Feijenoord – an up & coming district just perfect for students
What are the best spots for international students in Feijenoord?
Heading south over Erasmus bridge you arrive in Feijenoord. Once very industrial, it’s now a Rotterdam hotspot with a lot of effort going into its development. The good news is that means property rates – for now anyway – are lower and waiting times for student accommodation are shorter. With downtown just a short hop over the bridge it’s a really good spot to pick.
Life and style
Rotterdam has the best skyline of any Dutch city – largely thanks to the spectacular tower blocks on the other side of the magnificent Erasmus Bridge. With a Manhattenesque feel, it represents the heart and soul of Rotterdam with a mix of old and new, industrial and homely, business and pleasure. Areas like Katendrecht and Kop van Zuid-Entrepot are being transformed from working districts and quaysides into buzzing new centres for entrepreneurs who are bringing new life to the place with exciting food, drink and entertainment options. The Entrepot district in particular, with its marina and luxury apartments, is a flagship of this new development. The good news, though, is that students can set up home here too relatively easily, cheaply and quickly. SSH offers accommodation in its ’t Leidsche Veem complex while Stadswonen Rotterdam has rooms in the impressive looking Cité building. Living here is ideal for the Hogeschool InHolland campus but the metro makes it easy to get over to all Rotterdam’s other schools pretty easily too. Find out more about how to rent a home in Rotterdam in our Step by Step Guide.
Seeing and doing
Feijenoord is probably best known for its football club who play at the Kuip stadium in the south eastern corner of the district – which is also the location for big pop concerts. But there’s a lot more to this area than football. There’s the garden village of Vreewijk, the diverse Afrikaanderwijk, the characteristic Noordereiland or the trendy Katendrecht. And, thanks to the Erasmus and Willemsburg bridges this diverse place is really just an extension of downtown Rotterdam. With its industrial heritage there are so many architectural highlights here which sit alongside the super-modern developments along the waterfront. There’s plenty to do too with the Nederlands Fotomuseum or the Lantaren Venster film and music centre being just two options. Or why not take a water taxi from downtown and get dropped off at Hotel New York – an iconic building for Rotterdammers and the perfect spot for people watching with a beer in your hand.
Eating and drinking
Katendrecht is becoming one of the best spots in Rotterdam for eating and drinking. Walk over the Rijnhaven Bridge from Hotel New York and you come to Fenix Food Factory which is home to the Kaapse Brewery. Housed in a massive old warehouse, you can enjoy a fantastic selection of Rotterdam beers as well as a big choice of artisan foods from a variety of sellers. Fenix is really popular with students, as is the a tranquil square behind it – Deliplein – where more and more restaurants are popping up to make this a go-to nightspot. If you’re looking for something more lively, head over to Maassilo for club nights or try the food and music on offer at RAAF.
Move to Feijenoord and you’ll be spoilt for choice: Not only in terms of accommodation but also for entertainment and culture.
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