CoolDocks

CoolDocks Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first walked up to CoolDocks on Eendrachtsplein, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting into. This unique boutique hotel doesn’t fit into any of the usual categories, and you know what? That’s exactly what makes it work so well in Rotterdam.

The thing about this place is that it actually feels like Rotterdam – and I mean that in the best possible way. While Amsterdam gets all the tourist attention with its canal houses, Rotterdam is this incredibly modern, rebuilt city, and CoolDocks captures that spirit perfectly. It’s got this industrial-chic vibe that doesn’t feel forced or Instagram-y, just… authentic. The lobby has these exposed concrete elements mixed with warm wood, and there’s usually some kind of interesting art installation that changes every few months. I mean, the staff genuinely seems to know the artists, which tells you something about how connected this place is to the local scene.

What really impressed me was how they handle the details without making a big deal about it. The rooms aren’t huge – this is Europe, after all – but they’re thoughtfully designed with these clever storage solutions and surprisingly good lighting. The beds are actually comfortable (not always a given in boutique places), and the bathrooms have decent water pressure, which honestly matters more than people admit. One thing though – if you’re a light sleeper, ask for a room facing away from the tram line. It’s not terrible, but those early morning trams can be a bit much if you’re jet-lagged.

The location is pretty brilliant once you figure out the neighborhood. Eendrachtsplein itself is this lovely square that locals actually use – there’s a Saturday market that’s worth checking out, and you’re literally a five-minute walk to Museum Park if you’re into the cultural stuff. But here’s what I really appreciated: you can walk to the Markthal in about ten minutes, and it’s an easy stroll down to the waterfront where all those crazy modern buildings are. The staff gave me this hand-drawn map with their favorite spots marked on it, which was so much more useful than the generic tourist brochures you usually get.

Honestly, what sets CoolDocks apart is that it feels like it belongs here. The breakfast isn’t trying to be fancy – just really good bread, local cheeses, and coffee that doesn’t taste like it came from a machine. There’s this small bar area that gets busy with locals in the evenings, which I always take as a good sign. You’ll hear Dutch conversations mixed with travelers comparing notes about the city, and somehow it all works together. It’s the kind of place where you might end up chatting with someone about the best way to get to Kinderdijk, or where to find decent Indonesian food (Rotterdam has amazing Indonesian restaurants, by the way).

I’d definitely come back here, which is saying something since I usually like to try different places. It’s got personality without being pretentious, and in a city that’s all about innovation and doing things differently, that feels exactly right.

CoolDocks Accommodations

Reviews of CoolDocks

• Wonderful – Wojciechowski from United Kingdom – September 8, 2025 (9/10)

  Very good price , good location near to train station , and very clean toilets and showers.
  
  What could be improved: Will be nice 1 towel to use .

• Very Good – Brito from Portugal – August 6, 2025 (8/10)

  De kamer en de douche, de bed is zeer comfortabele!!
  
  What could be improved: De hoge trap!!

• Good – Hong from United Kingdom – July 10, 2025 (7/10)

  What could be improved: The house is old and stare cases not really safe enough for carrying luggages as there's no elevator

• Wonderful – Jiyoung from Netherlands – May 5, 2025 (9/10)

  It was nice place to stay, close to the Rotterdam central. The room was hygienic, and the staff was friendly.
  Also the noiseproof was so nice, since the street was quite loud when we entered the house but inside of the room we couldn't hear anything

• Best location, comfortable bed, non-distracted deep sleep – Haeun from Germany – May 5, 2025 (9/10)

  Location, Hygine of the room and the bed, comfort check-in and amazing staff! Especially the bed was too good, I counldn’t help myself have a deep sleep after a while, after a long long day. With the huge windows in the room, it was able to have enough sunlight in the morning so that me and my friends didn’t need a n alram at all😎.
  
  What could be improved: –

• Wonderful – Попович from Ukraine – May 5, 2025 (9/10)

  Everything is convenient, the city center. I need to go somewhere, the metro and train station are close by.

• Wonderful – James from Netherlands – April 29, 2025 (9/10)

  The location, 24/7 reception, clean
  
  What could be improved: I wish we had more cooking facilities, but there is a microwave, coffee machine and kettle. I believe it's a pretty new hostel/hotel. But its absolutely not a dealbreaker.

• Great value – Louis from United Kingdom – September 14, 2025 (7/10)

  Perfect location and good check in experience. Good WiFi.
  
  What could be improved: Bathroom weren’t cleaned that often and out of toilet paper sometimes.

• Good – Shawn from United Kingdom – August 20, 2025 (7/10)

  The staff were super friendly and helpful, the location central enough (about a 15 minute walk from the station), and the facilities serviceable for a room with around 18 pods. Security was good. I came in late behind someone else, who’d used their keycard to open the door and was very politely challenged by the guy on the desk (who’d seen this on the camera), to confirm that I was a guest.
  
  What could be improved: The pod I was in had a strong smell of of the person before, but this can happen anywhere and if it hadn’t been so late in the day, the staff would’ve been happy for me to move to another pod. Lockers are good for small/medium bags only.

• Good quality-price. Ok for one night – Gizem from France – August 4, 2025 (8/10)

  Staff is so kind and problemsolver
  
  What could be improved: Third floor wc is too small 🙁 , there is no any sofa n commun place. Kitchen stuff is so limited

Surroundings

Facilities