The presence of port cities in the territory of any country improves its economy. The largest port in the world, Rotterdam, is located in the Netherlands. Read about it in the article.
Description
Describing this port, one cannot but say that its area is measured by ten thousand hectares. Its total length is about forty thousand meters, or 40 kilometers. Its location is the delta of three rivers connected with the North Sea. It is also connected to a river called the Nivier Meuse. You can visit it any day of the week. It is open every minute. In total, more than thirty thousand ships moor here a year - it is so huge.
The port of Rotterdam consists of many harbours. Each of them has its own name and number, so it is impossible to confuse them. In addition, it has a connection with the whole country and other states through the railway.
The constant number of people living in the territory of this city is about 617 thousand, so it is one of the largest cities in the Netherlands, second only to Amsterdam in terms of population.
The port even has a motto, which sounds like this: "Strength in the fight."
Story
This port originated in the Middle Ages. It was at this time that harbors first appeared there. However, by the nineteenth century, the rivers that connected it with by sea, were silted up, as a result of which the port of Rotterdam became difficult to access. Since it was in the 19th century that industry in the Ruhr region began to develop intensively, the port became in demand. So in 1830 he received a special canal.
Soon the number of ships passing through here increased, and in 1872 a second canal connected the port directly to the sea. New harbors have appeared, located on an island called IJsselmond. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, more and more harbors were formed as the port grew larger. In 1958, an industrial petrochemical complex appeared in the port of Rotterdam, one of the leading in the world. After that, even the largest ships could get here.
Until now, the port of Rotterdam is developing. So, in the 1970s, new harbors appeared here, and the amount of goods imported into its territory is increasing to this day. Between 1962 and 2004 it was the largest in the world, but in recent times this title is held by the port of Shanghai. Despite this, he remains the leader in Europe.
Activities in the port
At present, such a large port as Rotterdam is one of the most important in the world. The cargo flows processed here, for the most part, consist of such minerals as ore and coal. In addition, petroleum products and pure oil also get here. In total, the port has five harbors for receiving black gold, which include 68 berths.
Many people interested in shipbuilding visit the Netherlands. The port of Rotterdam is a place where life is in full swing. Ferries operate here, ships are repaired, and shipyards are also located. If we give exact numbers, then we can count 8 enterprises intended for ship repair.
Rotterdam is not only a seaport. More than 200,000 riverboats, 250 to be exact, moor in its marinas every year. It is part of a widely branched railway system. In addition, one of the largest metro stations is located here. Historical facts indicate that it was in this city that the first metro in the Netherlands was opened.
Interestingly, during one of biggest wars, namely the First World War, spies were active in the port.
Excursions
The Port of Rotterdam is not only the world's leading port. This city is very popular with tourists. People organize both independent trips and group excursions. So, you can choose among several options the duration of such a walk. It can take 75 minutes or two and a half hours. In summer, you can take part in the excursion at least several times a day, even at night.
The program of excursions is designed in such a way that everyone can see all the most interesting. For example, berths, docks, warehouses, containers brought from all over the world will not be left without attention. At night, tourists have the opportunity to see the romantic Rotterdam - a port city, illuminated by thousands of lanterns and searchlights.
Attractions
Sea port Rotterdam is a city that is rightfully considered the king of Dutch architecture. There are a large number of buildings here, different time were champions, for example, in height. So, one of the buildings built at the beginning of the twentieth century, for several years was considered the highest in the Netherlands. It towered 45 meters above the ground.
Of course, visiting the port, you can not help but be interested in local attractions. These include, in particular:
- Cubic houses, which are considered a prime example of modern architecture.
- Euromast, towering above the ground for many meters.
- The White House is one of the most beautiful in the entire city.
- Erasmus Bridge, or Swan Bridge. largest drawbridge world, the construction of which cost the country 110 million dollars.
- The Maritime Museum, by visiting which people can expand their knowledge of the history of shipbuilding.
Every year tourists visit the sights of Rotterdam. In total, there are about four million people who come to the port.
