Kralingen-Crooswijk – a lively melting pot of a place
What are the best spots to visit for expats in Kralingen-Crooswijk?
This diverse district has a bit of everything. Old and new jostle together in a lively mix with stately looking houses around the Park Rozenburg and more affordable neighbourhoods in Crooswijk full of bustling shops and restaurants. Alive with students from all around the world, it has a funky, cosmopolitan feel that’s ideal for expats.
Quality of life
Kralingen-Crooswijk is a Rotterdam patchwork of different vibes – busy and relaxing, rich and not so rich but always vibrant. Just 15 minutes from the centre, it is a great place to live with all the amenities and shops you need as well as the large lake and woods of Kralingse Plas and Kralingse Bos which provide the perfect location for walking, running, sailing or even skating. If you’ve got kids, they’ll love living here too with its combination of city and nature. The district is home to the Erasmus University and Rotterdam University so there’s a lively, international feel to the place.
Housing options
If you’ve got a few million to spare you’ll be spoilt for choice of luxurious mansions. Kralingen Oost features many upmarket, historic and characterful buildings and is ideally located for the lake and woods. But equally, if you’re looking for more affordable options they are here in abundance too. As a university district there’s plenty of student digs while residential areas like Oud Crooswijk offer many reasonably priced houses and apartments in converted older properties. In Nieuwe Crooswijk, you’ll find many new build houses too. The district of Rubroek, just north east of the city centre and adjacent to the City Triangle, was heavily bombed in World War II so all the properties you see today date from the 40s and 50s and offer comfortable apartment living in an up and coming area. Last but not least, the Struisenburg area is being renovated and offers students and starters interesting accommodation options in converted old office buildings. Find out more about how to rent a home in Rotterdam in our Step by Step Guide.
Hotspots
Imagine having a forest and a lake on your doorstep! Kralingse Bos and Kralingse Plas form a huge outdoor playground that’s enjoyed by walkers, runners and sailors all year round. Whether you’re boating or paddling, whether you’re seven or 70, it’s an amazing spot for all kinds of outdoor activities and sports. There are also plenty of eating, drinking and shopping options in Kralingen-Crooswijk particularly along the lively Crooswijkseweg or in Noordplein and Oostplein. Kralingen is a culinary centre appealing to all tastes from Spanish tapas to Italian pizzas, from dim sum to fruits de mer. Eaten too much? Then walk it off by taking a stroll along the Maasboulevard with its beautiful view over the river and the skyline of “Manhattan on the Maas”! Find out more about Kralingen-Crooswijk here.
