdam proper, but until then, use the A20 for northern districts and Gouda, then switch onto the A16 after exit 15. Again, coming from this direction, you can use exits 26 and 25 for Kralingen.

By public transit

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Metro lines A, B and C run through the middle of Kralingen. The majority of Kralingen can be reached by either switching onto lines 21 or 24 at 1 Oostplein  A  B  C  21  24 . Alternatively, line 7 connects to the area north of the metro line, as well as the Erasmus University. You can either take this line directly from Rotterdam Centraal or from 2 Voorschoterlaan  A  B  C  7 . If you do not want to bother with the switches from metro to tram though, all lines mentioned above connect from Rotterdam Centraal as well, but this method will be less quick than it would be when using the metro.

The part of the city better known as Noord, in the west of this district, is located directly north of the Central Station. Quite centrally within it is the 3 Blijdorp  E  metro stop. Tram  25  serves the eastern part of Noord.

The tramlines ( 4 ,  7 ,  8 ,  21 ,  24  and  25 ) running through the district all call at Rotterdam Centraal. Rotterdam Centraal sees international trains from Brussels, London and Paris as well as Schiphol Airport on a regular basis.

Map
Map of Rotterdam/Kralingen-Crooswijk

De Esch water tower by night.
  • Kralingen is perhaps most notable for the park carrying its name, the Kralingse Bos or Kralingse Hout. This park was created during the 1930s financial crisis after plans for the project had already been ongoing for two decades. The Second World War saw many of the purpose-bred oak trees cut during the Hongerwinter, and saw also the addition of the group of islands to the south of the park, which consist of rubble of the war-torn city. The park was eventually opened in 1953, and gained notability in the summer of 1970 after the Holland Pop Festival was held here, which was deemed the "European answer to Woodstock", featuring bands the likes of Pink Floyd, The Byrds, Santana and Focus, which more than 100.000 people came to see. The park nowadays counts roughly 200 hectares of land, and features sporting fields, a recreational beach, a golf course and fitness track.
    • 1 Botanische Tuin Kralingen (Botanical Garden Kralingen), Kralingse Plaslaan 110b (Take tram to 7 to the Jericholaan stop). May-Sep: Tu-F 09:00-16:00; Oct-Apr: Tu-F 09:00-16:00;. This small botanical garden is known for its medicinal plants. As it is being brought back to its old glory the visit is recommended if you were to walk by, or for garden buffs. Free entry. Botanical Garden Rotterdam Kralingen (Q2461130) on Wikidata (updated Oct 2021)
    • 2 Windmills De Ster and De Lelie, Plaszoom (Metro: Voorschoterlaan; from there it is a 10 minute walk (follow the Julianalaan until you reach Plaszoom). open every 2nd Sat of the month: 10:00-16:00; and whenever the mills are in use. These two windmills (Star and Lily) date from 1777 and 1829. They are very handsomely situated on the side of the Kralingse Plas lake. The mills do still do their original job which is grinding ingredients for spices and snuff tobacco. Adjacent is a small shop where these products are sold. 
    • 3 Watchtower, Langepad (near 51). Overlooks the vast Kralingse Plas with a view over the two monumental windmills on the opposite side of the lake. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 4 Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum (Arboretum Trompenburg), Honingerdijk 86 (beneden) (Tram 21 towards De Esch, Woudestein stop), ☏ +31 10 233 01 66, fax: +31 10 233 01 71, . M 12:00-17:00; Tu-F 09:00-17:00; Sa Su 10:00-17:00 (Nov-Mar 12:00-16:00). Arboretum Trompenburg, dating back to 1820, is a lovely park filled with well-designed walking paths. The seven hectare park houses a rich collection of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs. Adult €6.25; children under 12 free entry. Arboretum Trompenburg (Q1872824) on Wikidata Arboretum Trompenburg on Wikipedia (updated Oct 2021)
