View source for Rotterdam

{{Short description|City in South Holland, Netherlands}}
{{Other uses|Rotterdam (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->| name               = Rotterdam
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|City]] and [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]]
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
 |total_width   = 280
 |border        = infobox
 |perrow        = 1/3/2/2
 |caption_align = center
 |image1        = A_view_of_Rotterdam,_taken_from_the_roof_of_the_Maassilo,_Rotterdam,_The_Netherlands.jpg
 |alt1          = Rotterdam skyline
 |caption1      = [[List of tallest buildings in Rotterdam|Rotterdam skyline]]
 |image2        = Laurenskerk, Rotterdam.jpg
 |alt2          = Lawrence Church
 |caption2      = [[Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (Rotterdam)|Lawrence Church]]
 |image3        = Rotterdam zadkine monument.jpg
 |alt3          = ''The Destroyed City'' 
 |caption3      = ''[[The Destroyed City]]''
 |image4        = Rotterdam euromast.jpg
 |alt4          = Euromast
 |caption4      = [[Euromast]]
 |image5        = Rotterdam - Cube houses.jpg
 |alt5          = Cube houses
 |caption5      = [[Cube house]]s
 |image6        = Rotterdam feyenoord stadion 1.jpg
 |alt6          = De Kuip
 |caption6      = [[De Kuip]]
 |image7        = Rotterdam-Delfshaven, havenzicht1 foto12 2011-01-09 12.51.JPG
 |alt7          = Historic town centre of Delfshaven
 |caption7      = Historic town centre of [[Delfshaven]]
 |image8        = Maasvlakte-22OKT2022-1.jpg
 |alt8          = Port of Rotterdam
 |caption8      = [[Port of Rotterdam]]
 }}
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = 
| image_flag         = Flag_of_Rotterdam.svg
| flag_size          = 100x67px
| flag_alt           = 
| image_shield       = Rotterdam wapen.svg
| shield_size        = 100x80px
| shield_alt         = 
| image_blank_emblem = Gemeente Rotterdam.svg
| blank_emblem_type  = [[Logo|Brandmark]]
| nicknames          = Rotown, Roffa, Nultien, 010
| motto              = Sterker door strijd ''(Stronger through effort)''
| image_map          = LocatieRotterdam-2010.png
| map_alt            = Highlighted position of Rotterdam in a municipal map of South Holland
| pushpin_map        = Netherlands South Holland#Netherlands#Europe
| map_caption        = Location in South Holland
| coordinates        = {{Coord|51.92|N|4.48|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[South Holland]]
| parts_type         = Districts
| parts_style        = coll
| parts              = Fourteen
| p1                 = [[Rotterdam Centrum|Centrum]]
| p2                 = [[Charlois]]
| p3                 = [[Delfshaven]]
| p4                 = [[Feijenoord]]
| p5                 = [[Hillegersberg-Schiebroek]]
| p6                 = [[Hoogvliet]]
| p7                 = [[Hook of Holland]]
| p8                 = [[IJsselmonde, Rotterdam|IJsselmonde]]
| p9                 = [[Kralingen-Crooswijk]]
| p10                = [[Noord, Rotterdam|Noord]]
| p11                = [[Overschie]]
| p12                = [[Pernis, Netherlands|Pernis]]
| p13                = [[Prins Alexander]]
| p14                = [[Rozenburg]]
| government_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=College van b en w |trans-title=Board of mayor and aldermen |url=http://www.rotterdam.nl/collegebenw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101172852/http://www.rotterdam.nl/collegebenw |archive-date=1 January 2015 |access-date=10 December 2014 |publisher=Gemeente Rotterdam |language=nl}}</ref>
| governing_body     = [[Municipal council (Netherlands)|Municipal council]]
| leader_party       = [[Christian Union (Netherlands)|CU]]
| leader_title       = [[List of mayors of Rotterdam|Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[Carola Schouten]]
| leader_title1      = [[Municipal executive|Aldermen]]
| leader_name1       = {{Collapsible list
 |title = List
 |1 = Robert Simons [[Livable Rotterdam|(LR)]]
 |2 = Ronald Buijt (LR)
 |3 = Bart-Joost van Rij (LR)
 |4 = Pascal Lansink-Bastemeijer [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|(VVD)]]
 |5 = Tim Versnel (VVD) 
 |6 = Chantal Zeegers [[Democrats 66|(D66)]]
 |7 = Said Kasmi (D66)
 |8 = Faouzi Achbar [[DENK (political party)|(DENK)]]
 |9 = Abigail Norville (DENK)
 }}
| total_type         = City
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     = <ref>{{Dutch municipality total area|dataref}}</ref><ref name="Rietveld 2012">{{cite tech report |author1=Anita Bouman–Eijs |author2=Thijmen van Bree |author3=Wouter Jonkhoff |author4=Olaf Koops |author5=Walter Manshanden |author6=Elmer Rietveld |url=http://www.zuidvleugel.nl/sites/www.zuidvleugel.nl/files/article/downloads/top_20_europese_grootstedelijke_regios_1995_2011_tno_2012_r11155.pdf |title=De Top 20 van Europese grootstedelijke regio's 1995–2011; Randstad Holland in internationaal perspectief |language=nl |trans-title=Top 20 of European metropolitan regions 1995–2011; Randstad Holland compared internationally |date=17 December 2012 |publisher=[[Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research|TNO]] |place=Delft |access-date=25 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303212054/http://www.zuidvleugel.nl/sites/www.zuidvleugel.nl/files/article/downloads/top_20_europese_grootstedelijke_regios_1995_2011_tno_2012_r11155.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = {{Dutch municipality total area|Rotterdam}}
| area_land_km2      = {{Dutch municipality land area|Rotterdam}}
| area_water_km2     = {{Dutch municipality water area|Rotterdam}}
| area_blank1_title  = [[Randstad]]
| area_blank1_km2    = 3043
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="AHN">{{cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Postcodetool for 3011AD |url=http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053543/http://www.ahn.nl/postcodetool |archive-date=21 September 2013 |access-date=20 August 2013 |website=Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland |publisher=Het Waterschapshuis |language=nl}}</ref>
| elevation_max_footnotes = <!-- for references: use <ref name="Rietveld 2012" /><ref>{{Dutch municipality population|dataref}}</ref><ref>{{Dutch municipality population urbanmetro|dataref}}</ref><ref>-->
| population_footnotes = <ref>CBS StatLine https://opendata.cbs.nl/#/CBS/nl/dataset/86165NED/table?ts=1763124156834</ref>
| population_total   = 608495
| population_as_of   = 2025
| population_density_km2 = {{Dutch municipality population density|Rotterdam}}
| population_urban   = 1,026,250
| population_urban_footnotes = <ref name="y334">{{cite web | title=Rotterdam Population 2025 | website=World Population Review | url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/netherlands/rotterdam | access-date=2025-07-29}}</ref>
| population_metro   = 2620000
| population_metro_footnotes = [[Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area|(Rotterdam-The Hague)]]
| population_blank1_title = [[Randstad]]
| population_blank1  = 8,366,078
| population_blank2_title = [[List of municipalities of the Netherlands|Municipality]]
| population_blank2  = 672960<ref name="b869">{{cite web | title=Rotterdam (Municipality, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands) | website=Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location | date=2025-01-01 | url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/netherlands/admin/zuid_holland/0599__rotterdam/ | access-date=2025-07-29}}</ref>
| population_demonym = Rotterdammer
| timezone1          = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1        = +1
| timezone1_DST      = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = +2
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code        = 3000–3099
| area_code_type     = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code          = 010
| website            = {{URL|http://www.rotterdam.nl|rotterdam.nl}} {{in lang|nl}}
| module             = {{infobox mapframe|zoom=9}}
| footnotes          = Click on the map for a fullscreen view
}}