Rotterdam is a major Dutch port and a naval base in the Rhine Delta, 33 km from the North Sea. A deep-water channel accessible to large ocean-going vessels connects Rotterdam to the North Sea. In total, there are about 50 pools in the port, where 300 sea vessels. The length of the mooring front is about 57 km with a depth of up to 22 m. More than 50% of the total foreign trade turnover of Holland, about 75% of all cargo transportation along the Rhine, passes through Rotterdam. The main item of turnover of the port of Rotterdam is oil (over 70%). In addition, such sea cargoes as ore, coal, grain, timber are imported into the port; exported -industrial equipment, mineral fertilizers.
Port of Rotterdam on the map
The total turnover of maritime cargo transportation in the port of Rotterdam is 257 million tons, the traffic flow is over 30 thousand sea and 250 thousand river vessels per year. The port is equipped with modern mechanisms for loading and unloading cargo, has warehouses, open cargo areas, oil storage facilities, the total capacity of which reaches 27 million tons. The port has 5 oil harbors with 68 berths, 14 of which accept tankers with a carrying capacity of up to 280 thousand tons. accept tankers with a carrying capacity of 400-500 thousand tons. 8 shipbuilding and ship repair enterprises of the port of Rotterdam, which have 8 dry and 25 floating docks, the largest of which has dimensions of 405 X 90 X 10.85 m, provide the construction and repair of ships with a carrying capacity of up to 500 thousand .t and ships up to and including aircraft carriers. Ships and units are based in the port of Rotterdam marines The Dutch Navy, as well as ships of the Navy of other NATO countries.
The seaport of Rotterdam is sometimes referred to as Germany's main port. And this is indeed the case. For Central and Southern Germany, Rotterdam is essentially a nearby port, and accordingly German businessmen are taking full advantage of this opportunity. And thanks in no small part to German products, the port of Rotterdam ranks fourth on the list of major ports in the world after Shanghai, Singapore and Ningbo. In 2010, 430 million tons of cargo passed through the port. Moreover, the main role in transportation through Rotterdam is assigned to the transportation of bulk cargo (raw materials, ore, coal, sand) and cargo in containers. The territory of the port is occupied, first of all, by various warehouses and offices of companies, including Russian ones, which also use the services of this infrastructure facility.
If you delve into history, the first mention of the port of Rotterdam dates back to the Middle Ages, when it originated as a transit point. It was at that time that the first harbors Oude Haven, Haringvliet and Leuvehaven appeared in Rotterdam. In the 19th century, the port had a problem - silting up of the rivers, which made it difficult to go to the sea and back. And it is possible that this unpleasant event would put an end to this grandiose object today, but as they say, the stars favored the city. The rapid development of industry in the Ruhr region required the presence of a port with large transshipment capabilities. And to solve these problems in 1830, funds were found for the construction of the Kanaal door Voorne canal.
As the amount of cargo was constantly growing, in 1872 another canal, the Nieuwe Waterweg, was laid, which connected the city directly with the sea. The appearance of the canal led to the emergence of new harbors on the island of IJsselmonde, which is now part of Rotterdam. It was then, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, that the harbors of Koningshaven, Binnenhaven, Entrepothaven and Spoorweghaven were founded there. In subsequent years, the number of harbors grew along with the increase in the volume of cargo passing through the port of Rotterdam. During the Second World War, the port of Rotterdam was badly damaged. But the war ended and the rapidly recovering German economy again demanded a large port near the industrial Ruhr. And if you need it, you will get it. The port was not just restored, it was practically rebuilt, while meeting the most modern requirements for maritime transportation.
The blockade of the Suez Canal in 1956 called for an increase in tanker traffic, and the port of Rotterdam, which in 1958 had one of the largest petrochemical complexes in the world (Europoort), was at the right time in the right place. Europort is still used today for transshipment of crude oil. From 1962 to 2004, in no small measure timely to previous achievements, the port of Rotterdam was the largest in the world. Today he is content with the status of the largest European. The area of the port occupies 10 thousand hectares, and its length is about 40 km. The port is located on the shores of the North Sea and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It receives 30 thousand ships per year.
Of course, it has an excellent transport infrastructure connecting it with the rest of Europe. Dozens of harbors at their disposal process large cargo flows, the main part of which is oil and oil products, as well as ores and fossil coal. There are guided tours around the port. Therefore, those wishing to take a look at the largest port in Europe can take this opportunity. You can get there by land transport, as well as use the services of a water taxi (waterbus) or a river tram. There is also an opportunity to make sea excursions around the port.
