The Best Metro Hikes In And Around Rotterdam
Hiking in the Rijnmond area, is that a good idea? The answer, of course, is yes, if you pick a good route. You do not necessarily have to travel to Drenthe, Limburg or the Veluwe, let alone to Iceland, Scotland or Madeira. People from those hiking paradises would be impressed by what the Rotterdam region has to offer in terms of landscape and urban beauty.
By analogy with the famous NS walks, here are a number of routes with as a starting and ending point a metro station or tram stop of the RET. The collection currently consists of thirteen walks, between 10 and 25 kilometers. They use hiking trails and footpaths as much as possible. But in this densely populated area it is inevitable that there’s a cycle path here and there.
The routes can be seen on the map below; zooming, panning and clicking is possibe. The cups of coffee on the menu represent recommended cafes and restaurants. Of course, consumption does not have to be limited to coffee, but that is a matter of taste.
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1 – Between Westland and Waterweg
21.8 kilometers – start: metro Hoek van Holland Haven – finish: metro Maassluis Centrum
Perhaps the most varied walk that can be made in the Rijnmond area. Beach, dunes, forest, farmland, harbors and urban beauty: it is all covered.
Since a few years the metro continues right to the beach. But nevertheless it’s worth getting off at Hoek van Holland Haven and walking the last kilometer yourself, along Berghaven harbour, Queen Emma boulevard and Noorderhoofd pier. After that the route goes along the beach for a while where there is ample opportunity to enjoy a cup of coffee with a fruit snack at one of the beach bars.
We continue our walk through dunes of recent date; the so-called Van Dixhoorn triangle was created in the 1970s. Nowadays it seems as if these dunes have always been there. We cross the Hoekse Bosjes, graze the edge of the built-up area and continue our way through the Kapittelduinen.
Forest
The Staelduinse Bos is like the famous knapsack by cartoon character Douwe Dabbert. This forest seems much bigger than it is, or maybe it is much bigger than it looks. Some bunkers from the Second World War give it a slightly post-apocalyptic touch.
Our route then leads along a grassy dike with the greenhouses of the Westland on the left and open polder land on the right, with Nieuwe Waterweg canal and the Europoort industry behind it.
King Willem Alexander Boulevard is a very ambitious name for a simple path along the Waterweg. Nevertheless it’s a nice walk. Optionally, the route can be shortened by taking the metro at Steendijkpolder or Maassluis West. But the real go-getters will of course continue to the beautiful old center of Maassluis.
2 – Along the river Oude Maas
15.4 kilometers – start: final stop tram 25 – finish: metro station Poortugaal
A classic, this hiking trail just south of Rotterdam. The beauty of this route is that, following the Oude Maas river with it’s many large vessels passing by, you will not cross car traffic anywhere. The succession of nature reserves and recreation areas along the river is therefore an oasis of tranquility. Even though we’re just a few kilometers from the Rotterdam Ringroad.
After arriving at the terminus of the tram line, we cross lake Koedoodsplas via a beautifully designed pedestrian bridge. We climb a mountain: the 25-meter-high Oude Maasheuvel in the Jan Gerritsepolder. An enlightening view of the islands of South Holland, the Rotterdam skyline and the road ahead is our part.
Willows
Then the route goes, over narrow paths between pollard willows, through Carnisse Grienden, a willow forest cut by creeks. Part of the path even goes over a narrow walkbridge between the Grienden and the river. This is followed by a somewhat more artificial-looking green area. Here we pass the most beautiful house in the Rijnmond, which even has its own beach …
We continue on a forest path with a golf course on the right and the willow forests on the left. A small side trip to the beautifully wild nature reserve Klein Profijt (the name means Little Profit) is highly recommended. And the Rhoonse Grienden that follow after that are also among the most beautiful places in our province.
At the Rhoon marina, the landscape is more orderly again, but it still remains rather pretty. We round the tiny harbor of Poortugaal and pass the grounds of the Delta Hospital. Just before the neighborhood of Zalmplaat, we turn inland, past a small lake, sports fields and allotment gardens. The last part of the route leads through an old polder landscape, the Kievelanden and finally through the village of Poortugaal.
