Delfshaven, Rotterdam

Delfshaven is like a step backward in time, yet it's part of a modern city. See my Rotterdam introduction and my Pieter Jan and Family travelogue for more details.

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To the West of the citycentre of Rotterdam you will find the suburb Delfshaven. It's located very close to the Euromast and is at walkable distance from there.

Delfshaven is a different story from the rest of Rotterdam, mainly caused by the big German bombing of the city in 1940. Where the complete centre was faded away by these bombs, Delfshaven wasn't affected. This makes it one of the only really old parts of the city.

The area was built in 1389, when a canal was dug to connect the city of Delft with the Meuse River. At the end of this canal a small village soon appeared, called Delfshaven meaning "Harbour of Delft".

The village originally was mainly dependent on fishing and whale hunting. Later, when it grew bigger and bigger, more industry and trading activities were started here.

After the Second World War, the area was completely renovated and the old mill "De Distileerketel" was rebuilt as it was one of the only building that was destroyed during the war. Delfshaven became a national monument and still is a unique and peaceful place in the hectic and modern city of Rotterdam.

The Dubbelde Palmboom is a museum in Delfshaven with en exhibition about the importance of sea trade for the city of Rotterdam. It has a large part about VOC porcellain as well as a nicecorner about the famous privateer Piet Hein. The name "palmboom" was the nickname of one of the two warehouses which now form the museum building. After it got a twin sister, the buildings were called de "Dubbelde Palmboom".

If you buy a ticket for this museum, you can use it afterwards also at the historic museum "Het Schielandhuis" in the city center.

This small port was once the port of the city of Delft and has a historical background. It was the beginning point of a large trip for some of the american pilgrim fathers from the "Mayflower". The mill is still in use! Most of the buildings around the harbour are used as living houses and some have a small restaurant or bar. Don't miss the museum "De dubbelde palmboom"

A little away from the citycentre is an old harbour called "Delfshaven". Kick-off point for the Pilgrim Fathers' foray to the Americas in 1620, this solitary tree-lined canal has exclusive shops and restaurants,

It is strange when you get there by subway. I walked up from the subway and was a little surprized to get into a street with all these eating places, turkish, surinamese, and some pubs. I was wondering where the "beautiful" part was that I had heard of.

I finally found it around the corner, somehow it felt totaly different around that corner, old dutch houses, well preserved, and more expensive dutch restaurants. It was indeed a gorgeous part of the city, and since it is so easy to get here by subway, you should see this part when you are in Rotterdam.

The whole city of Rotterdam is very modern, a lot of concrete, sometimes boring sometimes spectacular architecture.

EXCEPT: the suburb of Delfshaven.
Here you find old buildings, streets with canals, windmills - finally the feeling of really being in the Netherlands.

Delfshaven is a little piece off Rotterdam with old buildings, and you can have a nice little walk there.
Just be carefull, as it used to be a bit dodgy there, things have improved, but night time isn't the best time if you don't know the area.

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Enjoyed two afternoon visits to this lovely and seemingly unspoilt part of town. Not a huge area but good to explore and there are some great cafes to pass the time in!