'''Rotterdam''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|r|ɒ|t|ər|d|æ|m}} {{respell|ROT|ər|dam}}, {{IPAc-en|UKalso|ˌ|r|ɒ|t|ər|ˈ|d|æ|m}} {{respell|ROT|ər|DAM}};<ref>{{citation |last=Wells |first=John C. |title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary |year=2008 |edition=3rd |publisher=Longman |isbn=9781405881180}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last=Roach |first=Peter |title=Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |edition=18th |year=2011 |isbn=9780521152532}}</ref> {{IPA|nl|ˌrɔtərˈdɑm|lang|Nl-Rotterdam.ogg}}; {{literally|The Dam on the River [[Rotte (river)|Rotte]]}}) is the second-largest [[List of cities in the Netherlands by province|city]] in the [[Netherlands]] by population and the largest by area (319.4&nbsp;km²). It is in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of [[South Holland]], part of the [[North Sea]] mouth of the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]], via the [[Nieuwe Maas|New Meuse]] inland shipping channel, dug to connect to the [[Meuse]] at first and now to the [[Rhine]].

Rotterdam's history goes back to 1270, when a [[dam]] was constructed in the [[Rotte (river)|Rotte]]. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city rights by [[William II, Count of Hainaut|William IV, Count of Holland]]. The [[Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area]], with a population of approximately 2.7&nbsp;million, is the [[List of urban areas in the European Union|10th-largest in the European Union]] and the most populous in the country.

A major logistic and economic centre, Rotterdam is [[Port of Rotterdam|Europe's largest seaport]]. In 2022, Rotterdam had a population of 655,468 and is home to over 180 different nationalities.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table?ts=1578685738191 |title=Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand |language=Dutch |website=[[Statistics Netherlands|CBS StatLine]] |access-date=23 July 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725200732/https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37230ned/table?ts=1578685738191 |archive-date=25 July 2019}}<br />8,219,380 Randstad<br />2,620,000 Rotterdam-The Hague Metro<br />1,160,000 Rotterdam Urban<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;651,446 Rotterdam Municipality</ref>

Rotterdam is known for its [[Erasmus University Rotterdam|university]], riverside setting, lively cultural life, maritime heritage and modern [[#Architecture|architecture]]. The near-complete destruction of the city centre during the [[World War II]] [[German bombing of Rotterdam|German bombing]] has resulted in a varied architectural landscape, including [[skyscraper]]s designed by architects such as [[Rem Koolhaas]], [[Piet Blom]] and [[Ben van Berkel]].<ref>{{cite web |date=9 March 2015 |title=Top 10 Cities : The Rough Guide to 2014 |url=http://www.roughguides.com/best-places/2014/top-10-cities/#/rotterdam/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150322080718/http://www.roughguides.com/best-places/2014/top-10-cities/#/rotterdam/ |archive-date=22 March 2015 |access-date=9 March 2015 |publisher=Rough Guides}}</ref><ref name="Academy of Urbanism">{{cite web |date=14 November 2014 |title=Urbanism Awards: Rotterdam takes top prize |url=http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/urbanism-awards-rotterdam-takes-top-prize/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222180405/http://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/urbanism-awards-rotterdam-takes-top-prize/ |archive-date=22 December 2014 |access-date=15 December 2014 |publisher=Academy of Urbanism}}</ref><ref>New York Times. (2023, May 11). Things to do in Rotterdam. The New York Times. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/05/11/travel/things-to-do-rotterdam.html
</ref>

