Rotterdam for vegan travellers

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I have the immense pleasure of bringing you this exclusive travel guide for Rotterdam.

Hilde Sanderman is unparalleled in crafting unique city guides and as a vegan, she makes sure all of her experiences get the most of of each destination for plant-eaters.

Hilde runs her own world-class travel advisory company called Trip Stylist. If you need assistance  crafting anything from a vegan-friendly city break all the way up to an all-inclusive luxury vacation, you will not find anyone more qualified than Hilde.

This  Rotterdam guide not only contains the top vegan spots for food, but also everything you need to know to enjoy a short stay in Rotterdam. Top museums and galleries? Check. Do you need to tip? Check. Vegan high tea location? CHECK!

You should bookmark the Trip Stylist website and check out the Rotterdam guide below to see just how thorough and wide-reaching Hilde is with her travel guides.

Definitely get in touch with Hilde if you need help planning an unmatched vegan holiday.

 

Rotterdam guide by Trip Stylist

FAST FACTS  

Population: 994.000, 174 different cultures & nationalities

Language: Dutch (English is widely spoken & understood)

Country: Netherlands

Vegan community: The estimated number of Vegans in the Netherlands is 50.000

(Source NVV, Dutch Association of Veganism)

Local Currency: Euro

 

ATTRACTIONS 

Cubical houses

The Cubical houses was a totally new concept of designing city houses. The tilted cubes were designed by Dutch architect Piet Blom and constructed in 1984. The Rotterdam group of houses is known as the Blaakse Bos (as it resembles a forest),

which borders on the Laurenskwartier district and the Waterfront area, where Markthal can be found as well.

These houses were built in Rotterdam and Helmond and outside the Netherlands in Toronto, Canada. You can visit the so-called Kijk Kubus. It’s a fully decorated museum house. 

Admission: Euro 2.50 (adult)

Opening hours: Daily 11:00-17:00hrs

Address: Overblaak 70 – 3011 MH Rotterdam

Directions: Just East of the Blaak tram/metro/train station

Phone: +31-10-4142285

Website: http://www.kubuswoning.nl/introkubuseng.html

 

Katendrecht & the Fenix Food Factory

 Once Rotterdam’s Chinatown, attracting homesick sailors and ladies of the night in equal measure, Katendrecht is now home to the hip and happening. Over the past few years, this peninsula has become one of the liveliest parts of town without losing its rougher edges. Young couples bought a fixer-upper in the neighborhood or opened a restaurant, shop or coffee bar. Cute little eateries, ice salons and bars are around every corner these days, making Katendrecht a dream destination for foodies.

One of the old Fenixloodsen quayside warehouse now accommodates the Fenix Food Factory, an indoor market for fresh foods where you can shop for authentic and traditional products: From bread straight out of the oven to homebrewed cider. The sidewalk café on the waterfront offers an enchanting view of the sunset over the Maas River, and the Kaapse Brouwers brew a fantastic array of beers. The food trucks that park there, a different one every week, serve fresh, tasty food for a very affordable price. The island’s pride and joy is the ss Rotterdam, a steam-powered cruise ship that sailed back and forth between Rotterdam and Manhattan in the 1960s and is now permanently moored at the tip of the Katendrecht peninsula. Take a tour through the ship’s gangways and halls, and finish with a drink on the promenade deck, complete with swimming pool.

The Fenix Food Factory is a food hub by seven Rotterdam food entrepreneurs. In the Fenixloods, a former warehouse, a fresh food market sells local products from the Kaapse Brouwers brewery, Jordy’s Bakery, CiderCider, Stielman coffee roasters and Rechtstreex, a local farmer.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Wednesday till Sunday. Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs.

There are benches on the adjacent quay that offer the best views of
the Rotterdam skyline.

