After our London layover, the next stop on Our European Summer Adventure was Rotterdam. We spent four days in the city. Most of our time centered around the three-day North Sea Jazz Festival. That left us about a day and a half to explore Rotterdam. We made the most of the time we had.

Water has always shaped Rotterdam’s history. Around 1250, people built a dam along the Rotte River. Its location made it a convenient place to transfer goods between ships. That helped begin the story of the Port of Rotterdam.

Today, it is the largest port in Europe and handles many types of cargo. These include containers, cars, steel, wood products, dry goods, and liquid goods. Rotterdam is also a popular cruise destination, with ships arriving from around the world.

You can feel the city’s connection to the port almost everywhere you go. Ships move through the harbor, and water taxis travel along the river. Rotterdam’s modern skyline rises around the water. The Erasmus Bridge is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. This beautifully designed bridge crosses the Nieuwe Maas River. It connects the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam.

We stayed at the Haven Hotel Rotterdam in a central location near the harbor. Our room had a beautiful view of the port and skyline. We could walk to many places in the city from the hotel. The metro station was right across the street. That made getting to and from the North Sea Jazz Festival very easy.

The location worked perfectly for our visit. We could explore during the day and return to the hotel without traveling far. One of our favorite things about the hotel was the view. In the evening, the buildings lit up and their lights reflected across the harbor. We sat outside in the hotel’s dining area and simply enjoyed the view. It was a beautiful way to end the day.

We wanted to learn more about Rotterdam’s famous port. We took a harbor cruise and learned about the city’s maritime history. During the cruise, we saw ships, docks, warehouses, and different parts of the port. We also learned how much the port has shaped Rotterdam’s growth.

It was interesting to watch the ships and see how much activity takes place along the harbor. The cruise gave us a different view of the city. It also helped us understand just how large the port really is. Rotterdam may be a modern city, but its port remains at the heart of its identity.

One place we knew we wanted to visit was the Markthal. From the moment we walked inside, it was a feast for the eyes. The enormous artwork covering the ceiling immediately caught our attention. It features oversized fruits, vegetables, flowers, insects, and other colorful images.

Once we stopped looking up, there was even more to explore below. The Markthal has food stands, restaurants, bars, specialty shops, and fresh products. So many sights, smells, and flavors competed for our attention. We walked through the market and took everything in. We saw fresh produce, cheese, desserts, and food from around the world.

The Markthal was more than a place to grab something to eat. It was an experience. It became one of the most memorable places we visited during our short time in Rotterdam.

We also visited Foodhallen Rotterdam, which had a completely different atmosphere from the Markthal. The Markthal felt large, bright, and visually dramatic. Foodhallen had more of a relaxed, industrial feel.

Foodhallen offered a nice selection of food from different vendors. It also had two large bars serving cocktails and other drinks. We enjoyed walking around, looking at the choices, and deciding what we wanted to try. It was casual, lively, and a nice place to relax with food and drinks.

The Markthal and Foodhallen are both food halls, but they offer very different experiences. We were glad we had the opportunity to visit both.

The North Sea Jazz Festival was so much more than we expected. From the moment we entered Rotterdam Ahoy, the organization impressed us. The festival spread performances across 17 indoor and outdoor stages. About 150 artists appeared over three days. With so many performances happening at different times, there was no way to see everyone.

You had to study the schedule and choose the artists you wanted to see. Then you made your way to the correct stage before each performance began. The list of performers was incredible. It included The Roots, Jon Batiste, Snarky Puppy, John Legend, Diana Krall, and The Isley Brothers. Charlie Puth, Marcus Miller, Estrella Morente, Esperanza Spalding, Questlove, and De La Soul also performed.

We enjoyed every act we saw, but two performances stood out for us.

This was our first time seeing Jon Batiste live, and he was amazing. His energy was electrifying, and you could feel it throughout the audience. He moved from one instrument to another while performing. His fingers seemed to glide across the piano keys. He also played the melodica, an instrument that was new to me. His performance was one of our favorites from the entire weekend.

Another favorite was Snarky Puppy. With a name like Snarky Puppy, we had no idea what to expect. They performed with the Metropole Orchestra, and they completely blew us away.

By the end of the performance, they had two new fans.

One of the best parts of the festival was discovering artists we had not heard before. We went to see performers we already knew and loved. Along the way, we also discovered new music. That made the experience even more special and deepened our love of music.

We were fortunate to attend during the festival’s 50th-anniversary celebration. North Sea Jazz first opened in The Hague in 1976. It started with six venues, around 300 musicians, and approximately 9,000 visitors. Today, the international festival welcomes around 90,000 visitors each year.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands officially opened the anniversary festival on Friday, July 10, 2026. She also toured the festival grounds and attended some of the first performances.

The number of people attending may sound overwhelming. However, this was one of the most organized events we have ever experienced. The signs made it easy to find the different stages. The festival schedule also helped us plan our days. Even with thousands of people moving through the venue, everything ran smoothly.

The food options were amazing. There was Caribbean, Indian, Asian, barbecue, soul food, hamburgers, fries, and so much more. We had plenty of choices and never felt limited when deciding what to eat.

The bathrooms were clean and plentiful, and the waiting times were short. We also did not see trash lying around anywhere. The entire venue looked spotless, especially considering the number of people attending.

The festival also placed a strong focus on recycling and reducing waste. Each day, we received a token when we entered. We handed in the token when we purchased our first drink. In return, we received our drink in a reusable cup. For the next purchase, we returned the empty cup and received a clean one.

When we finished ordering drinks, we could exchange the cup for another token. The system helped keep cups off the floor and supported recycling.

The festival’s accessibility also impressed us. We saw wide paths, elevators, ramps, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and designated viewing platforms. Some of the larger concert halls had raised viewing areas with ramps. These areas gave wheelchair users a better view of the performances.

The festival states that wheelchair users can reach every hall. Viewing areas and seating are generally first come, first served.

If you are traveling from the United States, start planning early. Raun and I booked the Haven Hotel Rotterdam in September 2025. The festival took place in July 2026.

Booking early helped us get a centrally located hotel. We also had a metro station directly across the street. That made traveling to Rotterdam Ahoy easy each day.

Sign up for the festival newsletter and follow its official social media pages. That will help you know when tickets go on sale. You can buy single-day passes or three-day passes. Some special concerts may require an additional ticket.

Purchase tickets through the official North Sea Jazz website or Ticketmaster Netherlands. The festival uses mobile tickets. International travelers can pay with an accepted credit card. Avoid unfamiliar resale websites. The festival recommends using its official Ticketmaster resale system.

Before leaving the United States, download the Ticketmaster app and make sure you can access your account. Save your login information too. I also recommend downloading the North Sea Jazz app. Review the performance schedule before each festival day.

Choose your must-see artists first, but leave room to explore. Some of our favorite moments came from performers we had not planned to see.

Wear comfortable shoes because you will do a lot of walking and standing. Arrive early for popular performances because seating and space can fill quickly. Most importantly, do not expect to see everyone. Choose the performances that matter most to you. Then enjoy the experience without rushing from one stage to another.

The North Sea Jazz Festival was an unforgettable experience for Raun and me. The music, organization, food, accessibility, and cleanliness all exceeded our expectations. We arrived excited to see artists we already knew. We left with new favorites and an even greater appreciation for live music.

If you ever have the opportunity to attend, do not hesitate. Go. You will have an amazing time.

After four days in Rotterdam, it was time to continue Our European Summer Adventure. We gathered our luggage and headed to the train station. Then we made our way to Amsterdam for the next five days of our journey.