Rotterdam escorts, headlights across the Erasmus Bridge

Rebuilt boldly after the Second World War, Rotterdam looks like no other Dutch city. Locals call the Erasmus Bridge the Swan; it crosses the Maas to Kop van Zuid, whose towers, De Rotterdam among them, rise from the old quays of the Wilhelminapier. Near Blaak, the arched Markthal and Piet Blom's tilted Cube Houses sit beside the Oude Haven, while the Euromast rises above Het Park as the city's lookout. Europe's largest port stretches all the way to the sea, and its working energy shows in the music venues and late bars.

Rotterdam lies around seventy-five kilometres south of Amsterdam. Outside the busy hours, the drive along the A4 and A13 takes about an hour; at rush hour or with roadworks it can take noticeably longer. That makes this a booking to arrange in advance: think in hours of notice rather than minutes, and write to us well before the evening if you can. Your companion leaves Amsterdam only once the plan is confirmed in the chat, with an arrival time you can rely on.

The high speed line makes Rotterdam surprisingly close for guests travelling by rail: direct trains cover the run from Amsterdam Centraal to Rotterdam Centraal in roughly forty minutes, and the hop from Schiphol takes less than thirty. Rotterdam Centraal, with its sharp, angled roof, sits at the top of the city centre, while Blaak station lies near the Markthal and the Oude Haven. The city has its own metro, and trams and water taxis carry people across the Maas to Kop van Zuid.

Our companions drive, and by road the trip along the A4 and A13, or the A2 and A16 when traffic suggests it, takes roughly an hour. The Maastunnel and the bridges over the river are the local pinch points on busy evenings. Once she is in the city, Rotterdam is easier to drive than Amsterdam: wide avenues, clear signage and parking garages close to most hotels.

Rotterdam nights suit guests who like a bit of city buzz: dinner with a view of the river, cocktails high above the streets, then back to a room overlooking the water. Stacy, bold and spontaneous with an edgy nightlife style, looks made for this city. Milena is glamorous and direct with a high-shine look, and Jasmin, whose curiosity runs all the way to mixology, makes the cocktail hour fun.

Combining Rotterdam with a meeting in Den Haag? The two cities are close together and we can plan around both. The complete line-up travels here, and once you are back in Amsterdam, De Pijp is a short ride from most central hotels.