Address: Veerlaan 19 – 3072 AN Rotterdam

Website: https://en.rotterdam.info/locations/fenix-food-factory/

 

GALLERIES

 Witte de With Kwartier – the art district

The Witte de Withkwartier is the vibrant heart of the Rotterdam art scene and is known for its dynamic nightlife. Sometimes referred to as Rotterdam’s ‘Axis of Art’, the Witte de Withstraat runs from Museumpark to the Maritime Museum and is lined in various cultural institutions. Browse the art on display at TENT or Witte de With.

While galleries, cultural institutes and fashion boutiques are open all day, the focus shifts to cafés and restaurants in the evening. Grand café NRC (which stands for Nieuw Rotterdams Café) is a great place to people watch. The most famous pub in the street is De Witte Aap, an institution in the city’s nightlife for ages; Lonely Planet even nominated it as the best bar in the world! More recent arrivals to the bar scene, like Ballroom and La Bru, are popular with the young and trendy crowd. The gin and tonics sell like hotcakes across the meticulously hip designer counters. Hoping to rub shoulders with local artists and authors? Head over to De Schouw, a classic café that’s quickly packed on good nights.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Daily bars and café’s open at 15:00hrs and are open until 04:00hrs

Address: Bar De Witte Aap | Witte de Withstraat 78 – 3012 BS Rotterdam

Phone: +31 (0) 10 414 9565

Website: http://dewitteaap.nl/

 

Witte de With Center of Contemporary Art & TENT

The Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art is an international art institute with Rotterdam as its home base. Established in 1990, the Center is the place to be for everyone who is interested in developments in the world of international contemporary art. It is one of the most important institutes for contemporary art in the Netherlands and is internationally regarded as a pioneer in this field. A progressive platform with room for both up-and-coming and established artists and curators. The exhibition area is situated in a historic former school building on the Witte de Withstraat, Rotterdam’s ‘street of culture’. It shares its building with TENT.

Admission: Euro 6,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 18:00hrs

Address: Witte de Withstraat 50 – 3012 BR Rotterdam

Phone: +31 (0) 10 411 0144

 

MUSEUMS

Museum Rotterdam – Exhibition at the Timmerhuis | The New City

“De Nieuwe Stad”, an exhibition in the new Museum Rotterdam in the Timmerhuis, is fittingly showcased in the space between the steel and glass of Koolhaas’s new icon and the concrete and brick of the old Reconstruction headquarters. The exhibition depicts Rotterdam’s characteristic faith in the future and is one of the ways in which Rotterdam celebrates the City! The story of Rotterdam is told through items from the collection of the museum combined with the experiences of Rotterdam people past and present. The multifunctional Timmerhuis is no traditional museum building by any means, but this suits the subject matter of the museum perfectly.

Admission: Euro 7,50 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Exhibition is at The Timmerhuis at Meent 119, 3011 JH Rotterdam

Website: https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/

 

Kunsthal Rotterdam

Kunsthal Rotterdam is housed in a striking building designed by Rotterdam s OMA/Rem Koolhaas architectural practice and was opened in 1992. Since then, the Kunsthal has put culture in the widest sense of the word on show, from elitist to popular. There are always a number of exhibitions to see, both large and small-scale, from old masters to contemporary art, from innovative design to engaging photography.

Admission: Euro 12,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Westzeedijk 341 – 3015 AA Rotterdam

Website: http://www.kunsthal.nl/en/

 

Boijmans Van Beuningen

Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums in the Netherlands. Its collection is built on the legacy of jurist Frans Jacob Otto Boijmans, who left his personal collection to the city of Rotterdam in 1849. In 1958, the name of benefactor Daniël George van Beuningen was added to the museum after the acquisition of his collection. The current museum building opened in 1935; it is a historic building designed especially for the collection by city architect Adrian van der Steur. The stately presence in red brick houses intimate galleries and amply sized salons in which the art can be viewed in natural light. The collection includes paintings, sculptures and objects, as well as an important collection of drawings and etchings. It features many major Dutch and European works spanning the period from the early middle ages to the 21st century, from Van Bosch to Rembrandt, and from Van Gogh to Dalí and Dutch Design.

