As an addition to our Sleep Meditation collaboration, singer-songwriter Sabrina Starke curated her favourite quiet places in Rotterdam for you to enjoy during your visit. Check them out below.
Tip: did you know that at The Usual we have bikes you can rent for a day or weekend? Hop on your bicycle and visit these amazing places.
1. Kralingse Bos
It only takes a 20-minute bike ride from The Usual to reach Kralingse Bos. This is a unique city forest of 2 hectares which features a beautiful lake (Kralingse Plas), a small beach, a kids' pool, and several kids' playgrounds. You can rent a boat or a canoe, or have coffee, lunch or dinner at one of the many cafés and restaurants.
Tip: In summer you can have an open barbeque in some areas.
Address: Pr. Beatrixlaan 24, 3062 CM Rotterdam
2. The Luchtsingel
In ten minutes, you can bike from The Usual to The Luchtsingel. The Luchtsingel is a real eye-catching area which connects Rotterdam North with Rotterdam Center and brings new life to a forgotten area. The Luchtsingel consists of four parts: the iconic (Insta-worthy) yellow stairs, the roof garden at Dakakker, the old metro station Hofplein and Park Pompenburg. You can visit The Luchtsingel for some shopping, city nature, have a drink or bite at the roof garden restaurant Teds Place and much more.
Address: Gebouw Delftse Poort, 3013 BA Rotterdam
3. Museum Park
Only two minutes away from The Usual you will find the Museum Park. Art lovers will go bananas over the amount of creativity in this area. Here you will find Het Nieuwe Instituut, Kunsthal, Depot Boijmans van Beuningen, Chabot Museum, Natural History Museum Rotterdam and Villa Sonneveld. Park your bike for a nice stroll in the lush gardens of the Museum Park, have lunch or dinner at the roof restaurant of Depot Boijmans van Beuningen or visit the amazing smelling rose garden.
Address: Museumpark, 3015 CX Rotterdam
4. Botanical Garden Trompenburg
In twenty minutes from The Usual you will find the beautiful botanical garden Trompenburg. Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum has a wonderfully large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, flower bulbs and tubers. The garden is located on the edge of the center of Rotterdam in the Kralingen district and, with a surface area of no less than 8 hectares, is a true discovery for peace seekers and green lovers from within and outside the city. The garden is extremely diverse; you will find traditional gardens in English style, but also a modern food forest in development and a photogenic desert greenhouse. Trompenburg is of great value in the field of biodiversity and natural history.
Tickets: https://trompenburg.nl/
Address: Honingerdijk 86, 3062 NX Rotterdam
5. Secret Garden at City Hall
Bring your lunch to go and hop on your bike for a visit to the lush garden of City Hall.
With only a five-minute bike ride you will find an oasis of greenery and quiet in the middle of the bustling city center. The garden is a hidden place, even from locals. What makes the garden so special is that it is connected to city hall, one of the very few buildings that survived the bombing of Rotterdam during World War II. The garden is free to enter during opening hours.
Address: Coolsingel 40, 3011 AD Rotterdam
After a day of relaxation in the city, we hope you’re ready for a good night’s sleep. Enjoy Sabrina Starke’s Sleep Meditation, exclusively for guests at The Usual.