The [[Rhine]], [[Meuse]] and [[Scheldt]] give waterway access into the heart of Western Europe, including the highly industrialized [[Ruhr]]. The extensive distribution system including rail, roads, and waterways have earned Rotterdam the nicknames "Gateway to Europe" and "Gateway to the World".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jan Walburg |title=The port of Rotterdam: Gateway to Europe |date=1 August 1984}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Royal van Gorcum |title=Dutch Culture in a European Perspective: 1950, prosperity and welfare |date=1999 |quote="Rotterdam port: Gateway to Europe" (p.151)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 February 2014 |title=Gateway to the world: how EU helped Rotterdam to become Europe's largest port {{!}} News {{!}} European Parliament |language=en |work=europarl.europa.eu |url=https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20140221STO36622/gateway-to-the-world-how-eu-helped-rotterdam-to-become-europe-s-largest-port |url-status=live |access-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816090319/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/eu-affairs/20140221STO36622/gateway-to-the-world-how-eu-helped-rotterdam-to-become-europe-s-largest-port |archive-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Early history===
[[File:Rotterdam Map by Frederick De Wit c1690.jpg|thumb|left|Map of Rotterdam by [[Frederick de Wit]] ({{Circa|1690}})]]

The settlement at the lower end of the [[fen]] stream ''[[Rotte (river)|Rotte]]'' (or ''Rotta'', as it was then known, from ''rot'', "muddy" and ''a'', "water", thus "muddy water") dates from at least the year 950.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Vredenbregt |first1=A.H.L. |last2=Van Trierum |first2=M. C. |title=Rotterdam Markthal, Archeological Research |date=2012 |publisher=Bureau Oudheidkundig Onderzoek Rotterdam |location=Rotterdam |page=81 |edition=1 |url=https://archisarchief.cultureelerfgoed.nl/Archis2/Archeorapporten/32/AR30071/BOORrapporten%20469-1.pdf |access-date=3 January 2021 |language=Dutch |chapter=7.6: Dating of the occupation and the different occupation phases |quote=The habitation phase [...] starts in the middle of the 10th century (circa 950) and continues until [...] around the middle of the 11th century (circa 1050-1060). (translated) |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904133310/https://archisarchief.cultureelerfgoed.nl/Archis2/Archeorapporten/32/AR30071/BOORrapporten%20469-1.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Around 1150, large [[flood]]s in the area ended development, leading to the construction of protective [[Levee|dikes]] and dams, including ''Schielands Hoge Zeedijk'' ("Schieland's High Sea Dike") along the northern banks of the present-day [[Nieuwe Maas]] river. A dam on the Rotte was built in the 1260s and was located at the present-day ''Hoogstraat'' ("High Street").

On 7 July 1340, Count [[William II, Count of Hainaut|Willem IV of Holland]] granted [[City rights in the Low Countries|city rights]] to Rotterdam, which then had a population of only a few thousand.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 March 2015 |title=Geschiedenis van Rotterdam |url=http://www.rotterdam.nl/tekst:bescheiden_begin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305123510/https://www.rotterdam.nl/tekst:bescheiden_begin |archive-date=5 March 2016 |publisher=Gemeente Rotterdam}}</ref> Around the year 1350, a shipping canal (the ''[[Schie|Rotterdamse Schie]]'') was completed, which provided Rotterdam access to the larger towns in the north, allowing it to become a local trans-shipment centre between the Netherlands, [[England]] and [[Germany]], and to [[Urbanization|urbanize]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam - City, Port, History, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Rotterdam-Netherlands |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310035028/https://www.britannica.com/place/Rotterdam-Netherlands |archive-date=10 March 2018 |access-date=1 March 2018 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica}}</ref>

Beginning in the 1600s, Rotterdam was involved in the [[Atlantic slave trade]]. According to historian Gerhard de Kok, "Rotterdam merchants were the pioneers of the [[History of Dutch slavery|Dutch slave trade]]". From the 17th century until 1814, when the [[Sovereign Principality of the United Netherlands|United Netherlands]] abolished the Netherlands' involvement in the slave trade at the request of the [[Government of the United Kingdom|British government]], Dutch [[slave ship]]s from Rotterdam sailed to [[Africa]] and the [[Americas]] as part of the [[triangular trade]]. Rotterdam merchants also sold significant quantities of [[gunpowder]] to [[Zeeland]]-based slave ships.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2020/08/27/why-the-netherlands-slavery-past-is-rotterdams-past-too/ | title=How Rotterdam, too, was involved in the slave trade | date=27 August 2020 }}</ref>

[[File:Detroit Publishing Company - Rotterdam - Delftsevaart, c. 1895.jpg|thumb|left|The Delftsevaart, c. 1890–1905]]
[[File:Standbeeld_Maagd_van_Nederland,_Nieuwe_Markt,_Rotterdam,_1915.jpg|thumb|Nieuwe Markt, 1915]]

The port of Rotterdam grew slowly but steadily into a port of importance, becoming the seat of one of the six "chambers" of the ''Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie'' (VOC), the [[Dutch East India Company]] and one of the five "chambers" of the '' West-Indische Compagnie'' (WIC), the [[Dutch West India Company]].

