Rotterdam is built for street sports. From street skate spots in the centre to pumptracks, BMX lines and smooth park routes, the city gives you space to roll. This guide shows you where to go, what to try, and how to join in.
Street sports in Rotterdam
Rotterdam has a long tradition of street sports. The Westblaak skatepark is a focal point for skaters, BMX riders and inline skaters; Skateland and several bowls, pumptracks and parks provide weather‑proof alternatives; and inline skaters can cruise on scenic routes through parks and farmland. This guide brings together the best spots, training opportunities, stores and events.
Where can you go skateboarding in Rotterdam?
Skatepark Westblaak – the heart of Rotterdam’s skate scene
Westblaak skatepark sits on the central reservation of Westblaak in the city centre. Finnish designer Janne Saario worked with local skaters to turn the 1 200 m² area into a skate landscape with concrete ledges, rails and a “Transformer” statue. The 2016 renovation replaced stainless‑steel elements with concrete to give the park a more natural feel. Thanks to its central location and 24/7 accessibility, this is the place where skateboarders, inline skaters and BMXers meet. The park is free and open at all hours.
Skateland Rotterdam – the biggest indoor park in the Netherlands
Located in an old warehouse on the Maas river, Skateland offers 4 200 m² of indoor ramps, rails and bowls and welcomes 25 000 visitors every year. It has separate sections for BMX, skateboard and inline sessions and hosts competitions and jams. The park’s calendar lists daily open sessions and regular girls‑only or kids sessions. Website: https://www.skateland.nl.
Other skateparks and bowls around Rotterdam
Rotterdam and its surrounding towns offer a variety of outdoor bowls, ramps and pumptracks beyond Westblaak and Skateland. Here is a handy list of the main spots:
Heemraadssingel skatepool – This was the first concrete bowl in Rotterdam (2012). Local skaters worked with SkateOn and LAGADO architects to create a free‑form bowl that blends into Heemraadspark, making it a community meeting place.
Ponserpad skatepark – On the south‑west edge of the city, this small park offers a mini‑ramp and several street obstacles.
Soetendaalseplein skatepark – This concrete bowl in Rotterdam‑Noord has smooth transitions and ledges. Designed by SkateOn, it integrates well into the neighbourhood and is accessible throughout the year.
Bikepark Rotterdam – Primarily a mountain‑bike park, Bikepark Rotterdam in Overschie also has pumptrack lines, drops and jumps that BMX riders and dirt‑jumpers can enjoy. Admission is free. The website, https://www.bikeparkrotterdam.nl, has opening hours and rules.
Amnestyplein skatepark (Capelle aan den IJssel) – On the border with Capelle, this asphalt park offers quarter pipes, ledges, a funbox and a mini‑ramp.
Pumptrack Schiedam – Built in 2022, this huge 195‑metre pumptrack features a bowl, wallride and jump‑track and was the first pump pool in the Netherlands. It’s free to use when the sport park is open. See https://www.pumptrackschiedam.nl for visitor information.
Pumptrack Ridderkerk – In Ridderkerk a 3 000 m² pumptrack was built after a petition signed by 750 people. It includes a main pumptrack, mini‑pumptrack and jumpline. The track is beside the river Noord near the Schans.
Where can you skate inline in Rotterdam?
Scenic routes through parks and waterfronts
Rotterdam has some of the Netherlands’ best inline‑skating routes. A travel article outlined several favourites:
- Het Park / Euromast: The park around the Euromast offers shady asphalt paths and water features. Skaters can glide past the 185‑metre Euromast tower while enjoying views across the harbour.
- Kralingse Bos: This classic route circles the lake in Kralingse Bos. The well‑laid asphalt, pit‑stops and views of the lake and skyline make it perfect for long sessions.
- Midden‑Delfland: For a rural escape, follow the node‑number signs across the meadows of Midden‑Delfland. The route’s smooth asphalt and farm views (with cows!) create a peaceful skating experience.
