Rotterdam
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Rotterdam
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Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands (after Amsterdam), located in the province of South Holland. The city has the largest port in Europe, situated on the banks of the river the Nieuwe Maas. The name "Rotterdam" is derived from a dam in a small river, the Rotte, which joins the Nieuwe Maas at the heart of the city.
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Municipality
As of January 1, 1999 the municipality had an area of 304.22 km² (206.44 km² land) with a total population of 598,923 (01-01-2004).
Apart from the centre the municipality consists of the following towns, villages and townships: Charlois (including Heijplaat), Delfshaven, Feijenoord, Hillegersberg-Schiebroek, Hoek van Holland, Hoogvliet, IJsselmonde, Kralingen-Crooswijk, Noord, Overschie, Pernis, Prins Alexander, and the industrial and port areas Botlek, Eemhaven, Europoort, Maasvlakte, Spaanse Polder, Vondelingenplaat, Waalhaven.
Harbour
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Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe. It serves as a gate for transport to this part of the world. Since 2004 Asian ports like Singapore and Hong Kong have taken over its world leading position. In 2005 Rotterdam has the seventh largest port in the world. (World Port Rankings (http://www.westportmalaysia.com.my/06_statistics.htm)).
Most important for the harbour of Rotterdam are the petrochemical industry and general cargo transhipment handlings. The harbour functions as an important transit point for transport of bulk and other goods between the European continent and other parts of the world. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. Since 2000 the Betuweroute, a fast cargo railway from Rotterdam to Germany, has been under construction. Large oil refineries are located west of the city. The rivers Meuse and Rhine also provide excellent access to the hinterland.
In the first half of the twentieth century the harbour activities moved from the centre towards the North Sea. The Nieuwe Waterweg was dug from Rotterdam to the North Sea, a canal to disembogue the shallow Rhine and Meuse. The Nieuwe Waterweg was ready in 1872 and all sorts of industrial activity formed on the banks of this canal.
Rotterdams harbour territory has been enlarged by the construction of the Europoort (gate to Europe) complex along the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg, and by the Maasvlakte in the North Sea near Hoek van Holland. The lay-out of a second Maasvlakte was the subject of political debate in the 1990s, because it would be partly government-financed. Construction started in the summer of 2004 (press release (http://www.minaz.nl/data/1088175480.pdf), PDF in Dutch ).
History and recent developments
Rotterdam was given city rights on June 7, 1340 by Willem IV of Holland.
On May 14, 1940 Rotterdam was bombed by the German Luftwaffe, on the last of five days of war in the Netherlands (save Zeeland). The heart of the city was almost completely destroyed, which Ossip Zadkine later expressed strikingly with his statue Stad zonder hart (City without a heart). The statue is located near the Leuvehaven, not far from the Erasmusbrug in the north of the city. From the 1950s through the 1970s the city was rebuilt. It remained quite windy and open until the city councils from the 1980s on began developing an active architectural policy. Daring and new styles of apartments, office buildings and recreation facilities resulted in a more 'livable' city center with a new skyline. In the 1990s a new business centre on the south bank of the river, the Kop van Zuid has been built.
Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and a number of smaller cities in the west of the country are expanding towards each other to the extent that the entire area is sometimes denoted as a single metropole known as Randstad.
Demographics
With 55% of the inhabitants earning a low income, Rotterdam has its fair share of typical urban problems, such as dilapidated inner city areas.
Historical population
1796: 53,200 inhabitants
1830: 72,300
1849: 90,100
1879: 148,100
1899: 318,500
1925: 547,900
Geography
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Rotterdam is divided into 'Rotterdam-North' and 'Rotterdam-South' by the river Nieuwe Maas (for connections see that article). A former railway lift bridge "De Hef" is preserved as a monument, in lifted position. It connects the Noordereiland island with 'Rotterdam-South'.
Education
Rotterdam has one major university, the Erasmus University Rotterdam, named after one of its famous former inhabitants, Desiderius Erasmus. Connected to the Erasmus University is the Rotterdam School of Management (http://www.rsm.nl), a top ranked MBA school.
Museums
Well known museums are the Boijmans-van Beuningen (http://www.boijmans.nl) (arts) Museum, the Historisch Museum, the Volkenkundig Museum (foreign peoples and cultures), the KunstHal (http://www.kunsthal.nl) (arthall), the Maritiem Museum (http://www.maritiemmuseum.nl) and the Brandweermuseum (Fire brigade museum). The Euromast (http://www.euromast.nl) (Eurotower) has long been a major tourist attraction.
Culture
Rotterdam was the European Culture Capital of 2001. The city has its own orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with its world famous musical director Valery Gergiev, a large congress and concert building De Doelen, plus many theatres (among which the new Luxor theatre) and movie theatres. The spacious Ahoy-complex in the south of the city is being used for pop concerts, exhibitions, tennis tournaments and other such activities. A big animal Zoo called "Blijdorp" is situated at the North side of Rotterdam , complete with a walkthrough sea aquarium called "Oceanium". The hard techno music style Gabber originated from Rotterdam. The architect J. J. P. Oud was a famous Rotterdammer in his days.
The city is home to the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts.
Rotterdam is currently going through somewhat of a renaissance, with some moderately successful urban renewal projects featuring ambitious architecture ('Manhattan on The Maas'), an increasingly sparkling nightlife, and a host of summer festivals celebrating the city's multicultural population and identity, such as the Caribbean-inspired 'Summer Carnival', the Dance Parade, the Metropolis popfestival and the World Port days. With the International Filmfestival in january, Potery International Festival in June, the Valery Gergiev Festival in September they make Rotterdam a real event city.