Admission: Euro 15,00 (adult)

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 17:00hrs

Address: Museumpark 18 – 3015 CX Rotterdam

Website: http://www.boijmans.nl/en/

 

SHOPPING

Laurenskwartier

The small river called ‘the Rotte’, that once ran through the area, was dammed around 1270 and became the center of a small fishing village. Trade and shipping flourished, leading to the rapid growth of ‘Rotterdam’. The only remnant that still recalls that medieval village is the Late Gothic Laurenskerk. A striking feature beside the new architecture that has been added to Rotterdam since then. It offers a striking contrast with the covered Markthal, the latest and most visually prominent architectural icon in the area. Housed under a single horseshoe-shaped roof, 150 market stands, 15 shops, 8 restaurants and 228 apartments have been brought together by MVRDV architects. An outdoor market is also held here on Tuesdays and Saturdays. People come from all over to buy fresh produce here.

Meent Boulevard

In recent years, De Meent has blossomed into the most glamorous street in the city. A better class of fashion and shoe stores is supplemented by a number of good restaurants, lunchrooms, bars and cocktail lounges. From big fashion brands to small design boutiques, varying from Scotch&Soda, to Zola and American Vintage, head to the Meent boulevard and explore nearby Pannenkoekstraat and Botersloot, a unique area overflowing with small fashion boutiques, second-hand clothing shops, bookstores, design shops, cafés and restaurants.

If you love furniture, vintage home accessories and handcrafted design, you should definitely reserve the afternoon to explore the Oude Noorden area. Originally a working-class neighborhood, it has blossomed into a veritable Valhalla of design in recent years. In the shops in these small, historic buildings, designers sell their own work as well as pieces by other designers.

Admission: Free

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs (some stores will close earlier on New Year’s Eve).

Address: Meent 45 – 3011 JA Rotterdam

 

Food & Delicacies

The Sue Store – Sweet vegan Delight

Want to indulge your sweet tooth responsibly? Then come to SUE! Although Kim Sue Palm’s tasty treats are a taste sensation, they’re also really healthy. Everything is sugar free, gluten free, lactose free, raw and vegan. SUE makes extensive use of nuts, nut milk, coconut and other natural ingredients. So whatever you order – chocolate and date truffles, snickers, bounty or cheesecake – you don’t have to feel guilty. On the menu are buckwheat waffles, banana bread, granola, smoothies and many more tasty things. Having trouble choosing? Then go for the SUE tasting menu, which includes nine different bites.

Opening hours: Saturday 10:00 – 18:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve).

Address: Karel Doormanstraat 372 – 3012 GR Rotterdam


Bertmans

One of Rotterdam’s newest and hippest hotspots is Bertmans, a breakfast and lunch bar serving organic, gluten-free and vegan dishes. Come in and try the Chia seed pudding for breakfast, or perhaps the Okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake, for lunch. On the outdoor seating overlooking Rotte, you can enjoy cold-pressed juices and smoothies, a nice glass of wine or a selection from the cocktail menu.

Opening hours: Saturday 09:30 – 18:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve)
Address: Zaagmolenkade 15- 3035 KA Rotterdam

The Tea Lab

Coffee, tea & Cake and pastries. The high tea at the Tea Lab is also available in gluten free and vegan varieties.

Opening hours: Saturday 09:00 – 19:00hrs (Times may vary on New Year’s Eve).
Address: 2e Westewagenhof 80 – 3011 AT Rotterdam

Website: https://thetealab.nl/

 

Heavenly cupcakes

Patisserie with gluten free options, all vegan since 2015. Offers a delicious Dutch weed burger for lunch. Also sells delicious vegan ice cream and vegan cheese along with red velvet cupcakes and many other varieties.