3 – Over the Hillegers Mountain
10.7 kilometers – start: metro station Meijersplein – finish: metro station Stadhuis
One of the most beautiful mountain walks in Rotterdam. The Dutch word berg means mountain and Hillegersberg is indeed a real mountain, at least by Dutch standards. This ancient river dune is a staggering five meters higher than the surrounding land. On its slopes and summit it has a church, a ruin and a cemetery. A hidden gem, concealed behind the houses on Bergsche Dorpsstraat.
Parks
We reach the mountain from Meijersplein station through a series of parks: Wilgenplaspark, Schiebroeksepark and Argonautenpark. These are connected by nameless green strips and a small section of an old road: the Hoge Limiet.
After climbing the mountain, the route continues along the north bank of Bergsche Voorplas. There are beautiful views over the lake, a windmill and the Rotterdam skyline. At the sluice of Boterdorpse Verlaat we turn right and continue our way along the river Rotte. We hike along the initially green but gradually more stony banks into the city. Meandering between the neighbourhoods of Crooswijk and Oude Noorden we head for the beckoning skyscrapers of the city center.
4 – Lansingerland and Eendragtspolder
15.9 kilometers – start: metro station Rodenrijs – end point: metro station Nesselande
A hiking route grazing the northern outskirts of Rotterdam. From Rodenrijs station, this route first goes through the elongated Annie M.G. Schmidt Park, named after the famous children’s books writer and poet who lived here for many years. Then we cross the high-speed railway line (don’t worry, there is a bridge), we walk through a quiet neighborhood from the 1970’s and via Leeuwenkuil park we reach the tiny center of Bergschenhoek .
We follow the Oosteindseweg, an old road lined with canals and traditional houses. Then we turn left and arrive in a neighborhood from around the turn of the century. Of course we follow the greenest paths.
Greenhouses
When we cross Oosteindseweg again, an impressive greenhouse horticulture area unfolds. The Westland has the reputation, but the Lansingers seem to be good at it too. Via a green strip between the greenhouses we reach the Rotte. This old peat river has a string of nature and recreation areas along its banks.
When we cross the Rotte we arrive in the Eendragtspolder. Until recently, this was a fairly large-scale and not terribly fascinating agricultural area. Since 2010, a large part of the polder has been redeveloped into water storage, rowing course and nature reserve. And that makes hiking here a lot more pleasant. Do not forget to view the area from above from the lookout tower on the Slingerkade.
After meandering paths between reed beds and herbaceous grassland, we eventually get to the new neighbourhood of Nesselande. The idea of the urbanists was to create a kind of seaside resort with a beach and a boulevard. That concept has worked out surprisingly well. Although lake Zevenhuizerplas can of course by no means be compared with the North Sea.
5 – The Woods of West-IJsselmonde
12.5 kilometers – start: metro station Zalmplaat – finish: metro station Rhoon
This is perhaps the most afforested walk that can be made in the Rijnmond area. Don’t picture vast wildernesses however…. But still: a remarkably large part of this walk takes us through woods, groves and bushes.
After a short approach route from Zalmplaat station through the district of the same name, we reach the river Oude Maas. A number of residential towers are enjoying the view here.
And there is also the first grove: the Visserijgriend, through which a boardwalk gracefully winds its way. At high tide there is a dry feet route over the dike.
After the Spijkenisser Bridge and the Hoogvliet marina, another wild area in the floodplain follows: the Ruigeplaatbos. A 500 meter long pedestrian walkway runs along the banks of the river. And at high tide even through the river, but here too there is a dry alternative.
Chill hill
The route then takes us inland, past the Heerlijkheid Hoogvliet, which has a small arboretum. There is also a chill hill where, sitting in bright red plastic benches, one can enjoy the view over Hoogvliet, the industry and the green zones in between.
We walk through Bonaire Park along the foot of a ten-meter-high overgrown noise barrier. Nevertheless, it does not stop all the noise from the A15 motorway. But it helps to imagine that the sound is caused by a large waterfall.