The self-image of the city is that of a no-nonsense workers' city. In that sense, there is a healthy competition with Amsterdam, which is often viewed as the 'cultural' capital of the Netherlands.
Rotterdam is also the home of Gabber music, a type of techno music with fast beats and samples.
Architecture
Rotterdam has the tallest building of the Netherlands, called Delftse Poort: 151 m. It houses Nationale Nederlanden insurance company, part of ING Group. [1] (http://inghouse.ing.com/intra/eng/buildings/delftsepoort.html), [2] (http://www.skyscrapercity.info/100.php?id=4&bid=1) Rotterdam is also famous for its Kijk Kubus or cube houses.
Sports
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Rotterdam is the home of three professional football teams: Feyenoord, Sparta (Schiedam-Spangen) and Excelsior. Feyenoord plays in the Dutch Premier League and was Dutch champion (for the last time) in 1999. In 2002 Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup. The large Feyenoord stadium with its popular name De Kuip (The Tub) in the southeast of the city has hosted many international soccer games.
Rotterdam has its own annual international marathon, which offers one of the fastest courses in the world. From 1985 until 1998 the world record was set in Rotterdam, first by Carlos Lopes and later in 1988 by Belayneh Dinsamo. The marathon starts and ends on the Coolsingel in the heart of Rotterdam.
Shopping
Well-known streets in Rotterdam are the shopping center the Lijnbaan (the first set of pedestrian streets of the country, opened in 1953), the Coolsingel with the city hall, and the Weena, which runs from the Central Station to the Hofplein (square).
A modern shopping venue is de 'Beurstraverse', also informally called 'Koopgoot'. The Koopgoot crosses the Coolsingel at substreet level.
Commerce and Industry
Rotterdam is home to the Dutch half of Unilever.
Rotterdam has the largest Port of Europe. The Port of Rotterdam has a strong relationship with the Port of Sjang Hai, the only port in the world exceeding the port of Rotterdam in terms of containers and oil shipped.
The Erasmus University has a strong focus on research and education in management and economics. The University is located on the east side of the city and is surrounded by numerous multinational firms. On Brainpark I, Brainpark II, Brainpark III and 'Het Rivium' you can find offices from Deloitte, PWC, KPMG, CMG, Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola Company, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young etc. In the centre of the city you find the above mentioned Unilever offices, but also Robeco, Fortis (including Mees Pierson and Stad Rotterdam Verzekeringen) ABN AMRO, ING (Nationale Nederlanden) and the Rotterdam WTC.
Yearly events
- January: International Film Festival Rotterdam [3] (http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/index.html)
- June till September: the Rotterdam Summerfestivals, including
- Summer Carnival [4] (http://www.zomercarnaval.com/index.php?lang=eng)
- FFWD Heineken Dance Parade (technoparade), [5] (http://www.ffwdheinekendanceparade.nl/)
- Sept: World Port Days (2004: the 3rd, 4th and 5th of September) [6] (http://www.wereldhavendagen.nl/) (in Dutch)
Public transport
Train
- good national connections and to Belgium and France;
- at night: hourly train service to Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam and, with a detour, Utrecht.
Metro
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- Erasmus Line: Rotterdam Central station - Albrandswaard (Rhoon, Poortugaal) - Hoogvliet - Spijkenisse
- Caland Line: two lines from the northeast of Rotterdam and one from Capelle aan den IJssel join; the combined line terminated in the west of Rotterdam, but on November 4, 2002, an extension was opened: the line now connects to the main railway network at Schiedam railway station, has a stop in Pernis and joins the Erasmus Line in Hoogvliet; trains on the Caland Line, like those on the Erasmus Line, terminate in Spijkenisse.
- The eastern parts of the Caland Line have some level crossings (with priority), and could therefore be called light rail instead of metro; however, they are integrated in the system; these parts have overhead wires, while the rest has a third rail, the vehicles can handle both.
See also List of Rotterdam metro stations.
Airport
Rotterdam has the second largest airport of the country, Rotterdam Airport (formerly known as Zestienhoven), which is located north of the city.
Fast Ferry
- Rotterdam Willemskade - Krimpen aan den IJssel Stormpolder - Ridderkerk De Schans - Alblasserdam Kade - Dordrecht Merwekade.
Miscellaneous
During the summer of 2003 and 2005 there was an artificial beach at the Boompjeskade along the Nieuwe Maas, between the Erasmus Bridge and the Willems Bridge. Swimming was not possible, digging pits was limited to the height of the layer of sand, ca. 50 cm. Alternatively people go the beach of Hoek van Holland.
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Famous 'Rotterdammers' (mostly who are famous in the Netherlands)
- André van Duijn
- Giovanni van Bronckhorst
- Desiderius Erasmus
- Pim Fortuyn
- Rem Koolhaas
- Ruud Lubbers
- Paul de Leeuw
- Robin van Persie
- Renate Verbaan
- Pascal Bosschaart
External links
- Official website of the municipality Rotterdam (http://www.rotterdam.nl/smartsite268958.dws?MainMenu=268958&Menu=268958)
- RET map (http://www.ret.rotterdam.nl/reisinfo9/kaart/index.html)
- Port of Rotterdam website (http://www.portofrotterdam.com/)
- Maps:
- http://www.rotterdam.nl/gis/website/ (select one or more items on the left, then select Toon voorzieningen op de kaart)
- Map of Hoogvliet and Pernis (http://www.plattegronden.nl/hoogvliet-pernis/)
- maps of some more districts (select plattegrond):
- Museums:
- Boymans van Beuningen [10] (http://www.boijmans.nl)
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