Witte de Withstraat

The Witte de Withstraat is a street in central Rotterdam that has become a centre of the city's art, dining and nightlife. It runs between the Schiedamsevest and the Eendrachtsweg, and it is lined with galleries, cafes, bars and restaurants, many of them in modest old buildings that survived the bombing of 1940 or were built soon afterwards. It is a good place to see the creative side of a city better known for its port and its modern skyline, and it has a distinctly local atmosphere.

The street is named after Witte de With, the seventeenth-century naval officer who served the Dutch Republic in its wars against Spain and England. Although some descriptions place him in the nineteenth century, he lived from 1599 to 1658 and was a vice admiral who was killed in the Sound in 1658. The street itself developed later, and over the years it has had several identities. For a long time it was a rather rough area, associated with late-night entertainment, and then in the 1990s artists and gallery owners moved in, attracted by cheap rents and the central location, and began to change its image.

The art institution that gave the street its cultural weight was the Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art, a respected exhibition space that has since been renamed and moved on to a new identity. Its legacy remains, and the street still has a number of small galleries, project spaces and studios where visitors can see new work by emerging artists, usually for free. Openings are often held on Friday evenings, and the mood is informal, with people spilling out onto the pavement.

Food and drink are the other strength of the street. Restaurants offer cuisines from around the world, including Dutch, Mediterranean, Asian and vegetarian options, and there are cafes where the coffee is taken seriously, as well as bars with a relaxed, slightly bohemian air. The mix of nationalities among the owners and customers reflects Rotterdam's multicultural population. In summer, tables line the pavements, and the street is lively until late.

The street is a short walk from the Boijmans Van Beuningen Depot, the Kunsthal and the Museumpark, so it is easy to combine with a day of museums. It suits couples, groups of friends and art lovers. Because opening hours vary, check particular venues before you go.