Rotterdam Foodhallen: Holy Falafel

Holy Falafel is one of Rotterdam Foodhallen's most-loved vendors — a plant-based concept that proves fast food doesn't have to mean forgettable food. Crispy falafel, loaded fries, fresh toppings, and that particular energy you only find in a place that's figured out exactly what it is. I photographed them in their natural habitat: the Foodhallen on the Schiekade, midway through a busy service, doing what they do best.

The images needed to capture both the food and the atmosphere. Holy Falafel's appeal isn't just on the plate — it's the whole experience of ordering at a Foodhallen counter, watching it come together, finding a spot at a communal table. The photography had to hold that energy while also making the food look genuinely irresistible. Those two things aren't in conflict. They're what good food photography in a market setting is actually about.

Rotterdam Foodhallen is one of the city's great success stories — a converted tram depot that became a food destination worth travelling for. As a photographer, it's an environment I love: high ceilings, warm ambient light, movement, and the visual texture of a space that's actually being used. Every shoot there is different. The vendors change, the light shifts, the crowd varies. But the energy is consistent — and it's contagious.

I'm Rachel Ross, a Rotterdam-based HORECA and brand photographer. I document the food, drink, and hospitality culture of this city — from Foodhallen vendors to cocktail bars to independent restaurants across Rotterdam and beyond. If you're a food concept that needs photography that actually looks like your food, get in touch.