- Maasboulevard: A long road along the Maas river from Erasmusbrug to De Esch provides skyline views of Wilhelminapier and the harbour.
- Zuiderpark: On Rotterdam’s south side, Het Zuiderpark offers car‑free, green paths with good surfaces.
Organised tours – the Wednesday Night Skate (WNS)
From late July to August, Rotterdam hosts the Wednesday Night Skate. Up to 50 000 skaters take part in the 12.5 km parade through the city centre, accompanied by music trucks and an après‑skate party.
In 2025 there were six editions (23 July – 27 August). The first three started and finished at Museumpark with a break at Beeldenpark Brutus, while the last three started at De Gele Kanarie on Binnenrotte with a break at the Kralingse Plas.
Participants can rent skates for about €10 and protective gear for as low as €1 and must leave ID as a deposit. See https://rollerskatedam.nl for the full programme.
Join a club or train on the skeelerpiste
Schaatsvereniging Rotterdam (SVR): This club offers year‑round inline‑skate and ice‑skating training at Sportpark Noordrand. With around 200 members, SVR runs training sessions, competitions and events for both youth and adults. Contact details and training schedules are available on their website.
Skeelerpiste Rotterdam: Also located at Sportpark Noordrand, the skeelerpiste is a professional inline‑skate track coated with Vesmaco material and meeting KNSB and World Skate standards. The facility can be hired (€60–€85 per hour) and hosts clinics for schools. Single sessions and season passes are available. A youth park with beginner obstacles is under construction, and the club organises free “instapwedstrijden” (introductory races) for kids. Website: https://www.skeelerpisterotterdam.nl.
BMX tracks and pumptracks in the region
Skateboarding, inline skating and BMX in Rotterdam
Where to ride bmx or dirt jumps
FCC Barendrecht BMX track: Located in Barendrecht, this club track hosts national races and district competitions. The track sits behind the Carnisseweg sports fields; visitors should park at the hockey field and follow the bike path to the right. In 2025 the club will organise twelve district competitions (six before and six after summer). Categories include “Eigen Klasse” and “Super Klasse”, registration requires an NFF federation card and costs €7 via JSTiming (day registration €14). Website: https://fccbarendrecht.nl.
Bikepark Rotterdam: Mentioned earlier, this free park includes a pumptrack, jumps and drop‑offs. It’s ideal for BMX or dirt‑jump practice and is located in Overschie.
Pumptrack Schiedam & Ridderkerk: The new pumptracks provide fun for BMX riders, scooter riders and inline skaters. Schiedam’s track features a pump pool, bowl and wallride, while Ridderkerk’s track has a mini‑pumptrack and jumpline and was built after a popular petition.
Where to learn skateboarding in Rotterdam
Lessons at skateland’s skateboard academy
Skateland runs its Skateboard Academy inside the park. Students are grouped by age and skill level; lessons are available from age 6 and adults are welcome. Tuesday classes run at 16:45–17:45 (ages 6–9), 18:00–19:00 (10+) and 20:00–21:30 for adults; Sunday classes run at 09:30–10:30, 10:45–11:45 and 12:00–13:00. A single adult lesson costs €20, five lessons €95 and ten lessons €180. During school holidays the Skateweek day camp offers multi‑day courses; the 2025 edition runs from 21 to 25 July.
Lessons from Skatedays
Skatedays, an independent organisation, provides skateboard lessons at Skateland and other spots. Sessions take place on Wednesdays and Sundays and are suitable for children and adults. Skaters learn stepping, steering, braking and tricks; boards and protective equipment can be borrowed. Kids can start from age 6 and a season (10 lessons) costs €120, including use of boards and protective gear. Check schedules and sign‑up at https://www.skatedays.nl.