The greatest spurt of growth, both in port activity and population, followed the completion of the [[Nieuwe Waterweg]] in 1872. The city and harbour started to expand on the south bank of the river. The ''[[Witte Huis]]'' or ''White House'' skyscraper,<ref>{{cite web |title=The ''Witte Huis'' or ''White House'' |url=http://glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/229.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041220211137/http://glasssteelandstone.com/BuildingDetail/229.php |archive-date=20 December 2004 |url-status=usurped |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> inspired by American office buildings and built in 1898 in the French [[Art Nouveau|Art Nouveau style]], is evidence of Rotterdam's rapid growth and success. When completed, it was the tallest office building in Europe, with a height of {{cvt|45|m|2}}.

===20th century===
[[File:Rotterdam, Laurenskerk, na bombardement van mei 1940.jpg|thumb|left|Rotterdam centre after the [[Rotterdam Blitz|1940 bombing of Rotterdam]]. The ruined [[Grote or Sint-Laurenskerk (Rotterdam)|St. Lawrence Church]] has been restored.]]
[[File:Rotterdam-Kop van Zuid, World Portcenter, Montevideo en hotel New York foto12 2011-01-09 14.12.JPG|thumb|[[Tower block]]s in the [[Kop van Zuid]] neighbourhood]]

During [[World War I]], the city was the world's largest spy centre because of Dutch neutrality and its strategic location between Britain, Germany and German-occupied Belgium. Many spies who were arrested and executed in Britain were led by German secret agents operating from Rotterdam. [[MI6]] had its main European office on de Boompjes. From there the British coordinated espionage in Germany and occupied Belgium. During World War I, an average of 25,000 Belgian refugees lived in the city, as well as hundreds of German deserters and escaped Allied prisoners of war.<ref>Ruis, Edwin. ''Spynest. British and German Espionage from Neutral Holland 1914–1918''. Brimscombe: The History Press, 2016.</ref>

During [[World War II]], the German army [[German invasion of the Netherlands|invaded the Netherlands]] on 10 May 1940.<ref>{{harvnb|Evans|2008|pp=122–3}}.</ref> [[Adolf Hitler]] had hoped to conquer the country in just one day, but his forces met unexpectedly fierce resistance. The Dutch army was forced to capitulate on 15 May 1940, following the [[Rotterdam Blitz|bombing of Rotterdam]] on 14 May and the threat of bombing other Dutch cities.<ref>{{harvnb|Brongers|2004|loc=(ONR Part III), p. 235}}</ref>{{sfn|Amersfoort|2005|p=369}}{{sfn|Götzel|1980|pp=149, 150}}<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Helen Hill Miller |title=Rotterdam - Reborn from Ruins |journal=[[National Geographic]] |date=October 1960 |volume=118 |issue=4 |pages=526–553}}</ref> The heart of Rotterdam was almost completely destroyed by the [[Luftwaffe]]. Some 80,000 civilians were made homeless and 900 were killed; a relatively low number since many had fled the city because of the warfare and bombing going on in Rotterdam since the start of the invasion three days earlier. The City Hall survived the bombing. [[Ossip Zadkine]] later attempted to capture the event with his statue ''[[De Verwoeste Stad]]'' ('The Destroyed City'). The statue stands near the Leuvehaven, not far from the [[Erasmusbrug]] in the centre of the city, on the north shore of the river Nieuwe Maas. In 1941, 11,000 Jews still lived in Rotterdam. Before the war there were 13,000. Between 30 July 1942, and 22 April 1943, 6,790 people were deported in 8 transports via Loods 24. The vast majority of the Jews who were deported via Loods 24 were murdered in [[Sobibor extermination camp|Sobibór]] and [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz-Birkenau]]. Research in 2000 showed that 144 people survived the deportations. In 2013 the {{Ill|Jewish Children's Monument|nl|Joods Kindermonument (Rotterdam)}} was unveiled.

In January 1948, [[Wilhelmina of the Netherlands|Queen Wilhelmina]] presented the motto 'Sterker door strijd' (Stronger through effort) as part of the [[coat of arms of Rotterdam]] to the city government:

''...as a reminder also for posterity of the courage and strength with which the people of Rotterdam bore all the trials of the war and the important part they took in the liberation of the fatherland....''
—Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Rotterdam was gradually rebuilt from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Because the city centre was largely destroyed, new spatial infrastructure could be built, making it an open and modern city. In 1953 the [[Lijnbaan]] was opened, the first car-free shopping street in Europe. The progressive design attracted a lot of international attention, in which film and television played an important role.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paalman |first=Floris |title=Cinematic Rotterdam: The Times and Tides of a Modern City |publisher=010 Publishers |year=2011 |isbn=9789064507663 |location=Rotterdam |language=en}}</ref> The new [[Rotterdam Centraal station|Central Station]] was completed in 1957, with the [[Groothandelsgebouw]] from 1953 next to it. The [[Euromast]] was erected in 1960 on the occasion of the [[Floriade (Netherlands)|Floriade]].
From the 1980s onwards the city councils began developing an active architectural policy. The harbours were moving westwards and the old environment had to be reshaped. Daring and new styles of [[apartment]]s, office buildings and recreation facilities resulted in a more '[[Quality of life|livable]]' city centre with a new skyline. In the 1990s, the [[Kop van Zuid]] was built on the south bank of the river as a new business centre. Rotterdam was voted 2015 European City of the Year by the Academy of Urbanism.<ref name="Academy of Urbanism" /> A profile of Rem Koolhaas in ''[[The Guardian]]'' begins "If you put the last 50 years of architecture in a blender, and spat it out in building-sized chunks across the skyline, you would probably end up with something that looked a bit like Rotterdam".<ref name="Wainwright 2013">{{cite news |last=Wainwright |first=Oliver |title=Rem Koolhaas's De Rotterdam: cut and paste architecture |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/nov/18/rem-koolhaas-de-rotterdam-building |url-status=live |work=The Guardian |date=2013 |access-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103210450/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/nov/18/rem-koolhaas-de-rotterdam-building |archive-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Rotterdam-plaats-OpenTopo.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|left|Topographic map image of Rotterdam (city), as of September 2014]]