There are several options for sea excursions - from one hour to 2.5 hours. They all start at the pier of the Erasmus Bridge. During the tour, from the board of a modern pleasure ship, you can observe the work of the berths and docks of the port of Rotterdam, see its modern warehouses and thousands of containers that arrived from all over the world and are unloaded and loaded daily in Rotterdam. In addition, you can personally observe the work of ferries, shipyards and ship repair facilities, and many more interesting things.
Rotterdam is the second largest city in the Netherlands with a population of 625,000, and together with the suburbs, the number of citizens increases to almost 1.5 million. It is known for its picturesque views of the river, the best educational institutions country, and non-standard modern architecture. Today it is a huge ultra-modern transport hub of the country, which has the largest port in Europe. An urbanized metropolis with many skyscrapers is the business center of the country. However, the cultural life in the city is also on high level: a variety of festivals, dance and carnival parades are regularly held here.
- Area: 319 km²;
- Timezone: UTC+1, summer UTC+2;
- Population: 631,200.
History reference
The city was founded in 1260 as a small fishing village. In addition to fishing, trade flourished here: local residents exchanged their catches with overseas merchants for all kinds of goods from different countries Europe and Asia. Great geographical discoveries gave a new impetus to development and now gold bars, jewelry, and exotic fruits began to arrive in the port, the existence of which most of the inhabitants of Europe did not even know then. Both Rotterdam itself and its port reached their peak of development in the 18th and 19th centuries, when intensive development began in the city, and a large number of industrial enterprises, mines, shipyards. For several centuries, the history of Rotterdam has been closely intertwined with the sea, and today, this once ordinary fishing village has become the largest European port through which up to 40,000 ships pass a year. 
After the Second World War, during which the city, as well as all its historical and architectural monuments, were almost completely destroyed, the motto of Rotterdam was the phrase: "Strength in the fight." locals they rebuilt the walls of their houses almost from scratch; now a huge metropolis has grown here and the most modern city kingdoms of the Netherlands. 
general information
Rotterdam has a major international airport, so you can get here by air. There are also 7 railway stations operating here, one of which has the status of an international one; its fast trains will deliver travelers to France or Belgium in a couple of hours. Several highways lead from Amsterdam to Rotterdam, which connect the city not only with the capital, but with almost the entire country.
Due to modern buildings, cycling is not as developed here as in other Dutch cities. Locals prefer to use the subway, trams, buses and water taxis. Rotterdam was the first city in the Netherlands to open a metro, and today it has 62 stations on 3 main lines and 2 additional lines. 
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| From where to where | departure date | Find a ticket |
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Vienna → Rotterdam | ||
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Girona → Rotterdam | ||
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Lisbon → Rotterdam | ||
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Krakow → Rotterdam | ||
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Barcelona → Rotterdam | ||
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Kharkiv → Rotterdam | ||
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Warsaw → Rotterdam | ||
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Tangier → Rotterdam | ||
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Kayseri → Rotterdam | ||
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Kyiv → Rotterdam | ||
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El Hoceima → Rotterdam | ||
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Alicante → Rotterdam | ||
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Istanbul → Rotterdam | ||
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Bucharest → Rotterdam | ||
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Tbilisi → Rotterdam | ||
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Sofia → Rotterdam | ||
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Prague → Rotterdam | ||
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Palma de Mallorca → Rotterdam | ||
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Nador → Rotterdam | ||
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Athens → Rotterdam | ||
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Tallinn → Rotterdam | ||
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London → Rotterdam | ||
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Vilnius → Rotterdam | ||
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Moscow → Rotterdam | ||
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Rome → Rotterdam | ||
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Lyon → Rotterdam | ||
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Malaga → Rotterdam | ||
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Madrid → Rotterdam | ||
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Manchester → Rotterdam | ||
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Stuttgart → Rotterdam | ||
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Venice → Rotterdam | ||
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Paris → Rotterdam | ||
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Chisinau → Rotterdam | ||
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Budapest → Rotterdam | ||
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Faro → Rotterdam | ||
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Dubrovnik → Rotterdam | ||
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Almeria → Rotterdam | ||
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BAK → Rotterdam | ||
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Brussels → Rotterdam | ||
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Seville → Rotterdam |
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Rotterdam (Netherlands) - the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Rotterdam with descriptions, guides and maps.
