Kralingen

Often called the most beautiful neighbourhood in Rotterdam, Kralingen pairs a village-like calm with genuine urban convenience. Grand 19th- and early 20th-century villas line the long streets around the Oudedijk and Hoflaan, while the Kralingse Bos and Kralingse Plas give residents a forest and a lake on their doorstep. The Bos, Rotterdam's largest city park at roughly 250 hectares, was named the Netherlands' best public space in 2007 and offers running, sailing, skating and a deer park within walking distance of home. The area splits between a more polished, leafy eastern half and a livelier, mixed western half that borders Crooswijk, giving it a blend of well-heeled families, professionals and students from the nearby Erasmus University. Dining is a defining feature: the Oudedijk and Kortekade are dotted with hotspots from fresh-fish bistros to Italian osterias and tapas bars. With the city centre just 15 minutes away by tram or bike, Kralingen consistently ranks among the most sought-after places to live in the city.

Kralingen in Rotterdam, South Holland (Zuid-Holland), Netherlands