Rotterdam is divided into a northern and a southern part by the river Nieuwe Maas, connected by (from west to east): the Beneluxtunnel; the [[Maastunnel]]; the [[Erasmusbrug]]; a subway tunnel; the Willemsspoortunnel ('Willems railway tunnel'); the [[Willemsbrug]] ('Willems Bridge') together with the Koninginnebrug ('Queen's Bridge'); and the [[Van Brienenoordbrug]] ('Van Brienenoord Bridge'). The former railway lift bridge [[De Hef]] ('the Lift') is preserved as a [[Rijksmonument]] (national heritage site) in lifted position between the [[Noordereiland]] ('North Island') and the south of Rotterdam.
[[File:View of Rotterdam from the Euromast, Rotterdam-Centrum, Rotterdam (2023) 08.jpg|thumb|View of Rotterdam from the Euromast]]
The city centre is located on the northern bank of the Nieuwe Maas, although recent urban development has extended the centre to parts of southern Rotterdam known as [[Kop van Zuid]] ('the Head of South', i.e. the northern part of southern Rotterdam). From its inland core, Rotterdam reaches the [[North Sea]] by a swathe of predominantly harbour area.

Built mostly behind dikes, large parts of Rotterdam are below sea level. For instance, the Prins Alexander Polder in the northeast of Rotterdam extends {{cvt|6|m|ft}} below sea level, or rather below [[Normaal Amsterdams Peil]] (NAP) or 'Amsterdam Ordnance Datum'. The lowest point in the Netherlands ({{cvt|6.76|m|ft}} below NAP) is situated just to the east of Rotterdam, in the municipality of [[Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel]].
[[File:Rotterdam by Sentinel-2, 2018-06-30.jpg|alt=|thumb|Satellite image of Rotterdam and its port]]

The [[Rotte (river)|Rotte]] river no longer joins the Nieuwe Maas directly. Since the early 1980s, when the construction of Rotterdam's second underground line interfered with the Rotte's course, its waters have been pumped through a pipe into the Nieuwe Maas via the Boerengat. [[File:Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag (Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Area).svg|thumb|The 24 municipalities of the [[Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area]]]]

Between the summers of 2003 and 2008, an artificial [[beach]] was created at the Boompjeskade along the Nieuwe Maas, between the Erasmus Bridge and the Willems Bridge. [[human swimming|Swimming]] was not possible, digging pits was limited to the height of the layer of [[sand]], about {{cvt|50|cm|0}}. Alternatively, people go to the beach of [[Hook of Holland]] (which is a Rotterdam district) or one of the beaches in [[Zeeland]]: [[Renesse]] or the Zuid Hollandse Eilanden: [[Ouddorp]], [[Oostvoorne]].

Rotterdam forms the centre of the [[Rijnmond]] conurbation, bordering the conurbation surrounding [[The Hague]] to the north-west. The two conurbations are close enough to be a single conurbation. They share the [[Rotterdam The Hague Airport]] and a light rail system called [[RandstadRail]]. Consideration is being given to creating an official Metropolitan region Rotterdam The Hague (''Metropoolregio Rotterdam Den Haag''), which would have a combined population approaching 2.5 million.

In its turn, the Rijnmond conurbation is part of the southern wing (the [[Zuidvleugel]]) of the [[Randstad]], which is one of the most important economic and densely populated areas in the north-west of Europe. Having a population of 7.1 million, the Randstad is the [[List of metropolitan areas in Europe|sixth-largest]] [[urban area]] in [[Europe]] (after Moscow, London, Paris, Istanbul, and the Rhein-Ruhr Area). The Zuidvleugel, situated in the province of [[South Holland]], has a population of around 3 million.

