Rotterdam, Netherlands

Erasmus Bridge on the Meuse River, Rotterdam
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RotterdamMaasNederland.jpg
Author: Massimo Catarinella


Rotterdam is the second biggest city in the Netherlands. It is the biggest port in Europe, and presently the second-busiest in the world after Shanghai. Rotterdam covers 319 sq km (123.2 sq mi) and has a population of 611,000 (2011 estimate). It is located within the Rijnmond territory which has 1.3 million people.


Rotterdam Central Business District
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotterdam_office_centre_002.JPG
Author: Natubes


Rotterdam straddles the Nieuwe Maas River, which is one of the channels of the Rhine and Meuse rivers discharging into the North Sea. This strategic position allows goods from the Ruhr Industrial Region of Germany to flow out through Rotterdam, to all the countries of the world.

The city of Rotterdam traces its history to AD 900, when a settlement was established at the lower end of the Rotte stream. Regular flooding led to the construction of dikes and dams, which was how the town became known as Rotterdam since the 1260's. The role of Rotterdam as a port city goes back to the early days, at least the 14th century, when it grew as a transshipment center for goods between Holland, England and Germany.

Originally on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas, Rotterdam grew to include the villages on the southern bank such as Katendrecht and Charlois following the completion of the Nieuwe Waterweg in 1872. In 1898, Rotterdam had the tallest office building in Europe when the 45-m (147.6 ft) Witte Huis skyscraper was built, in the French Chateau architectural style.

Rotterdam suffered heavy bombing by Nazi Germany in 1940, forcing the Dutch army to surrender. The city gradually rebuilt from the 1950's through the 1970's, resulting in a whole new skyline for the city.


Rotterdam Centraal metro station
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Metrostation_Rotterdam_Centraal.jpg
Author: Mauritsvink

Visiting Rotterdam

You can take a flight to Rotterdam, landing at the Rotterdam The Hague Airport (RTM). From the airport, you can take Bus 50 to the Meijersplein Metro Station. From there, you can take Metro Line E to reach the Rotterdam Centraal railway station (total travel time: 20 minutes). Alternatively you can take Bus 33 that goes directly to Rotterdam Centraal in 25 minutes.

Exploring Rotterdam

The buses, trams and metro of Rotterdam are managed by Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (RET), the transport operator of the city. As a visitor, you should get the OV-Chipkaart, a stored-value card which costs €7.50.


Hildegardiskerk, Rotterdam
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rotterdam_hildegardiskerk2.jpg
Author: Wikifrits

Places of Interest in Rotterdam

Churches Museums Windmills

Rotterdam is on the map of the Netherlands

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