Opening hours: Saturday 11:00 – 18:00hrs

Address: Nieuwe Binnenweg 244, 3021 GP Rotterdam

Website: https://www.heavenlycupcakesrotterdam.nl/

 

TIPPING

Tipping is at your discretion. In restaurants a tip of around 10% is customary. For other services like a taxi ride, or a guided service it is considered polite to round up the fare or give a few Euros to the guide and driver.

 

GETTING AROUND

Rotterdam is a compact city and a walking is often the best way to get around the city, but if you travel further, Rotterdam offers an excellent public transport service. The Rotterdam Tram service is very useful for short distances and takes you to locations which are not covered by metro. Please note that you must have a special Travel Chipcard in Rotterdam to pay for public transport. As a visitor you can purchase a Welcome Rotterdam Card for Euro 11,00. The Rotterdam Welcome Card includes a coupon booklet with discount on Rotterdam attractions and free public transport in Rotterdam. The coupons offer you a minimum of 25% cash discount on the admission to many attractions, a couple of museums, restaurants and bars in Rotterdam. At some attractions you even get as much as 50% discount!

Place your OV-chipkaart against the card reader on bus or tram. The card reader will give a confirmation signal. At the end of your journey you check out the same way. The applicable balance will be deducted from your card automatically.

Public Transportation info: http://9292.nl/en

Rotterdam Welcome Card: http://www.rotterdamwelcomecard.com/en

Watertaxi

With around 50 landing stages in Rotterdam and the surrounding area, Watertaxi Rotterdam offers you comfortable and reliable transport on the water. Faster than by road, Watertaxi Rotterdam is a good alternative for anyone wanting to cut down on travelling time. Not to mention the fact that a ride in a water taxi is a wonderful experience if you want to see Rotterdam from the river.

You can take a water taxi from any of the 50 or so landing stages in and around Rotterdam.

Call +31 (0) 10 4030303, tell them your location and where you want to go. They will let you know immediately how soon we can pick you up. Fares vary depending on the zone you are travelling to. In the city center the rate varies from Euro 4,50 (zone 1) and Euro 7,00 (Zone 2) and Euro 10,00 (Zone 3). You can book journeys in advance using the online booking system on this website or by calling Watertaxi. The fleet consists of ten fast water taxis: five boats with a capacity of 8 passengers and five boats with a capacity of 12.

Online bookings: http://www.watertaxirotterdam.nl/reserveren/#!reserveringsaanvraag_watertaxi

Rotterdam Taxi Service

Contact: +31 (0) 10 229 3508

Uber Chauffeur service

The Uber chauffeur service is also available in Rotterdam, you can use the service via the UberApp which you can download on your smart phone.

 

New vegan ice cream

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Fry’s Family Foods have been at the forefront of vegan chilled and frozen grocery items in the UK for years.

The brand has a loyal following of consumers (me included) who adore their meat alternatives.

Those fans have suddenly got a whole lot more to celebrate as Fry’s Family Foods have now released their very own vegan ice cream range into the UK.

Yep. Another vegan ice cream brand!

As you can see, there are five flavours to get involved with and they are all currently exclusively available via Ocado. I’ve been assured that it won’t be long until they are also stocked by Holland & Barrett.

The coconut based ice creams are available in Salted Caramel, Vanilla Bean Espresso, Madagascan Vanilla Bean, Toasted Coconut and Tons of Cookies varieties.

How excited are you to have another vegan ice cream option in the UK? Have you tried these tubs by Fry’s? How were they?

You can visit Fry’s online on Facebook.

Vegan mac n cheese

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In their quest to seemingly become the mainstream supermarket with the most vegan-friendly products in the UK, Sainsbury’s has started selling this ready-made meal.

Check it out.

Yes. Ready-made macaroni and cheese done vegan!

I’ll definitely be giving this a try when I get back to the UK. If you have tasted it, what did you think?

