Waterbus Rotterdam - Dordrecht - Kinderdijk


Waterbus Rotterdam in a nutshell

The waterbus (formerly known as Fast Ferry or Aqualiner) is a fast boat connection between Rotterdam and the suburbs like Krimpen aan den IJssel, Katendrecht, Ridderkerk, Alblasserdam, Hendrik Ido Ambacht, Papendrecht, Kinderdijk and Dordrecht.

Avoid the traffic jams by Waterbus!

Local commuters use the waterbus to escape the daily grind. It's a restful and quick alternative to the everlasting traffic jams during the rush hours and you can you even take your bike on board for free! The waterbus service from Dordrecht to downtown Rotterdam takes less than an hour, about the same time you need by car during the rush hour on a working day.

Visit tourist attractions by waterbus

When in Rotterdam, do as the local commuters do and travel by waterbus to discover some of the best tourist attractions in and around Rotterdam, such as like the famous windmills in Kinderdijk, the historical town of Dordrecht, Biesbosch National Park and the museum steamer ss Rotterdam. The Waterbus terminal in Rotterdam is located at Willemskade, under the Erasmus Bridge in the middle of Rotterdam city center. Waterbus services are carried out from early in the morning till early in the evening. The eight different waterbus services in don't offer guided tours, but still they are a cheap and attractive alternative to sightseeing attractions like Spido harbour tours or SplashTours.


1. Waterbus 18: Rotterdam <-> Heijplaat (25 minutes)
Rotterdam (Erasmusbrug) <->Rotterdam (Katendrecht) <-> Rotterdam (St Jobshaven) <-> Rotterdam (Heijplaat-RDM)

2. Waterbus 20: Rotterdam <-> Dordrecht (58 minutes)
Rotterdam (Erasmusbrug) <-> Krimpen aan den IJssel (Stormpolder) <-> Ridderkerk (De Schans) <-> Alblasserdam (Kade) <-> Hendrik Ido Ambacht (Noordeinde) <-> Papendrecht (Westeind) <-> Dordrecht (Merwedekade)

3. Waterbus 21: Dordrecht <-> Zwijndrecht (7 minutes)
Dordrecht (Hooikade) <-> Zwijndrecht (Veerplein)

4. Waterbus 22: Dordrecht <-> Papendrecht (7 minutes)
Dordrecht (Merwedekade) <-> Papendrecht (Veerdam)

5. Waterbus 23: Dordrecht <-> Sliedrecht (21 minutes)
Dordrecht (Merwedekade) <-> Dordrecht (Ark van Noach) <->Papendrecht (Rosmolenweg) <-> Dordrecht (Hollandse Biesbosch) <-> Sliedrecht (Middeldiep)

6. Waterbus 24: Dordrecht <-> Zwijndrecht (7 minutes)
Dordrecht (Merwekade) <-> Zwijndrecht (Veerplein)

7. Waterbus 202: Rotterdam -> Kinderdijk (28 minutes)
Rotterdam (Erasmusbrug) <-> Kinderdijk (Molenkade) <-> Dordrecht (Merwedekade)

8. Triangle Ferry: Ridderkerk -> Krimpen a/d Lek (13 minutes)
Ridderkerk (De Schans) -> Kinderdijk (Veerdam) -> Krimpen a/d Lek (Rijsdijk)

Best deal: Waterbus Hop on - Hop off Day Pass

As a tourist or daytripper, the Hop on - Hop off waterbus day tickets offers best value for money. It entitles you to unlimited use of all waterbus services (triangle ferry excluded) and free or discounted admission to attractions and museums in greater Rotterdam. Participating attractions are a.o. Euromast, Kinderdijk, Maritime Museum Rotterdam, Marines Museum Rotterdam and ss Rotterdam.

Kinderdijk windmills by waterbus

Waterbus 202 takes you non-stop from Rotterdam to the famous windmills in Kinderdijk in 32 minutes. Waterbus 202 operates from May till September. Departures from 10:40 am, latest return at 4:08 pm. In winter, travel to Kinderdijk with waterbus service 20 (direction Dordrecht) and change in Ridderkerk (De Schans) onto the triangle ferry (direction Krimpen a/d Lek) and disembark in Kinderdijk. This ferry sails in a triangle between three cities, that explains the name. The total trip time from Rotterdam to Kinderdijk by waterbus is about 45 minutes.

National Park Hollandse Biesbosch by waterbus

If you want to travel from Rotterdam to Hollandse Biesbosch, get there with waterbus service 20 to (direction Dordrecht), change onto waterbus service 23 (direction Sliedrecht) and disembark at Hollandse Biesbosch. Departures from Rotterdam every hour from 6:30 am. Last return ferry at 6:10 pm and sometimes later. The total trip time from Rotterdam to Hollandse Biesbosch by waterbus is about 85 minutes. It´s a great idea to combine your visit to National Park Hollandse Biesbosch with some sightseeing in the historic town of Dordrecht. In Hollandse Biesbosch many walking, biking and... tours on small boats take place.

Museum steamer ss Rotterdam by waterbus

If you want to travel from Rotterdam Erasmus Bridge to ss Rotterdam, get there with Waterbus line 18 to Katendrecht, the peninsule where the museum steamer is moored. The trip from the Erasmus Bridge to Katendrecht by waterbus only takes 7 minutes. The ferries depart every 30 minutes from 7:19am. Last trip back to the Erasmus Bridge at 6:10pm, on weekdays even until 10:40pm. But if you want to travel in royal style consider the private, swift and affordable Rotterdam water taxi service!

Travel around in Rotterdam


Read more




hotel in rotterdam



Adverteren City Guide Rotterdam




You May Also Like

Explore what else Rotterdam has got to offer!

Cruise ship

Visit Rotterdam during a daystop at luxury cruise ship on a tour through Europe!

Rotterdam Airport

The regional airport of Rotterdam and The Hague offers you quick check-in, nearby parking and great European destinations.


A quick lightrail connection between Rotterdam City and The Hague.


When you're traveling from the UK the Ferry is a very comfortable option to visit Rotterdam.

Car and Motorbike

Rotterdam can be easily reached by car and motorcycle with highways coming from all directions.

By airplane

Rotterdam The Hague Airport' is right next door and the international Schiphol airport is within a 60 km distance.