===Climate===
Rotterdam experiences a temperate [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb'') similar to all of the coastal areas in the Netherlands. Located near to the coast, its climate is slightly milder than locations further inland. Winters are cool with frequent cold days, while the summers are mild to warm, with occasional hot temperatures. Temperature rises above 30&nbsp;°C on average 4 days each summer, while (night) temperatures can drop below −5&nbsp;°C during winter for short periods of time, mostly during periods of sustained easterly (continental) winds. Precipitation is generally moderate throughout the year, although spring and summer (particularly before August) are relatively drier and sunnier, while autumn and winter are cloudier with more frequent rain (or snow). The following climate data is from the airport, which is slightly cooler than the city, being surrounded by water canals which make the climate milder and with a higher [[relative humidity]]. The city has an [[urban heat island]], especially inside the city centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heat Stress in Rotterdam |url=https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/en/@164058/heat-stress/ |access-date=29 April 2022 |website=Spatial adaptation |date=30 June 2011 |language=en |archive-date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414003506/https://klimaatadaptatienederland.nl/en/@164058/heat-stress/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location = Rotterdam (1991–2020 normals)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 14.2
| Feb record high C = 18.7
| Mar record high C = 23.8
| Apr record high C = 28.7
| May record high C = 32.7
| Jun record high C = 33.8
| Jul record high C = 38.9
| Aug record high C = 34.9
| Sep record high C = 32.5
| Oct record high C = 26.0
| Nov record high C = 19.3
| Dec record high C = 15.6
| year record high C = 38.9
| Jan avg record high C = 11.9
| Feb avg record high C = 12.7
| Mar avg record high C = 16.9
| Apr avg record high C = 22.4
| May avg record high C = 26.2
| Jun avg record high C = 29.2
| Jul avg record high C = 30.7
| Aug avg record high C = 30.1
| Sep avg record high C = 25.4
| Oct avg record high C = 20.9
| Nov avg record high C = 15.6
| Dec avg record high C = 12.5
| year avg record high C = 32.6
| Jan high C = 6.4
| Feb high C = 7.1
| Mar high C = 10.3
| Apr high C = 14.3
| May high C = 17.9
| Jun high C = 20.6
| Jul high C = 22.7
| Aug high C = 22.6
| Sep high C = 19.3
| Oct high C = 14.9
| Nov high C = 10.2
| Dec high C = 7.0
| year high C = 14.4
| Jan mean C = 4.0
| Feb mean C = 4.4
| Mar mean C = 6.7
| Apr mean C = 9.7
| May mean C = 13.2
| Jun mean C = 16.0
| Jul mean C = 18.2
| Aug mean C = 18.0
| Sep mean C = 14.8
| Oct mean C = 10.9
| Nov mean C = 7.0
| Dec mean C = 4.1
| year mean C = 10.7
| Jan low C = 1.3
| Feb low C = 1.1
| Mar low C = 2.4
| Apr low C = 4.8
| May low C = 8.1
| Jun low C = 11.0
| Jul low C = 13.2
| Aug low C = 12.9
| Sep low C = 10.5
| Oct low C = 7.2
| Nov low C = 3.9
| Dec low C = 1.4
| year low C = 6.7
| Jan avg record low C = -6.5
| Feb avg record low C = -5.8
| Mar avg record low C = -3.6
| Apr avg record low C = -1.7
| May avg record low C = 1.7
| Jun avg record low C = 5.5
| Jul avg record low C = 8.6
| Aug avg record low C = 8.4
| Sep avg record low C = 5.4
| Oct avg record low C = 1.0
| Nov avg record low C = -2.3
| Dec avg record low C = -5.4
| year avg record low C = -9.0
| Jan record low C = -17.1
| Feb record low C = -16.5
| Mar record low C = -13.4
| Apr record low C = -6.0
| May record low C = -1.4
| Jun record low C = 0.5
| Jul record low C = 3.6
| Aug record low C = 4.6
| Sep record low C = 0.4
| Oct record low C = -5.1
| Nov record low C = -9.0
| Dec record low C = -13.3
| year record low C = -17.1
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 71
| Feb precipitation mm = 66
| Mar precipitation mm = 57
| Apr precipitation mm = 42
| May precipitation mm = 56
| Jun precipitation mm = 69
| Jul precipitation mm = 79
| Aug precipitation mm = 92
| Sep precipitation mm = 90
| Oct precipitation mm = 87
| Nov precipitation mm = 88
| Dec precipitation mm = 86
| year precipitation mm = 882
| unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
| Jan precipitation days = 12
| Feb precipitation days = 10
| Mar precipitation days = 12
| Apr precipitation days = 9
| May precipitation days = 9
| Jun precipitation days = 10
| Jul precipitation days = 10
| Aug precipitation days = 10
| Sep precipitation days = 12
| Oct precipitation days = 12
| Nov precipitation days = 13
| Dec precipitation days = 13
| year precipitation days = 131
| Jan snow days = 6
| Feb snow days = 5
| Mar snow days = 4
| Apr snow days = 2
| May snow days = 0
| Jun snow days = 0
| Jul snow days = 0
| Aug snow days = 0
| Sep snow days = 0
| Oct snow days = 0
| Nov snow days = 2
| Dec snow days = 4
| year snow days = 22
| Jan humidity = 88
| Feb humidity = 85
| Mar humidity = 83
| Apr humidity = 78
| May humidity = 77
| Jun humidity = 79
| Jul humidity = 79
| Aug humidity = 80
| Sep humidity = 84
| Oct humidity = 86
| Nov humidity = 89
| Dec humidity = 89
| Jan sun = 69.6
| Feb sun = 89.9
| Mar sun = 143.4
| Apr sun = 192.9
| May sun = 226.2
| Jun sun = 216.0
| Jul sun = 221.2
| Aug sun = 202.5
| Sep sun = 152.9
| Oct sun = 115.1
| Nov sun = 66.8
| Dec sun = 55.5
| year sun = 1752.0
| source 1 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] (1991–2020 normals, snowy days normals for 1971–2000)<ref>{{cite web |title=Klimaattabel Rotterdam, langjarige gemiddelden, tijdvak 1991–2020 |url=http://www.klimaatatlas.nl/tabel/stationsdata/klimtab_8110_344.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231416/http://www.klimaatatlas.nl/tabel/stationsdata/klimtab_8110_344.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=10 September 2013 |publisher=[[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute]] |language=nl}}</ref>
| source 2 = Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (1971–2000 extremes)<ref>{{cite web |title=Klimaattabel Rotterdam, langjarige extremen, tijdvak 1971–2000 |url=http://www.knmi.nl/klimatologie/normalen1971-2000/per_station/stn344/5-extremen/344_extremen.pdf |access-date=10 September 2013 |publisher=Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute |language=nl}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Infoclimat<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/annee/1991/rotterdam/valeurs/06344.html|title=Climatologie de l'année à Rotterdam|publisher=Infoclimat|access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|align       = right
|cols        = 2
|percentages = pagr
|source      = {{Harvnb|Lourens|Lucassen|1997|pp=116–117}} (1398–1795)<br>[[Statistics Netherlands]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Population dynamics; birth, death and migration per region
|url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/en/dataset/37259eng/table?ts=1742391441388|publisher=[[Statistics Netherlands]]}}</ref>
|1398 |2500
|1477 |5738
|1494 |4374
|1514 |5116
|1622 |19532
|1632 |29500
|1665 |40000
|1732 |56000
|1795 |53212
|1830 |72300
|1849 |90100
|1879 |148100
|1899 |318500
|1925 |547900
|1950|679005|1960|733693|1970|697469|1980|594027|1990|593339|2000|606021|2010|605543|2020|651157}}
[[File:Rotterdam population pyramid.svg|thumb|Rotterdam population pyramid in 2022]]
{| class="wikitable floatright plainrowheaders"
|+Population by country of birth of parents of residents in 2018{{efn|Residents with a mixed background are counted in the non-Dutch groupings}}<ref>{{cite web |title=CBS StatLine – Bevolking; leeftijd, herkomstgroepering, geslacht en regio, 1 januari |url=http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37713&D1=0-8&D2=0&D3=1-2,6-55&D4=603&D5=l&HDR=T,G4&STB=G1,G3,G2&VW=T |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630224048/http://statline.cbs.nl/Statweb/publication/?DM=SLNL&PA=37713&D1=0-8&D2=0&D3=1-2,6-55&D4=603&D5=l&HDR=T,G4&STB=G1,G3,G2&VW=T |archive-date=30 June 2017 |access-date=30 August 2015}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | Country/Territory
! scope="col" | Population
! scope="col" | Percentage
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Netherlands]]
| 313,861
| 46.1%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|SUR}} [[Suriname]]
| 52,620
| 8.2%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Turkey]]
| 47,712
| 7.5%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|MAR}} [[Morocco]]
| 44,164
| 6.9%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Dutch Caribbean]]
| 24,836
| 3.9%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|CPV}} [[Cape Verde]]
| 15,411
| 2.4%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|IDN}} [[Indonesia]]
| 11,952
| 1.9%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|POL}} [[Poland]]
| 9,714
| 1.5%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Germany]]
| 9,565
| 1.5%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|YUG}} [[Ex-Yugoslavia]]
| 9,369
| 1.5%
|-
! scope="row" | {{flagicon|PRC}} [[Mainland China]]
| 7,218
| 1.1%
|-
! scope="row" | Other 
| 92,290 
| 14.5%
|}