Extra note: these photos were taken by my buddy, Roger. Please take a moment to discover Roger’s website from which he takes orders for awesome pins and badges.

Vegan work

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Super quick post for people looking for a vegan job.


Yes. The details are above but if you can’t access the image, Bex wants you to phone her on 07515 176 341 if you are looking for part time employment in Glasgow.

That is all.

Until next time. xx

Vegan in Aberdeen

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Two things I would like you to consider.

  1. £1 or £2 is not a lot of money. You can spare a few quid right this very moment, most likely.
  2. We have the collective power to help bring independent, community-focussed vegan businesses to life if we work together.

OK.

I would like to ask a favour of each and every person who reads this post. Please click here right now to donate whatever you can to the Bonobo Kickstarter campaign. The team behind Bonobo are opening the ONLY vegan cafe in Aberdeen, Scotland. It’s a big deal.

Bonobo has been running as a series of pop up events for one year, but now the founding group has decided to transform their business into a cooperatively owned and operated vegan cafe that will also function as a community hub for gigs, meetings and events.

To help with first month rental, kitchen equipment and other associated costs, Bonobo needs to raise £12,000.

They have already raised just over £3,500.

It is crucial that we put our money where our mouths are and support endeavours like Bonobo. This cafe is allowing six people to be employed in vegan work within their community, on their own terms and with so much scope to benefit local people.

Throw some money in the pot. Can you spare £1. Most people I know can afford £1. If you have more money at your disposal, put £5 or £10 forward to help strengthen opportunities for vegans in Aberdeen.

C’mon. Let’s get them financed and fighting fit. Donate now and spread this link.

You can also follow Bonobo on Facebook.

Goat Cafe

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I got a message from my friend Anna this morning saying, “Sue, have you seen the Goat Café drama?” to which I responded, “No, Sue. What going on?”.

Firstly, we call each other Sue. It’s an Abigail’s Party thing.

If you are not aware, Goat Café is possibly the only fully vegan eatery in the northern town of Huddersfield.

But the drama?

In a bizarre Facebook exchange with a handful of customers, the person in charge of their social media abused and berated some customers.

By abused, I mean:

  • asking how soon someone will die
  • calling names such as ‘fucking control freak’
  • responding to criticism with ‘fuck you and fuck your plans’

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. Reports are online of the Goat Café social media person also taking the argument and name-calling onto personal Facebook pages of customers including one instance of them using the term ‘fucking cocks’ to describe people voicing their concerns.

The backlash from the local and online vegan community has been swift and brutal.

The café has seen it’s star approval rating on Facebook plummet with more than 300 one star reviews being posted since the conflict commenced.

I don’t completely understand what started the tirade of abuse, but a lot of the conflict seems to surround a post by the Goat Café in which they expressed their plans to stop accepting credit cards and social media in their business.

This somehow turned into a particularly nasty exchange with a customer who had previously complained about a meal that wasn’t to her liking. You can see references to all of this on the Goat Facebook page (it might take a bit of sifting through as I believe the café has started deleting its older posts related to the situation).

The Goat Café serves an incredibly valuable purpose for Huddersfield and the surrounding area. I hear of vegans travelling from nearby towns once a week as it is the only place where they can be assured a 100% vegan menu.

My two visits to the café have been welcoming with solid food choices.

Whatever is happening to their team internally to result in this situation, I genuinely hope they sort it out not only for their own sake but for the valuable contribution their café and food make to the community.

Also, I don’t like seeing people attacked verbally. It’s not OK and rightfully people won’t stand for it. I have concerns for the owners who have always presented as kind and approachable. This behaviour appears completely out of character. I have concerns for the workers at the café and their job security.

Abusing people and name-calling on the Internet doesn’t fly in this day and age, least of all when the abuse is directed at your customers. People will shut your business down or at least work extremely hard to make it happen.

Hoping for the best but fearing the worst for Goat Café. Another drink, Sue?

Waffle sandwich delight

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Boring sandwiches are redundant.

