Is Rotterdam Safe in January 2026?

Rotterdam Centraal station handles high volumes of tourists arriving from Amsterdam and Schiphol Airport, and organized pickpocket groups operate on escalators, in the main hall, and at the tram stops outside on Stationsplein. The station's open design and multiple entry points make it easier for thieves to operate.

How to avoid: Keep bags zipped and in front of your body. Be alert on escalators and in the tram queue outside. Use front pockets for phones and wallets while at the station.

The Markthal food market near Blaak station draws heavy tourist traffic, and vendors on the ground floor charge substantially more than equivalent food vendors in the surrounding Binnenrotte market or on Hoogstraat. The spectacular arched ceiling encourages visitors to pay premium prices for standard food items.

How to avoid: Compare prices at outdoor Binnenrotte market stalls visible from the Markthal before eating inside. The Saturday Binnenrotte market offers equivalent and often locally produced food at significantly lower prices.

Boat tour operators near the Erasmus Bridge and Leuvehaven harbor area quote varying prices for Maas River tours, with tourist-facing prices significantly above what is available through RET (Rotterdam public transport) water taxis or official Spido harbor tours. Some informal operators collect payment before departure and deliver a significantly shorter tour than advertised.

How to avoid: Book harbor tours through Spido (the official Rotterdam harbor tour operator) at Willemsplein or use the RET water taxi for point-to-point transport at published fares. Verify tour duration before paying.

Rotterdam's growing popularity with tourists has led to an increase in fraudulent short-term rental listings on Airbnb and smaller platforms, where properties are listed with photos of other apartments and non-existent amenities. The city's modern architecture makes high-quality fake listing photos plausible.

How to avoid: Book through established platforms with robust dispute resolution. Verify that the address exists and corresponds to the building type shown. Avoid listings that request direct payment outside the platform.

A small number of unlicensed taxis operating near Rotterdam Centraal and the Erasmus Bridge tourist area use tampered meters that run faster than the licensed rate, or quote flat rates that significantly exceed what a metered journey would cost. Rotterdam's official taxi rate is regulated by the municipality.

How to avoid: Use RoTaxi or the Uber/Bolt apps for transparent pricing. Official Rotterdam taxis must display the tariff card inside the vehicle. If the meter runs unusually fast, note the taxi number and report to the municipality.