Delfshaven – affordable living for students in a fascinating district
What are the best spots for international students in Delfshaven?
Google “Delfshaven” and you’ll probably see pictures of the picturesque historic harbour and its windmill. That’s one corner of this “Rotterdam West” district but there’s a lot more to the area. It includes large residential districts featuring a lively mix of cultures and vibes making it ideal for students on a budget as you’ll find really nice places at affordable rates.
Life and style
The Delfshaven district is known for its street life which brings together many different cultures in bustling shops and street markets. There are plenty of accommodation options here for students. Stately old buildings have been nicely converted offering a wide variety of rooms and apartments which give you more m2 for your euro than in other parts of the city. As far as getting to school is concerned, Delfshaven is particularly handy for Hogeschool Rotterdam (next to the Museum Park) and Erasmus MC. But the metro also connects you conveniently to Erasmus University and Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. You can also use the metro or trams to get downtown in just ten or fifteen minutes. Find out more about how to rent a home in Rotterdam in our Step by Step Guide.
Seeing and doing
Delfshaven was originally part of Delft, built along the canal linking it to the Maas River. And it was from the historic Delfshaven harbour that the Pilgrim Fathers left for America. The harbour area today is a “must see” for tourists and makes a perfect spot for a beer or a meal – and a great photo opp with the quintessential windmill in the background! Moving away from the harbour area, you’ll find countless shops and multicultural markets offering tasty food from around the world. In particular, check out Grand Visserijplein and the Asian and Islamic stores of West Kruiskade. Nieuwe Binnenweg is a long street linking the west to the downtown area and is dotted with all kinds of shops, restaurants and bars. And, right at the edge of where Delfshaven and Centrum join, there’s the museum district which is good not only for its international exhibitions but for its lovely park.
Eating and drinking
As you’d expect from such a multicultural area, there are loads of options when it comes to eating out. For the environmentally conscious, try Uit Je Eigen Stad, a terrific restaurant built around the philosophy of sustainability (and making really good food at the same time!) The Nieuwe Binnenweg is lined with more eating and drinking options and takes you all the way into town where you’ll find Lilith for a good coffee, Boudewijn for Belgian beers and Rotown for great live music. And don’t forget, Thursday night is student night at lots of places in Rotterdam so look out for some special deals! But let’s end where we began: at historical Delfshaven where you’ll find a couple of splendid old bars including the Oude Sluis which are the perfect spots for an afternoon by the water.
With so much going on you’re sure never to get bored if you settle on the west side. It’s also just a really interesting place to be – and the rents are lower than other places too!
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