Rotterdam is diverse, with the demographics differing by neighbourhood. The city centre has a disproportionately high number of single people when compared to other cities, with 70% of the population between the ages of 20 and 40 identifying as single.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam Population 2018 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) |url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/rotterdam-population/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116173257/http://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/rotterdam-population/ |archive-date=16 November 2018 |access-date=16 November 2018 |website=worldpopulationreview.com}}</ref> Those with higher education and higher income live disproportionately in the city centre, as do foreign-born citizens.

===Composition===
{{See also|Districts and neighbourhoods of Rotterdam}}
The [[Municipalities of the Netherlands|municipality]] of Rotterdam is part of the [[Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area]] which, as of 2015, covers an area of 1,130&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, of which 990&nbsp;km&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> is land, and has a population of approximately 2,563,197. As of 2019, the municipality itself occupies an area of 325.79&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, 208.80&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> of which is land, and is home to 638,751 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite web |last=World Population Review |date=2019 |title=Population of Cities in Netherlands (2019) |url=http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/netherlands-population/cities/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711093539/http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/netherlands-population/cities/ |archive-date=11 July 2019 |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> Its population peaked at 731,564 in 1965, but the dual processes of [[suburbanization]] and [[counterurbanization]] saw this number steadily decline over the next 2 decades, reaching 560,000 by 1985.<ref>{{cite web |last=The Joseph Rowntree Foundation |date=2016 |title=International cities: case studies Rotterdam |url=https://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/default/files/jrf/files-research/international_cities_rotterdam.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711093545/https://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/default/files/jrf/files-research/international_cities_rotterdam.pdf |archive-date=11 July 2019 |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref><ref name="Pijbes 2016">{{cite web |last=Pijbes |first=Wim |date=November 2016 |title=Rotterdam city of culture and tourist destination: a study |url=https://iabrotterdam.com/iab-en/assets/File/Analysis%20by%20Wim%20Pijbes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014032100/https://iabrotterdam.com/iab-en/assets/File/Analysis%20by%20Wim%20Pijbes.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2019 |access-date=11 July 2019}}</ref> Although Rotterdam has experienced population growth since then, it has done so at a slower pace than comparable cities in the Netherlands, like Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht.<ref name="Pijbes 2016" />

Rotterdam consists of 14 submunicipalities: [[Rotterdam Centrum|Centrum]], [[Charlois]] (including Heijplaat), [[Delfshaven]], [[Feijenoord]], [[Hillegersberg-Schiebroek]], [[Hook of Holland]], [[Hoogvliet]], [[IJsselmonde, Rotterdam|IJsselmonde]], [[Kralingen-Crooswijk]], [[Noord, Rotterdam|Noord]], [[Overschie]], [[Pernis, Netherlands|Pernis]], and [[Prins Alexander]] (the most populous submunicipality with around 85,000 inhabitants). One other area, [[Rozenburg]], does have an official submunicipality status since 18 March 2010. Since the status of a [[Deelgemeente|submunicipality]] was lifted on 19 March 2014, it became an integral part of the municipality of Rotterdam.

