Buying food in the city
Supermarkets
There are different brands of supermarkets in Rotterdam offering goods in a wide range of prices. Some of the cheaper supermarkets are Aldi, Lidl, Bas v/d Heijden or C1000. The more expensive supermarkets are Super de Boer, Plus, Coop and Albert Heijn. The supermarkets often sell home-brand goods that are more or less of equal quality as A-brands (well-know brands). Of course the home-brand goods are cheaper. Some supermarkets require a membership card which allows you to buy your groceries with discounts.
Larger supermarkets are open 7 days a week. Most of the supermarkets are open from 8:00 till 20:00 hrs every day, except Sunday, when they mostly close at 18:00 hrs.
Besides regular supermarkets Rotterdam also has many so-called 'avondwinkels'. These are late-night shops and they usually open from 18:00 till 01:00 hrs.
Specialised shops
For lovers of the international cuisine Rotterdam offers many specialised shops. Visit the West-Kruiskade, which is at a walking distance from Rotterdam Central Station. Be prepared to experience a truly cosmopolitan Rotterdam! You will find many Asian shops and supermarkets there, but also many other international shops.
There is also a genuine Italian supermarket hidden in the city centre, called Little Italy. Officially located at the Lombardkade 51A, but they use the back entrance at the Binnenrotte.
Spice World Asian Supermarket is a speciality supermarket for all Indian, Asian, Surinamese, Thai and African food items and other traditional items and it is located very close to Rotterdam Central Station, at Teilingerstraat 79 A.
Is the store with your local food not in this list? Don't worry, these are just some examples. It doesn't mean Rotterdam doesn't have it. Just look it up on the internet and you may be amazed by what you could find from your home country in Rotterdam!
Open-air markets
Rotterdam has many open-air markets spread across town where you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables and other goods at relatively cheap prices. The largest open-air markets are in the Afrikaanderwijk, Blaak and Visserijplein. Other open-air markets can be found on the Rotterdamse markten website (only in Dutch). Scroll down on that website to view the map that indicates the places of the other markets.