We cross a neighborhood access road, the Aveling. For the really desperate there is a McDonald’s here, otherwise cafes and restaurants along this route are unfortunately sparse.
The Oudelandsepark is again a somewhat wild green zone. At a certain point the route becomes a very narrow green corridor between highways and industry. But do not despair: after passing under the metro viaduct we enter the Valckesteinse Bos. This area was forested as a buffer zone between the petrochemical industry of Pernis and the growing villages of Poortugaal and Rhoon. After a few decades it ‘s really getting somewhere: adolescent forests, interspersed with water and an occasional remaining pasture.
The walk ends at the fifteenth century Rhoon Castle, surrounded by a moat and a beautiful garden.
6 – The green-blue curve
18.7 kilometers – start: metro station Rodenrijs – finish: metro station Pijnacker
The once rural area between Rotterdam and The Hague has become quite urbanized in recent decades. Well, the metro line is here for a reason. Fortunately, in the 1990s, it was decided at a provincial level that the two cities should not be allowed to grow into one urban sprawl entirely. And so this region is not only dotted with old village centers and new suburbs, but also with groves, landscape parks and nature reserves. One has to know the way, but it’s certainly possible to do nice hikes here.
As with walk 4, the first part of the hike goes through the Annie M.G. Schmidtpark, parallel to the high-speed railway line. But then we bend to the left and pass through the center of Berkel. This consists largely of new buildings, but those are built around an ancient church. Via the water-rich, reasonably well-designed new suburb Meerpolder we arrive at the, if possible, even more water-rich Groene Zoom.
Floriade
We meander between scraps of agricultural landscape and new wet nature to Zoetermeer. We walk into that city through one park and leave it via another park. The latter park is in fact the Floriadepark with all kinds of remnants of the horticultural exhibition in 1992. The Floriadepark changes into a beech forest named Baleibos. This may not be the Veluwe, but is nevertheless beautiful, especially in autumn.
When we leave the forest we first find some farms, greenhouses and meadows on our way. Finally, we walk through a village-like new housing estate to the end of the walk at Pijnacker Centrum station.
7 – Broekpolder and friends
20.6 kilometers – start: metro station Vlaardingen West – finish: metro station Schiedam
From Vlaardingen West station we walk a few hundred meters parallel to the metro track. Then we cross the Vlaardinger Food Forest (or go around it to the right if the gate is closed). This area west of Vlaardingen has a recreational character, with golf courses, a surf lake and restaurants.
The route takes us over the A20 motorway to a somewhat wilder area: the Broekpolder. A new residential area was once planned here, but it never materialized. Instead, we find here a varied landscape with patches of forest, open field and waters, crossed by low dikes and birch lanes. Keep a safe distance to the highland cows that have made these lowlands their home.
After we have crossed Vlaardingervaart we follow this canal for a while in a northerly direction. A pub named Vlietzicht, with its terrace on the water, is a very tempting resting point, about halfway through the walk.
Little Sweden
Then a winding path through meadows and across bridges leads us through the Midden-Delfland landscape park. We could walk all the way around the outskirts of Schiedam. However, we make a shortcut through Sveaparken, the Swedish Park neighbourhood with the central square ABBAborg. For architectural puritans, this neighborhood must be a nightmare, but at least it’s very colorful and surprisingly village-like.
The Anna Lindt path (to stay in the Swedish theme) takes us past the church of Saints Jacob and Martin in the old village of Kethel. After the bridge across Poldervaart canal we enter Princess Beatrix park, with a somewhat neglected botanical garden and a petting zoo.
The route can be shortened by taking the metro at Schiedam Nieuwland station after 17.8 kilometers. But it is certainly advisable to continue walking to the historic center of Schiedam. Not just for the canals and windmills but, not unimportantly after a twenty-kilometer walk, also for its cafes.
8 – Zeelandic moods
19.1 kilometers – start: metro station De Akkers – finish: metro station Spijkenisse Centrum
I know: the province of Zeeland is two islands further down the road. But still, when we leave Spijkenisse, walking past the world famous whale tails sculpture, the landscape gets unmistakably Zeelandic features. Wide polders, fields and meadows, marine clay soil, dykes with rows of poplars, cozy villages, large and small windmills.
