Church of St. Lawrence (Sint Laurenskerk)

Known as the Laurenskerk or Laurens by locals, the Church of St. Lawrence today functions as a Protestant church, museum, and events venue. Stroll the stately interior to admire its bronze doors, massive pipe organ, and 18th-century choir screen You can also explore an exhibition on the history of Rotterdam and the church, and in summer, join guided climbs up its 213-foot (65-meter) tower.

The church is a popular stop on Rotterdam guided walks, as well as more specialized options such as World War II-themed excursions and running, bike, and self-guided audio tours. If you’re looking to explore more of the Netherlands, it’s also a fixture on multi-stop day trips that cover Rotterdam, and nearby cities such as The Hague and Delft.

• The Church of St Lawrence will interest history and architecture aficionados.

• Allow around an hour to explore the church and its exhibition.

• The church is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly.

• Entry fees apply to the church and tower climbs. Children under the age of 12 enjoy free church admission.

• The church has restrooms and free Wi-Fi.

The Church of St. Lawrence stands in Grotekerkplein, a picturesque, canalside square located in central Rotterdam about a 5-minute stroll from the city’s Blaak tram, train, and metro stations. If you’re driving into the city, you’ll find the nearest parking garages roughly 5 minutes’ walk away at WTC-V&D and Markthal.

The church is open to the general public Tuesday through Saturday (it’s closed on Mondays and reserved for church services on Sundays). Opening hours are from mid-morning to late afternoon, March through October, and it opens an hour later from November to February. Tower climbs run from April to October and start at fixed times: typically 2pm on Wednesdays, and 12:30pm and 1:30pm on Saturdays. It’s best to double-check timings as they can vary and tickets are only available at the church.

The Church of St. Lawrence tower commands wonderful views over Rotterdam. If you’re here in summer, join one of the guided tower climbs, which take you past the church’s famous 17th-century bells to the top, where you’re greeted by bird’s-eye panoramas over the city in every direction. You’ll need to be fit: the climb up is 300 steps.