  • 5 SSN Museumstoomdepot, Rolf Hartkoornweg 50 (Take bus 38 to Nieuwe Crooswijkseweg from where it's a 5-minute walk). W 10:00-15:00, S 10:00-17:00. Old steam locomotives and trains can be admired at the 'Steam Depot Museum'. Besides a small museum it's very much a workshop too where you can see the actual work of restoration in progress. Check the website for rides, that actually use the normal railway lines. Stoom Stichting Nederland (Q2351733) on Wikidata Stoom Stichting Nederland on Wikipedia (updated Oct 2021)
  • 6 Watertoren De Esch (De Esch Water Tower), Watertorenweg 180 (Lage Filterweg  21  24 ). The oldest still-standing water tower of the Netherlands. The tower, completed in 1873, counts seven water reservoirs with a total capacity of 1,000 cubic metres (1,300 cu yd). At the foot of the water tower remain the offices and houses of the staff that once manned this tower. It lost its function as a water tower in 1978, being modified in 1986 to house office space. It also contains a space for cafés and restaurants. Water tower, Rotterdam-Kralingen (Q7476421) on Wikidata (updated Oct 2021)
  • 7 Diergaarde Blijdorp, Blijdorplaan 8 (Blijdorp  E ), ☏ +31 104 431 495. 9:00 - 18:00. Second oldest still operating zoo of the Netherlands, being opened in 1855 as a garden for pheasants and waterfowl, leaving first place for Artis in Amsterdam. This garden came into financial trouble in the 1920s as zoos evolved to display animals in more natural-looking habitats rather than simple cages. This new zoo was opened to the public in 1938, but Rotterdam's bombing two years later meant that this new zoo had to be rebuilt already. In the past few decades, Blijdorp has been expanded to feature wolves, Asiatic elephants, Indian rhinoceros, Malayan tapirs. A gorilla-exhibit followed in 1999 and the "Oceanium" followed the year after. Ever since, Blijdorp has slowly renewed and added onto existing exhibits, but is drastically limited in how much it can expand by its central location within Rotterdam. Diergaarde Blijdorp (Q18775796) on Wikidata Diergaarde Blijdorp on Wikipedia (updated Oct 2021)
  • 8 Rotterdams Radiomuseum, Ceintuurbaan 111 (Rotterdam (Station) Noord  SPR   4  8 ), ☏ +31 104 618 585, . Tu-Su: 13:00 - 16:00. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 9 Houweling Telecommuseum, Vlaggemanstraat 15 (In between Schieweg  25  and Walenburgerweg  25 ), ☏ +31 104 654 718, . Tu: 8:30 - 15:30. (updated Oct 2021)
  • 1 Stadion Woudestein (Van Donge & De Roo Stadion), Honingerdijk 110 (Rotterdam, Woudestein  21  24 ), ☏ +31 104 046 041, . Home of Rotterdam's third football club, Excelsior, which since the seventies has been playing in either the Eerste Divisie (first division) or Eredivisie. Van Donge & De Roo Stadion (Q2298643) on Wikidata Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Wikipedia (updated Sep 2021)
  • 2 Golfbaan Kralingen (Kralingen Golf Course), Kralingseweg 200 (Directly to the west from the A16 at exit 26.), ☏ +31 104 522 475, . Golfing classes are €30 per person per 25 minutes, with a minimum of 50 minutes. Prices are less steep if you bring at least one friend (€74 for two people, 50 minutes). Rental clubs can be borrowed with the caddiemaster free of charge, as are driving-range balls. The 18-hole course will set you back €38 (€22 for people up to 24). The 9-hole course is €28 / €16. (updated Oct 2021)
  • Most shopping facilities are found around the Oostplein (metro:  A   B   C ). From here, several streets radiate out along which you'll find anything from supermarkets to camera shops, garden centres, furniture stores, liquor stores and night shops:
    • To the east: Oostzeedijk (and to a lesser extent: Admiraliteitskade).
    • To the north east: Slaak
    • To the north west: Goudsesingel
    • To the south west: Groenendaal / Burgemeester van Walsumweg.
  • Another main shopping street of Kralingen is Oudedijk (tram:  7 ).
  • Along the length of the disused Hofpleinlijn railway, you will find many smaller shops, but in its vicinity there are also many larger stores such as supermarkets. Running parallel to this former railway is the Voorburgstraat / Vijverhofstraat.
  • In Blijdorp, the shops are more concentrated around intersections of roads, but also along the roads leading to them:
    • Walenburgweg × Statenweg
    • Stadhoudersweg × Stadhoudersplein
Both are at most a ten minutes' walk from Blijdorp  E .

