Best Run in Rotterdam

If you've been to a Breakbulk event, Anders Flensborg is surely a familiar face. Through his company Flensborg & Associates, he has organized BUSINESSruns all over the world in conjunction with Breakbulk events. He returns to Rotterdam this year for the company's 6oth run.

"The idea to combine running and networking in the Breakbulk industry was launched back in 2010 alongside Breakbulk Europe," Anders says. He assures participants there are benefits to the early morning start on Wednesday.

"It is the reverse cocktail party with top networking quality whilst the usual hotel breakfast is replaced by some fruit and water. When the Breakbulk conference opens, the early morning booster for your business and for your body puts you on track for a successful event.' 

The 60th BUSINESSrun Breakbulk Europe Rotterdam starts and ends at the iconic World Port Center where the Port of Rotterdam Authority has its offices. Arrive at 7:10 to fuel up, warm up and meet your fellow runners. The route passes the famous Hotel New York from where Dutch and Europeans settlers left for Americas shores.

"The 5K and 10K routes bring us across the famous Erasmusbrug and along the busy waterways whilst greeting endless morning bikers commuting to work – stay on the pedestrian track!" cautions Anders. The 10K runners will also greet the “Grande Dame” – the SS Rotterdam. The vessel was designed as an ocean liner and now serves as a floating hotel and restaurant. "For those with an interest in history, is worth a visit of its own," he says.

An Extra Run

For those who cannot make it for the Breakbulk run, or who are lucky to have an extra day outside the conference days, there are many interesting running routes in and around Rotterdam, Anders says. "The route that illustrates an important part of the history of today’s Rotterdam is the “brandgrens” (fire-line) which marks the part of Rotterdam that was completely destroyed during the bombing 64 years ago. Many good forces have worked for decades to make Rotterdam the cult city it has become.

"When running between the bridges it is possible to visit some of the waypoints for the futuristic Waterfront Central Park visions such as Liquid City, Rijnhavenpark–a 2-kilometer long rooftop park, a floating farm or take the wooden escalators down into the Maastunnel that opened in 1937 for commuting bikers and pedestrians."

Prefer to ride?

Rotterdam also has nice parks and for those who can afford to add a day or two, there is a rich offer of biking routes and rental bikes, you can even bike to the ocean and plan a beach run and a swim.

Want more great ideas for things to see and do in Rotterdam? View and download the Visitor's Guide!