Miniworld Rotterdam

Miniworld Rotterdam tops the list of family-friendly sights in Rotterdam and is easily paired with a guided or independent tour. Experience the city shrunk to a fraction of its actual size, complete with historic architecture and modern towers, the Erasmus Bridge, the Euromast, Hotel New York, the new Rotterdam Central Station, and City Hall—there is even a working model of the Port of Rotterdam, the largest port in the world. The miniature scenes stretch beyond the city limits and through the suburbs of Rotterdam to the coast, with UNESCO World Heritage windmills of Kinderdijk also reproduced.

One day in Miniworld Rotterdam lasts 24 minutes; toward the end of each cycle, night falls with the overheard lights dimmed in a sunset, while thousands of tiny lights illuminate the model landscape. The open workshop and the command center allow visitors to see how the models are made and operated.

• Miniworld Rotterdam is a must for families with kids, and the indoor attraction makes for an ideal rainy-day stop.

• Go behind the scenes with one of the 45-minute daily tours that take visitors to areas usually closed to the public, where you can glimpse the inner workings of the miniature cities and landscapes.

• There are restrooms, a restaurant, storage lockers, and a gift shop inside.

• Families can use restroom changing stations, restaurant child seats, and stroller parking; the indoor space is completely accessible to strollers.

• The museum’s entrance, restrooms, and indoor areas are wheelchair-accessible.

Miniworld Rotterdam is located in downtown Rotterdam next to the landmark Groot Handelsgebouw building. It’s a five-minute walk from the city’s Central Station, and the Groot Handelsgebouw P2 parking garage is located directly beneath the building. Direct trains run south from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, making the trip in just 40 minutes.

Hours for Miniworld Rotterdam vary according to the day of the week: the attraction is open in the afternoon only from Wednesday to Friday and for the entire day on Saturday and Sunday. The site is closed most Mondays and Tuesdays, except for Dutch school holidays. Check the Miniworld Rotterdam website for updated schedules.

Miniworld Rotterdam is one of many fun and educational family-friendly attractions in the city. Just a short walk away, the Maritime Museum offers hours of hands-on activities and entertainment, and the SS Rotterdam—permanently docked in the harbor—is open for naval-loving visitors. The Rotterdam Zoo (Diergaarde Blijdorp) is home to almost 200 species from across the globe, while the Villa Zebra children’s museum holds art workshops for kids from tots to teens.