Founded as a fishing village in the 10th century, this South Holland city grew into a key Hanseatic League port. Located on the Nieuwe Maas river, it led Dutch innovation with early electric streetlights.
Vlaardingen lies in South Holland, bordered by the Nieuwe Maas river and roughly 15 kilometers west of Rotterdam. The old harbor, where herring was traded for centuries, still holds stone buildings such as the Grote Kerk with its clock tower and the red-brick Waag on Markt square. Walk past the Visbank, an 18th-century fish auction house with arched doorways, or follow the Oude Lijnbaan to see where ship ropes were crafted. Every June, the Vlaardings Loggerfestival displays restored fishing boats along the waterfront. Parks like Broekpolder, with forests and waterways, contrast with the industrial docks still active along the river.
Key Landmarks in Vlaardingen
Markt square serves as the town’s historical center. The Grote Kerk, completed in 1643, rises above the square with a brick tower visible from nearby streets. Adjacent to it, the Waag building from the 1500s once hosted merchants weighing goods like grain and fish. A five-minute walk east leads to the old town hall, a stepped-gable structure from 1650 where civil ceremonies take place today. The Visbank, near the harbor, retains its original stone columns and iron hooks used for hanging fish. These sites are close enough to visit in a single afternoon.
Museum Vlaardingen and Fishing Traditions
Museum Vlaardingen sits beside the harbor, detailing the town’s reliance on fishing. One exhibit displays scale models of 19th-century herring boats, along with nets and barrels used by crews. Recreated offices from the 1920s include wooden desks, shipping logs, and maps marking fishing routes. Temporary displays might cover topics like medieval trade or flood control in the region. Large cargo ships often glide past the museum’s windows, linking past and present maritime activity.
Annual Loggerfestival and Local Activities
During the Vlaardings Loggerfestival in June, historic fishing boats dock at the harbor for public tours. Crews in traditional dress demonstrate net-mending, and vendors sell smoked eel or fried cod from stalls. Live folk music and puppet shows entertain families along the waterfront. From spring to autumn, T’Hof park opens a small animal enclosure with goats and chickens. Markt square hosts weekly markets where you can buy fresh produce or watch street performers.
Parks and Residential Areas
Broekpolder, a 400-hectare park on Vlaardingen’s outskirts, includes wooded trails, a lake for paddling, and a marked route for cycling. Holy Zuid and Holy Noord, built in the 1950s, have rows of brick houses with front gardens and corner bakeries. In Babberspolder, former industrial buildings now house tech startups and design studios. For a straightforward stroll, follow the paved path along the Nieuwe Maas to see tugboats and barges.
Getting to and Around Vlaardingen
Rotterdam The Hague Airport, a 20-minute drive, is the nearest airport. Trains from Rotterdam Centraal reach Vlaardingen Centrum in 10 minutes, departing twice an hour. Buses require an OV-chipkaard—buy one at the station and scan it when boarding. Rent bicycles from shops near the train station for about €10 per day. Taxis wait at ranks outside the station or can be booked by phone for late-night trips.
Where to Eat in Vlaardingen
Gallod’Oro on Smalle Havenstraat prepares risotto and tiramisu in a dining room with checkered tablecloths. Delphi, a family-run Greek spot, serves grilled lamb skewers and stuffed grape leaves. At El Loco Babbe, share plates of garlic shrimp and chorizo on a terrace shaded by umbrellas. On market days, try hot stroopwafels from blue-and-white-striped tents in Markt square.
Exploring Beyond Vlaardingen
Rotterdam’s museums and shops are a 15-minute train ride away. Drive through the Benelux Tunnel to reach Antwerp in under an hour. Ferries from Vlaardingen’s docks sail overnight to ports in England, with cabins available for booking. Within town, Broekpolder’s trails let you spot herons or woodpeckers without traveling far.