Along a picturesque country road, the route leads straight to the striking white church of Simonshaven. This otherwise tiny village lies on the Bernisse, an old river that was upgraded to a recreational stream in the 1970s, with some forest on its banks. On the other side is Zuidland, a larger village with a beautiful square around a pond and a Pisa-esque church tower.
Cart track
The path follows the Bernisse for a short while before turning right on a cart track through the meadows to the hamlet of Biert. With the Dutch word for beer in its name, that would be a great place for a cafe, but unfortunately…
Via a cycle path over the old tram track we reach the outskirts of Spijkenisse. The town, however, has a very green character here. We walk through Mallebos forest and along the green banks of Vierambachtenboezem canal. Before we even realize we are in the town center.
That center has improved quite a bit since I spent my high school days here. It is an interesting combination of the old town, failures from the eighties and post-modern repair attempts. As well as two grand projects: the Boekenberg library by MVRDV and De Stoep Theatre by Ben van Berkel. And fortunately, the days when Hotel De Keizer was the only form of “horeca” are long gone.
9 – Harbors and canals
11.7 kilometers – start metro station Blijdorp – finish: metro station Zuidplein
Most of these RET walks explore the outskirts of the city and the surrounding countryside. But one can also do some good urban hiking in Rotterdam itself. This route runs from north to south, ignores the city center, and takes us past many of Rotterdam’s harbors and canals.
It starts off beautifully in the neighbourhood of Blijdorp with its green canals and 1930s architecture. We pass the old entrance to Blijdorp Zoo, cross under the railway tracks and arrive at another beautiful green strip: Heemraadssingel canal. Via the also quite green Heemraadsplein square, a section of lively Nieuwe Binnenweg and the bridge across the Schie, we arrive at by far the most picturesque part of Rotterdam: Delfshaven.
After Aelbrechtskolk, Voorhaven and Achterhaven canals, we enter an area that can be read as a catalog of architectural styles, some more successful than others, from different eras. Next is the Lloydkwartier, until 25 years ago and a bustling port and industrial area. It has been transformed into an urban district with a view. Via harbours named Schiehaven, Sint Jobshaven and Parkhaven we reach the city’s landmark Euromast. Thanks to the pedestrian bridge over the Maastunneltrace, we also enjoy a corner of the park simply called The Park.
Tunnel
Unfortunately, the ferry does not sail anymore, but the passage under the Nieuwe Maas, through the recently renovated Maastunnel with its monumental escalators is certainly an experience. Arriving at the Southbank, we briefly follow the river downstream. After Dokhaven Park, built on an underground water treatment plant, a surprise follows. A round square with a church in the middle, marks the heart of the old village of Charlois.
Boergoensevliet is another beautiful green canal surrounded by neighborhoods from the 1930s. On Kromme Zandweg there is a scenic windmill and a historic castle: Huize D’Oliphant (Elephant House). The last part of the walk goes through Zuiderpark, again with plenty of water features. The end point, near the Ahoy congress and concert center, the shopping mall and the metro station, has been a textbook example of the disastrous urban development of recent decades. But repair work is in progress.
10 – Great contrasts
22,1 kilometers – start: metrostation Maassluis Centrum – finish: metrostation De Akkers
There are hardly any greater contrasts imaginable than on this epic journey through the Europoort. Large-scale industry, port activities and infrastructure are followed by lush greenery, quaint villages and winding country roads.
After a short walk along Maassluis’ Outer Harbour we arrive at the ferry. Note: tickets are only available at the vending machine on the quay. After a short crossing we reach Rozenburg. This used to be an independent village, which became a part of Rotterdam a few years ago. We follow Nieuwe Waterweg canal a few hundred metres downstream and then cross a park-like area on the edge of Rozenburg.
After that we suddenly find ourselves in the middle of the Rotterdam port and industrial area. A symphony of concrete, steel and asphalt. A cacophony of canals, bridges, a tunnel, a highway, a railway, oil tanks, wind turbines, not to mention an impressive sculptural windshield.