Waffle sandwiches are the future!

My buddy Ricardo and I visited one of the best vegan eateries in Mexico City earlier today, Vegamo. This place is packed solid with delicious dishes and cool drinks. I just can’t get enough of it and the owner are the friendliest people you could hope to meet.

Today I decided to not do my usual trick of playing it safe. I have a habit of always getting the same thing, but I pushed myself to take a leap.

And I am beyond glad I did. Please pay due respect to these AMAZING waffle sandwiches that Ricardo and I scoffed down.

Amazing #vegan waffle sandwich at @vegamomx in Mexico City. Superb! #cdmx

A photo posted by Fat Gay Vegan (@fatgayvegan) on


Yep. They tasted as fab as they look.

I know most of my readers aren’t heading to Mexico City anytime soon, but I wanted to share in the hope of spreading waffle sandwich hysteria far and wide. I wanna see homemade waffle sandwiches flooding social media.

Extra note: my sandwich was called Yoda and the waffle dough was coloured/flavoured with spinach. Divine. Ricardo went for the Chewbacca.

Extra extra note: Ricardo is the extremely talented designer of the Vegan Beer Fest UK posters/logos for last year and he is set to once again design them all in 2017. Yay for talent!

Exclusive vegan Valentine dinner

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One of the best decisions I made before leaving London for this latest six month stay in Mexico was to visit Paradise Unbakery in Kensal Rise.

The café was beautifully decorated and the food was superb. You can see my original blog post here.

Enough reminiscing. On with the future and the future at Paradise Unbakery is all about Valentine’s Day.

You really should book tickets for this exclusive event taking place on February 14, 2017.

The exclusive set menu reads like a dream:

  • Strawberry Kombucha Mocktail
  • Mermaid Platter: Raw Gnocchi OR Cooked Polenta, both with Loch carrot, “caviar” and “scallops”
  • Burger: Raw burger in a raw turmeric bun OR BBQ jackfruit burger in a focaccia bun. Both with veggies, cashew cheese, side salad and roast sweet potato or raw crisps
  • Raw Dessert for Two: a plate of two raw heart cakes and raw chocolate to share

As you can see, you can choose from raw or cooked options for some of the courses. Once you book your tickets, the café will get in touch to ask for your preference.

Tickets are priced at £32 each (plus booking fee). Additional drinks will be available to buy on the night plus you are permitted to bring your own beer or wine. Paradise Unbakery will supply the glasses!

This dinner sounds divine and I’m so happy to see a stunning vegan event like this happening in a part of London that doesn’t normally get a lot of plant-based heat.

Click here to book your spots for this special vegan Valentine event.

You can also let friends/lovers know you are going on the Facebook event page.

Vegan eggs

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Here is the shortest blog post I have ever done.

Vegan Easter eggs. Flavours? Orange, original and bunnycomb. Chocolate buttons included.

In a lot of UK stores and supermarkets from now.

Visit Moo Free Chocolate online.

Vegan Vietnamese food in London

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How about this tasty news?!

Liz and Joe are a couple with big plans for their brand new vegan food stand being launched at The Boiler House in Brick Lane on February 25, 2017.

What’s so special about ANOTHER vegan food stall in that part of London? Take a deep breath as I tell you Eat Chay is a 100% plant-based Vietnamese food stall!

Before I show you some mouthwatering food photos, take a look at how the Eat Chay menu is going to work.

That all sounds RIDICULOUSLY fabulous.

Now for the photos. Vietnamese coffee and tea. Korean meat-free ribs. Start planning your first meal with Eat Chay now.

Be sure to follow Eat Chay on Twitter and Instagram. Plus, get all their details online.

Get down for the grand opening on February 25 and then visit Eat Chay each and every weekend following that at The Boiler House.

Extra note: neither Liz or Joe are vegan but have decided to invest all of their efforts into a 100% vegan food business. Interesting.