City of Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe and the second largest city in the Netherlands. It is located in South Holland near the North Sea on the Nieuwe Maas River, formed by the Rhine Delta and the Meuse River. Rotterdam is one of the most modern cities in Holland and one of the most dynamic in Europe. It is famous for its modern architecture, nightlife and shopping, avant-garde art and cuisine.
The climate is temperate maritime with fairly cool summers and mild winters. The average temperature of the warm period is often below 20 degrees, while in winter it rarely drops below zero.
Practical information
- Population - 639.5 thousand inhabitants
- Area - 206.4 sq. km
- The language is Dutch.
- Currency - euro.
- Time - Central European UTC +1, summer +2.
- Visa - Schengen.
- The main shopping streets are Lijnbaan and Hoogstraat, which are pedestrianized. Alternative shopping can be arranged at Botersloot and Pannekoekstraat. These streets are located to the east of the Market Square.
- Many pubs, bars and restaurants are located in the Oude Haven (old harbour) and Blaak area.
Story
Rotterdam was founded in the 13th century at the dam where the small river Rotte flows into the Meuse. The name of the city can be translated as "dam on the Rotte". Already in 1340 the settlement received city rights. Thanks to its advantageous position, Rotterdam quickly developed into one of the largest Dutch ports. In 1360, the construction of the city walls began.
In 1572, Rotterdam was sacked by the Spanish. At the beginning of the 17th century, a new large port was built. Very quickly, Rotterdam turned into one of the most important and largest ports in Europe, which it remains to this day. At the beginning of the 20th century, the city's fortifications were demolished, which held back the growth of the city. During the First World War, Rotterdam acted as a base for the secret services. In May 1940, German troops bombed the city center.
How to get there
The airport is located 6 km north of Rotterdam. There are direct flights to big cities Germany, Spain, Italy and England. Amsterdam Schiphol is 58 km away and offers more directions. You can get to the city from the airport by bus 50.
Rotterdam is a major railway junction. There are high-speed trains from Antwerp, Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris. The city is also distinguished by good car accessibility.
Public transport is represented by metro, buses and trams. The Amsterdam Metro consists of 5 lines. There is a unified system of travel. A day pass giving access to everything public transport, costs 10 euros.
Attractions
There are not many historical and cultural monuments to be found in Rotterdam. The main attractions were created relatively recently.
Kijk-Kubus - cubic houses designed by architect Piet Blom. They are a museum.
De Markthal De Markthal is a market combined with residential apartments. For the painting on the walls and ceiling, it is often called the "Dutch Sistine Chapel".
Sculptural composition "Destroyed City" The ruined city (De Verwoeste Stad) is a memorial of 1953, reminiscent of the destruction of World War II.
The Erasmus Bridge is one of the symbols of Rotterdam, an 800-meter bridge that connects the northern and southern parts of the city.
Rotterdam Tower - tallest building Rotterdam (185 m), built in the 60s of the 20th century. At an altitude of 100 meters there is an observation deck.
The central station is the gateway to Amsterdam and a building of interesting architecture.
De Brug is the four-story headquarters of Unilever Bestfoods Nederland, built as a bridge structure over an old factory.
Delta Museum Delta Museum - reconstruction battleship 18th century.
The White House is a 45-meter office building of the late 19th century, the first skyscraper in Europe. Instead of a steel structure, thick load-bearing brick walls were used.
Delfshaven is a picturesque marina, a corner of old Rotterdam.
The Laurenskerk Church is a 15th century late Gothic church, one of the few medieval sights in Rotterdam.
The Maastoren skyscraper is the tallest building in the Netherlands. The height of the building is 164 meters.
The New Delft Gate is a steel structure built in 1995.
Oude- of Pelgrimvaderskerk is a historic church in Rotterdam.
The Schielandshuis is the only surviving building from the 17th century.
The Town Hall is a beautiful Romanesque and Art Deco building built in the early 20th century.
Willemsbrug is one of the symbols of Rotterdam, a beautiful red bridge that connects the city center and its northern part.
Kinderdijk - Nineteen historic windmills are one of the most important Dutch monuments and are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Located near the village of Kinderdijk, 23 km from Rotterdam.