Villages
After Harmsen Bridge, on arrival on the island of Voorne, we abruptly enter a completely different environment: the green, quiet southern banks of the Brielse Meer. We walk successively through three picturesque villages: Zwartewaal, Heenvliet and Geervliet. The latter two can officially call themselves “city” but there is little reason to do so these days.
We cross the Groene Kruisweg and continue our path over winding dikes along fields and farms to Mallebos forest on the outskirts of Spijkenisse. Here we cross the route of walk 8. This gives us a choice: straight on for the last one and a half kilometers of the walk to De Akkers station or turn left for a small detour with a catering stop in the center of Spijkenisse.
11 – Waterways
13,9 kilometres – start: metrostation Vijfsluizen – finish: metrostation Berkel Westpolder
Rotterdam and its surroundings are intersected by an incredible number of ditches, canals and rivers. This walk takes you along a number of these waterways and has a remarkably green and rural character.
We start at the Schiedam station Vijfsluizen (note: take the southern exit (Karel Doormanweg). The area around the station is dominated by large-scale infrastructure and port activities. But soon we enter a completely different world: we pass, via a narrow bridge, an old lock in the Poldervaart. That canal cuts straight through the urban area of Schiedam. Along the banks are a beautiful allotment complex, the historic Babbersmolen (the smallest of the famous Schiedam giants) and the large Beatrix Park.
After the hamlet of Windas we walk via a remarkable bridge across the canal and under the railway through the landscape park of Midden-Delfland. Here we really get outside the city: meadows, waters and bushes dominate the picture.
Creating nature
At the end of the Poldervaart, at another old lock, we bend to the left, along another watercourse: the Delftse Schie. On both banks of this old peat river are two hamlets where time has stood still: Kandelaar and De Zweth. We cross the Schie via the Kandelaar bridge. Then we hike through the Schiezone, redeveloped by Natuurmonumenten with the aim of creating nature in the polder.
For a moment we experience some noise nuisance when we pass under the A13. But then we walk into peace and quiet again. Along the Berkelse Zweth we have a view on the left of the Ackerdijkse Plassen nature reserve, and on the right on the skyline of Rotterdam.
Near De Valk windmill, we move into a low-lying area: the Bergboezempolder. An old country road leads between marshy meadows where the geese are having a good time. The new suburb Berkel’s Westpolder has already appeared on the horizon. The last watercourse of the walk therefore has a completely different character: the Zilvergracht is a nice imitation of a city canal with quasi-Old Dutch canal houses.
12 – The lowlands
13,2 kilometres – start: metrostation Nesselande – finish: metrostation De Terp
The low-lying polders east of Rotterdam have been urbanized at a rapid pace since the 1960s. It is a mosaic of neighborhoods from different decades, sometimes on the territory of Rotterdam, sometimes on that of the municipalities of Capelle aan den IJssel or Zuidplas; the borders are quite chaotic.
Nevertheless, one can find beautiful, mainly green hiking routes in this super suburb, such as this one starting in the Rotterdam outpost of Nesselande. That Vinex district is divided in two parts by Rietveld Park. The metro line and a high-voltage power line also run through this elongated green zone. They are a nice contrast to the stroll paths over bridges and islands underneath them.
We go under the highway and come through a somewhat messy area. A fringe of the city, as it is called, including the last pasture between Rotterdam and Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel.
Via the tiny Buckeburgpark and the ribbon development of the Vrijheidslaan we arrive in the old village center of Nieuwerkerk. It’s a modest climb, as the old village is a few meters higher than the surrounding neighborhoods; people were clever enough in the old days.
After a little side tour around the church we continue our way along the ring canal of the Zuidplaspolder. The water in the canal is easily four meters higher than the eighties district to our left.
