At the end of March, I decided to take a short trip to Rotterdam. I boarded a train from Antwerp, eager to spend a night and a full 24 hours exploring the city through my camera. Street photography was my main focus during this quick getaway.
I had booked my transport and hotel months in advance. In 2024, I’m aiming to take more time for myself, and what better way to do that than by indulging in street photography during these little trips?
Planning the Trip with Google Maps
With my hotel and train tickets in place, the next task was deciding what to do in Rotterdam. I’ve always been a fan of saving cool spots I find on Instagram, whether they’re photos or videos. By the time I left, I had a comprehensive list of places to check out, organized on Google Maps.
Using Google Maps in this way gives me the freedom to explore spontaneously while still being able to track nearby locations that might interest me.
Day 1: Exploring Rotterdam
I started my first day by catching the morning train from Antwerp. On the way, I grabbed a coffee and a cinnamon roll, and enjoyed reading The Martian. Our train had some delays in Breda, so we switched trains, making it to Rotterdam about half an hour later than expected, but still feeling energized and ready to explore.
Provenierstunnel
My first stop was the Provenierstunnel, located next to Rotterdam Central Station. I had seen this tunnel featured in a vlog by Octavian Carare. While the tunnel offered some great photo ops, it quickly became a bit repetitive. Nonetheless, it was a perfect location to warm up and get into the groove.
From there, I walked along Westersingle, taking a few turns, until I ended up at the striking Erasmusbrug.
Erasmusbrug
The Erasmus Bridge, with its bold architecture, is a prime photography spot. Having visited Rotterdam before, I was familiar with it but intentionally avoided researching new angles to avoid overthinking the shot. The sky was cloudy, lending the scene a moody, almost black-and-white quality. Despite this, I sought out pops of color, which I mainly found in the uniforms of delivery drivers.
Kop van Zuid
Crossing the Erasmusbrug, I wandered around the Kop van Zuid area, a trendy neighborhood, before stopping for lunch at Kopi Soesoe. It was a great place to try a Dutch ‘tosti’ (grilled cheese sandwich) with a fun twist of kimchi and spinach—delicious!
After lunch, I walked over to Buizenpark, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations, perhaps due to the time of year.
Dutch Photography Museum
Next, I visited the Dutch Photography Museum at Kop van Zuid. It had some exceptional exhibits, including one focused on the photojournalism of Dutch photographer Ad Van Denderen, particularly his work in South Africa and Gaza. I also picked up two large photography books from the museum shop, which was a bit of a challenge to carry, but I was looking forward to exploring them later.
After checking into my hotel at around 2:30 PM, I took a brief rest. I edited some photos, recharged my camera batteries, and relaxed a bit before heading back out.
Markthal and Cube Houses
A couple of hours later, I ventured out again, heading to the shopping district. I made a quick stop at Donner Bookstore (I have a bit of a problem with buying books) and then went to the Markthal. I walked around to scout it as a potential dinner spot later, then made my way to the Cube Houses. I didn’t find them particularly inspiring for photography, but I did enjoy the surrounding area, particularly Blaak Square.
The low-angle sunlight made shooting a bit challenging, but I did manage to capture a few shots I liked. After grabbing a quick snack—broodje kibbeling (fried fish sandwich)—I headed back toward Erasmusbrug, a spot I kept coming back to throughout the day.
By the time it was late, I decided to call it a day, heading back to the hotel to rest and review my photos.
Day 2: More Exploration in Rotterdam
I woke up early on the second day—too early, around 6:00 AM. Between the hotel’s noise and the unfamiliar bed, I couldn’t quite get back to sleep. Groggy but determined, I went out for coffee and breakfast at Heilige Boontjes, a cozy café just across the street.
The day was cloudy, but I spent a few hours walking around, starting with the Museum Park and the impressive Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen. Though the building reminded me of a mirrored plant pot, it was still an architectural marvel.
From there, I explored Het Park and the Schoonoord Botanical Garden before making my way to the Maastunnel. While the tunnel’s construction photos on the stairs were interesting, the bottom didn’t offer much to photograph.
I then took a detour through Delfshaven, one of Rotterdam’s historic districts, before heading back toward the city center and stopping by the Luchtsingel, a colorful pedestrian bridge.
By this point, I didn’t do much more photography, as the older parts of the city and the overcast weather weren’t ideal. I also had a heavy backpack, which slowed me down. Deciding it was time to wrap up, I made my way to Rotterdam Central Station and caught the train home, already planning my next visit.
Key Takeaways from the Trip
As I walked through Rotterdam, I gained some valuable lessons about both photography and travel. One major takeaway was to avoid buying heavy books at the start of a trip—having a second backpack for purchases would’ve been handy.
In terms of photography, I learned the importance of using smaller apertures, like f8. While I often rely on wide apertures for a soft background, sometimes a sharp background can be just as powerful, especially with telephoto lenses.
Finally, I appreciated the benefits of prime lenses for their sharpness and wide apertures, but I also recognized that a zoom lens could have helped me capture more diverse shots throughout the city.
