The 5 Best Hostels in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has more than its fair share of architectural wonders, including the Cube Houses, a stunning Modernist housing complex in the city centre. These geometrical residential buildings were designed to resemble a forest, with each house representing a single tree, creating a breathtaking lattice of yellow buildings that appear to merge into one another. Though most cubes within the complex are still occupied by local residents, several have been converted into shared dorms and affordable private rooms by Stayokay Cube Houses Rotterdam, which are available to lodgers at surprisingly low rates, considering their architectural significance. Aside from the essentials, each room at Stayokay Rotterdam features stunning design elements, such as slanted walls and custom-built furnishings, adapted around the complex’s unique layout.

This happening hostel offers guests the opportunity to relax, rest and socialise in the centre of Rotterdam’s Cool District, an appropriately titled neighbourhood that is widely known for its bustling art, music and culinary scenes. Although there are plenty of hangouts located nearby, guests at the hostel can also relax at the on-site bar, which has a street-side terrace by its entrance, or spend their downtime watching films in King Kong Hostel’s basement movie lounge. There are several affordable accommodation options available at King Kong, including rooms that are geared towards seasoned solo travellers, groups of friends and couples searching for quieter, private lodgings.

This innovative capsule hotel features dozens of minimalistic sleeping pods that are equipped with large double beds, an internet connection and plug sockets, and are ideal for travellers on a budget. The hostel’s capsules are arranged like bunk beds, but are nonetheless private and have their own entrances. Other facilities inside the hostel include deluxe bathrooms and a lounge area where guests can tap their own beers. What’s more, CityHub Rotterdam has developed a special app that allows guests to communicate directly with the hostel’s team of ‘City Hosts’ who are on-call to recommend the best spots for food, culture and nightlife in Rotterdam.

Hostel ROOM is housed inside one of the few pre-World War II monuments still standing in central Rotterdam – in this case, a stunning Art Deco building that was completed in 1923. The hostel has 17 private and shared rooms, which are tailored around specific themes related to Rotterdam and the Netherlands. There’s an on-site bar that looks as though it was lifted from a Wes Anderson movie and Hostel ROOM hosts special events, such as Tequila Tuesday and Pasta Nights throughout the week. The hostel also organises guided tours for its guests, which delve into specific aspects of Rotterdam’s (and its surroundings’) culture and heritage.

Prospective guests at Ani & Haakien can expect to find a warm, welcoming vibe once they arrive at the hostel, as well as access to a wide array of additional services that are tailored around exploring Rotterdam at a leisurely pace. For instance, it is possible for guests to rent bikes or longboards from the hostel and join four different free tours that are arranged by Ani & Haakien on certain days throughout the week. The rooms available inside the hostel are simple but chic and feature anywhere between one to twelve beds. There are several communal spaces inside the hostel, too, where guests can cook, share drinks and socialise in the company of other travellers (and Ani & Haakien’s resident cat, Suzy).