Hitland
We could shorten the walk at Nieuwerkerk NS station, but then it is of course no longer formally a metro hike. Moreover, we’d miss the greenest section of the walk: the Hitland. This landscape park has three parts. The north, against Nieuwerkerk, is fairly wooded. The middle part, with meadows and wide ditches, is quite open. In the southern part, close to Capelle, we find a mixture of the two, an alternation of bushes, fields and water features. With perhaps the most beautiful and surprising part of the walk: an adventurous winding path, over decking along reed beds and through shrubbery.
13 – Four Towns Tour
21.1 kilometres – start: metro station Maassluis West – end point: metro station Delfshaven
The presence of a large river, not too far from the sea, has proven to be a good breeding ground for the development of settlements. For centuries, five towns were located along the northern bank of the Nieuwe Maas, with mutual distances of only three to six kilometres. From left to right: Maassluis, Vlaardingen, Schiedam, Delfshaven and Rotterdam. Nowadays, they are connected by metro lines A and B, which of course offers opportunities for an RET hike. This route visits four of the five towns, but can be shortened or extended in countless ways, precisely because of those metro lines.
We start the walk at station Maassluis-Centrum, from where we walk along the Binnenhaven into the town centre. After a walk around the Big Church, the Groote Kerk, located on its own island, we arrive at the Markt, where there are plenty of options for coffee, cake or other treats.
We leave Maassluis along the banks of Zuid- and Middelvliet and then turn towards the area east of the city, which still has a pretty rural character. A picturesque path winds past cozy farmhouses. On the horizon on the right, as a contrast, we see the industry of the Botlek. We pass the recently constructed A24, also known as the Blankenburg connection. It appears to be fairly well integrated in the landscape: only at twenty meters distance do you realize that there is a highway.
On the western edge of Vlaardingen there is also a fairly green area but somewhat more recreationally designed with, among other things, a golf course, a number of lakes and a small beach. That area extends, by means of parks and canals, its green tentacles far into the built-up area. After some thirties, sixties and eighties neighborhoods, we suddenly find ourselves in the heart of Vlaardingen, on the round Market square with another Big Church in the middle. Here, or at the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) a little further on, there are again numerous possibilities for a pit stop.
We leave Vlaardingen via the very beautiful Oranjepark and adjacent green areas. And we pass another motorway, the A4, but this one is less subtly integrated than the previous one; they didn’t do that in the sixties.
Windmills and warehouses
We enter Schiedam, again through a succession of parks and green areas. And then we suddenly find ourselves in front of a windmill, the Drie Koornbloemen (Three Cornflowers), one of the six large mills that are reminiscent of the glory days of the jenever/gin industry. Behind the mill, the beautiful city centre unfolds with its canals, distilleries and warehouses. There are enough catering establishments near the Koornbeurs and the triangular Grote Markt square to regain your strength for the last stage.
We continue our way along the Lange Haven (Long Harbour) which, past the Koemarkt (Cow Market), turns into the Buitenhaven (Outer Harbour). The area around the Glass Factory is on the eve of a major transformation: from an outdated industrial area to a mixed part of the city. The same goes for its counterpart on the Rotterdam side of the municipal border: M4H, or Merwe-Vierhavens. We walk from one atmosphere to another surprise. From a Turkish furniture boulevard to a floating cowshed, from the monumental fruit auction designed by Hugh Maaskant to the equally impressive gas holder, from the sculpture garden by Joep van Lieshout to the tidal park in the Keilehaven.
Via the Food Garden, a piece of urban agriculture where food is produced for the food bank, we reach the Dakpark, a roof park created on top of a shopping mall. And then we arrive in the fourth town on our journey: Delfshaven. Founded in the fourteenth century as a colony of Delft but independent for a while after 1795. Here too we find mills and warehouses because Delfshaven also had its jenever industry. The area around the Aelbrechtskolk is richly blessed with catering establishments, but of course jenever does not necessarily have to be consumed there.
The walk ends at metro station Delfshaven. The real diehards for whom 21 kilometers is not enough can walk a few more kilometers to the center of Rotterdam. But that, as is known, has undergone a somewhat stormier development than the four other towns.
Corona Hikes
Part of the research for this blogpost took place during the various lockdowns. This also resulted in a seperate series of hikes, with a partly overlapping distribution area: the Corona Hikes.
