One of the ways to visit Rotterdam from abroad is by plane. Of course you land at Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The medium-sized airport from 1956 serves annually a small 2 million passengers to and from destinations all over the world, but especially within Europe.
Before World War II, Rotterdam already had an airport in Charlois, Waalhaven Airport, which opened in 1920. It was a hotspot, and was an important hub for air traffic to and from Paris and London. In 1940 the airport was destroyed by the Germans. After the war, the government thought it was high time for a second airport next to Schiphol, and soon the construction of the new airport in the polder of Zestienhoven started.
All very well, such an airport, but chances are you actually had to go somewhere. What to do? You can of course take a taxi or rent a car, but it is also fine by public transport: bus 33 runs every 10 to 15 minutes to and from Central Station. A ride takes approximately 20 minutes. You can also take bus 33 in the other direction to metro station Meijersplein. From there you can be in the city center of Rotterdam or The Hague in no time.
If you have a bicycle, the Airport is also easy to reach in the Dutch way. There is a bicycle shed on the square in front of the Bel Air building where you can leave your bicycle with peace of mind.
The airport has only been named since 2010? For more than half a century, the airport was named Zestienhoven, after the polder where the airport was built. Only a few years ago the name was changed to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. This has been decided because of the ever closer cooperation between Rotterdam and The Hague in a so-called 'metropolitan region'. Since the closure of Ypenburg airbase near The Hague, more and more state planes have landed in Rotterdam. That is why the people of Rotterdam are now happy to share their airport with the Hagenese.
Do you have to relax after your flight and do you not want to go into the bustle of the city? Take the bus towards Central Station, but get off at the stop Vroesenpark. Breathe in… breathe out… and then like the weather out into that beautiful city!
