Lijnbaan Street, Rotterdam
Lijnbaan is Rotterdam's main shopping street, first opened in 1953 after German bombs destroyed the old shopping district during World War II. Lijnbaan was Europe’s first purpose-built pedestrian street and was part of the city's broader modernization plan.
The street is beautifully landscaped, featuring flower beds, statues, trees, benches, and wooden shelters. When it first opened, shopkeepers were concerned that a pedestrian-only area might not attract shoppers, but Lijnbaan has since proven to be highly successful. Visitors and residents enjoy the car-free zone, coming to stroll and window-shop.
In the 1980s, the street experienced a decline as some of the original shopkeepers retired. However, in 2010, Lijnbaan was awarded national heritage status to recognize its innovative postwar architecture. Some of the original wooden canopies and shop fronts have since been restored.
Today, Lijnbaan offers a mix of modern fashion chain stores and boutique shops. The street features a range of high-end stores as well as more affordable options. In addition to retail, visitors can enjoy fast food and a variety of restaurants.
The street is beautifully landscaped, featuring flower beds, statues, trees, benches, and wooden shelters. When it first opened, shopkeepers were concerned that a pedestrian-only area might not attract shoppers, but Lijnbaan has since proven to be highly successful. Visitors and residents enjoy the car-free zone, coming to stroll and window-shop.
In the 1980s, the street experienced a decline as some of the original shopkeepers retired. However, in 2010, Lijnbaan was awarded national heritage status to recognize its innovative postwar architecture. Some of the original wooden canopies and shop fronts have since been restored.
Today, Lijnbaan offers a mix of modern fashion chain stores and boutique shops. The street features a range of high-end stores as well as more affordable options. In addition to retail, visitors can enjoy fast food and a variety of restaurants.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Rotterdam. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Lijnbaan Street on Map
Sight Name: Lijnbaan Street
Sight Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Rotterdam)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Rotterdam)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Rotterdam
Creating your own self-guided walk in Rotterdam is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Cheese Shops in Rotterdam
Although many countries claim cheese to be their unique product, Dutch cheeses are indeed an iconic, standalone thing. Amid a cornucopia of different cheeses made in The Netherlands, there are quite a few internationally-famed ones originated in Rotterdam.
It is therefore only natural to find a plethora of specialty shops in the city fit to warm the heart of any cheese lover, be it a finder, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
It is therefore only natural to find a plethora of specialty shops in the city fit to warm the heart of any cheese lover, be it a finder, a... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.6 Km or 1 Miles
Rotterdam Introduction Walking Tour
Dutch poet Rien Vroegindeweij once captured the city’s essence with a simple line: “If everybody comes from somewhere else, nobody is a stranger.”
The name Rotterdam comes from a straightforward origin: the river Rotte and a dam built across it. The river name “Rotte” is thought to mean “muddy water” or perhaps “hurrying stream”, while the suffix “-dam” refers to the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The name Rotterdam comes from a straightforward origin: the river Rotte and a dam built across it. The river name “Rotte” is thought to mean “muddy water” or perhaps “hurrying stream”, while the suffix “-dam” refers to the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
Delfshaven District Walking Tour
Part of the old city of Rotterdam, the borough of Delfshaven – situated on the right bank of the river Nieuwe Maas, is rich in history. Prior to 1886 it had been a separate municipality which grew around the port of the city of Delft.
Delft itself was not located on a major river, so in 1389 a Voorhaven (outer harbor) to the south, along with the Aelbrechtskolk waterpass, had to be created to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Delft itself was not located on a major river, so in 1389 a Voorhaven (outer harbor) to the south, along with the Aelbrechtskolk waterpass, had to be created to... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.3 Km or 0.8 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Souvenirs Shopping: 16 Genuine Dutch Things to Buy in Rotterdam
Just as any other major Dutch destination, Rotterdam is associated with sea, excellent cheeses, marvelous beer, good food and, generally speaking, good taste. A set of gifts from Rotterdam will duly reflect any, if not all, of these qualities. Listed here are some of the items that might prove well...