Skate and inline shops in Rotterdam
Skateboarding, inline skating and BMX in Rotterdam
RSI The Attraction
Rotterdam’s oldest skate shop has been on Witte de Withstraat for more than three decades. RSI The Attraction sells roller skates, inline skates, stunt scooters, skateboards, longboards, snowboards and accessoriesrotterdam.info. The store is also known for trendy toys such as yo‑yos, diabolos and kites.
Website: https://rsi.nl
Skatestore Rotterdam
Opposite the Westblaak skatepark is Skatestore Rotterdam, part of a national chain. According to Weekends in Rotterdam it stocks the largest selection of skateboards and hardware in the country and also sells shoes, clothing and protective gear.
Website: https://www.skatestore.nl
Sevenply skate boutique
This cosy shop run by skaters stocks boards, trucks, wheels and apparel from brands like Nike SB, Stüssy, FA and POP Trading Company.
Website: https://sevenply.nl
Daka Sport and Perry Sport
For skates, protective gear and sportswear, big box stores can be useful:
Daka Sport Coolsingel: Three floors of sportswear and shoes.
Website: https://www.daka.nl/sportwinkel-rotterdam-coolsingel
Perry Sport: Another chain offering inline skates and protective gear.
Website: https://www.perrysport.nl
Key events and competitions to watch or join
Tables can be hard to manage in content‑management systems, so here is the events calendar as plain text. Each entry lists the name of the event, the date or period, and the location with registration information.
Wednesday Night Skate (WNS) 2025 – There will be six free skate parades on 23 July, 30 July, 6 August, 13 August, 20 August and 27 August 2025. Routes start at Museumpark (first three events) or De Gele Kanarie (last three) and include a halfway break. Skate rental (€10) and protective gear (€1) are available. Participants should meet at Museumpark or De Gele Kanarie and register via https://rollerskatedam.nl.
Skateland BMX Open – On 14 December 2025 Skateland hosts a BMX contest for pro and amateur riders. The park opens at 13:00, the contest runs from 14:00–18:00 and the prize ceremony takes place at 18:30. Registration is through the Skateland website ( https://www.skateland.nl). Address:
Rotterdam Open Skateboard Contest – This annual competition at Skateland usually takes place in late November. The 2024 edition (23 November 2024) attracted national and Olympic‑level skaters, charged an entry fee of €15 and offered a €5 000 prize pool. Check the Skateland calendar for the 2025 date. Venue: Skateland Rotterdam ( https://www.skateland.nl).
NK BMX Freestyle – The national BMX freestyle championship took place at Skateland on 24 November 2024 and included park and street jams, best trick contests and free lessons for kids aged eight and up. A 2025 edition is expected; keep an eye on https://www.skateland.nl for confirmation. Venue: Skateland Rotterdam.
Skateweek Rotterdam – This week‑long holiday camp for children takes place every summer. In 2025 it runs from 21 to 25 July at Skateland and groups participants by age and skill. Address:
Rotterdam Street Culture Week (RSCW) – A three‑day festival of urban culture with workshops, competitions and performances. The 2025 edition is scheduled for 29–31 August and will feature a central BMX course surrounded by stages. It’s organised by Rotterdam Street Culture Week. More information at https://rscw.nl.
Het Block temporary skate park – This pop‑up skate park opened on 1 August 2025 in the Delftsehof between Biergarten and Annabel. Designed by Skateland, it hosts best trick contests, street art and music. It remains open during the summer; check Rotterdam Centrum’s channels for updates. Location:
Tips for safe and enjoyable sessions
- Wear protective gear: Wrist guards, knee pads and helmets are recommended, especially for beginners and BMX riders.
- Respect other users: Many parks are multi‑disciplinary; take turns and look out for scooter riders or younger skaters.
- Check opening hours: Skateland and SVR have specific session times. Outdoor parks are generally free and always open, but pumptracks may close when the sports grounds are in use.
- Join the community: Follow local clubs on social media to find jam sessions and clean‑up days. Volunteers often maintain pumptracks and need support.