Within Kralingen itself, restaurants and eateries are quite common, with this part of the district directly bordering some of the main sites of the city centre. You'll find most restaurants in the following places:

  • Oostzeedijk/Honingerdijk, along the quayside, located to the east of Oostplein  A  B  C , along the route of tramlines  21  and  24 .
  • Oudedijk, following mostly the route of tramline  7 .
  • Lusthofstraat, best reached by metro via the halts of Gerdesiaweg  A  B  C  to its west and Voorschoterlaan  A  B  C  to its north.
  • In the east of Kralingen (De Esch), most restaurants and eateries are concentrated within the University building itself (and thus mostly aimed at students), and directly south of Lage Filterweg  21  24 .

In Crooswijk, restaurants tend to be dotted about more, though there are some concentrations of restaurants around:

  • Zwaanshals/Noordplein, accessibly by tramlines  7  and  8 .
  • Below and around the former Hofpleinlijn railway, roughly following the Katshoek, Vijverhofstraat and Voorburgstraat. Nearby concentrations of restaurants are found
    • Along the Schiekade, slightly south of the Hofpleinlijn,
    • Along the Bergweg, which intersects the Hofpleinlijn,
    • And along the Bergselaan, which also intersects the Hofpleinlijn.

Finally, more restaurants are concentrated around the Blijdorp  E  25  metro station.

  • 1 Angelo Betti, Schiekade 6a, ☏ +31 10 465 81 74. 16:00-22:30. Italian kitchen and ice cream parlour. Whether you come for a dinner or a takeaway pizza, you always have to wait. But everything here is definitely worth the wait! And what is so bad about having to wait a while when you can sit in the sun with a glass of great Italian wine in front of the restaurant? The good ingredients and the classy Italian waiters make the picture complete. In one word: fantastic! €20-30. (updated Aug 2023)
  • 2 Lokanta Dunya, Proveniersstraat 40a, ☏ +31 10 243 06 69, fax: +31 10 243 09 31. Daily 12:00-23:00; Sa Su no lunch. The first floor is much like a Turkish market square. It is fully decorated and cozy, the fake balcony and window pane complete the market square. Through a small staircase you reach the 'living room'. Tip: Enjoy the fresh baked bread before you start your dinner. They have a wood stove that gives the food that extra authentic taste; some great wood-heated meals are stuffed zucchini and stuffed kofte. This place is comparable to the Wereld Eethuis Bazar in the Witte de Withstraat 16. However, if you are looking for more intimacy, good and honest food and superb service, this place is where you want to go! €20-30. (updated Aug 2023)

Drink

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Sleep

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Budget

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  • 1 Stadscamping Rotterdam, Kanaalweg 84 (Bus 33 (Airport) or 40 (Delft) from Rotterdam Centraal Station, metro stop Blijdorp or bus stop Blijdorpplein), ☏ +31 10 4159772, fax: +31 10 4373215, . Northwest of the centre. For camping near the city it's the only option. There are a lot of trees to give shelter from sun or wind. Basic facilities. Little chalets (2/4 persons) can be rented too. Tent €5, person €6. 
  • 2 Hostel De Mafkees, Vijverhofstraat 47, 3032 SB Rotterdam, ☏ +31 10 2409158, . Prices start at €12.50 for an overnight stay in a dormitory, breakfast included. (updated Jul 2019)

Mid-range and splurge

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Go next

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  • With Kralingen-Crooswijk more or less spanning around it, the city centre of Rotterdam is a no-brainer, regardless of what you're looking for. Rotterdam/Delfzijl somewhat acts like an extension of it.
  • Nearby places with young student populations are first and foremost Delft, and further into South Holland, Leiden.
Routes through Kralingen
END ←  N Rijksweg 16 S  → Dordrecht → Breda → Antwerp
Maasdijk ← Vlaardingen ←  W Rijksweg 20 E  → Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel → Gouda


This district travel guide to Kralingen-Crooswijk is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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