The size of the municipality of Rotterdam is the result of the amalgamation of the following former municipalities,<ref>{{Repertorium Nederlandse Gemeenten}}</ref> some of which were a [[Deelgemeente|submunicipality]] prior to 19 March 2014:

*[[Delfshaven]] (added on 30 January 1886)
*[[Charlois]] (added on 28 February 1895)
*[[Kralingen]] (added on 28 February 1895)
*[[Hoogvliet]] (added on 1 May 1934)
*[[Pernis, Netherlands|Pernis]] (added on 1 May 1934)
*[[Hillegersberg]] (added on 1 August 1941)
*[[IJsselmonde, Rotterdam|IJsselmonde]] (added on 1 August 1941)
*[[Overschie]] (added on 1 August 1941)
*[[Schiebroek]] (added on 1 August 1941)
*[[Rozenburg]] (added on 18 March 2010)

===Origin background makeup===
In the Netherlands, Rotterdam has the highest percentage of residents with a recent [[migration background]] from non-industrialised nations. They form a large part of Rotterdam's multi-ethnic and multicultural diversity. 52.9% of the population have at least one parent born outside the country. There are 80,000 Muslims, constituting 13% of the population in 2010.<ref>{{Cite report |url=http://www.soros.org/initiatives/home/articles_publications/publications/muslims-rotterdam-20101119/a-muslims-rotterdam-report-en-20101119.pdf |title=Muslims in Rotterdam |last=Kim Jansen |publisher=[[Open Society Institute]] |access-date=29 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216132930/http://www.soros.org/initiatives/home/articles_publications/publications/muslims-rotterdam-20101119/a-muslims-rotterdam-report-en-20101119.pdf |archive-date=16 December 2010 |year=2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The former mayor of Rotterdam, [[Ahmed Aboutaleb]] (2009-2024), is of Moroccan descent and is a practicing Muslim.<ref>DutchNews.nl. (2024, January 9). Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb to step down after 15 years. DutchNews.nl. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/01/rotterdam-mayor-ahmed-aboutaleb-to-step-down-after-15-years/
</ref><ref>DutchNews.nl. (2024, August 26). Aboutaleb bows out as mayor: “This city made me a Rotterdammer”. DutchNews.nl. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://www.dutchnews.nl/2024/08/aboutaleb-bows-out-as-mayor-this-city-made-me-a-rotterdammer/
</ref> The city is home to the largest Dutch Antillean community in the Netherlands.<ref>Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek. (2023). Bevolking; geslacht, leeftijd en nationaliteit, 1 januari. CBS StatLine. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/03743/table?ts=1633027200000
</ref> The city also has its own [[Chinatown|China Town]] at the West-Kruiskade, close to Rotterdam Centraal.<ref>Chinatownology. (n.d.). Rotterdam Chinatown. Retrieved October 17, 2024, from https://chinatownology.com/chinatown_rotterdam.html
</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Origin
! rowspan="2" |Background groups
! colspan="2" |1996<ref name="CBS Statline">{{Cite web |title=CBS Statline |url=https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37713/table |access-date=15 May 2023 |website=opendata.cbs.nl |language=nl |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803035505/https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/37713/table |url-status=live }}</ref>
! colspan="2" |2000<ref name="CBS Statline" />
! colspan="2" |2005<ref name="CBS Statline" />
! colspan="2" |2010<ref name="CBS Statline" />
! colspan="2" |2015<ref name="CBS Statline" />
! colspan="2" |2020<ref name="CBS Statline" />
|-
!Numbers
!%
!Numbers
!%
!Numbers
!%
!Numbers
!%
!Numbers
!%
!Numbers
!%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Both parents born in NL
!381 926
!64.4%
!355 631
!60%
!327 730
!55%
!310 190
!52.3%
!316 085
!50.7%
!310,526
!47.69%
|-
!Western migration background
!55 722
!9.4%
!56 399
!9.5%
!59 267
!9.9%
!63 833
!10.8%
!74 438
!11.9%
!87,132
!13.38%
|-
!Non-Western migration background
!155 097
!26.2%
!180 643
!30.5%
!209 410
!35.1%
!219 026
!36.9%
!233 129
!37.4%
!253,499
!38.93%
|-
|''[[Suriname]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|52,691
|8.09%
|-
|''[[Turkey]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|47,933
|7.36%
|-
|''[[Morocco]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|45,601
|7%
|-
|''[[Netherlands Antilles]] and [[Aruba]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|26,390
|4.05%
|-
|''[[Indonesia]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|11,677
|1.79%
|-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
!Total
!592 745
!100%
!592 673
!100%
!596 407
!100%
!593 049
!100%
!623 652
!100%
!651,157
!100%
|}

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religions in Rotterdam (2013)<ref>{{cite web |title=Kerkelijkheid en kerkbezoek, 2010/2013 |date=2 October 2014 |url=https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2014/40/kerkelijkheid-en-kerkbezoek-2010-2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621105812/https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2014/40/kerkelijkheid-en-kerkbezoek-2010-2013 |archive-date=21 June 2019 |access-date=9 March 2017 |publisher=Centraal Bureau voor de Statistiek}}</ref>
|label1 = [[Irreligion]]
|value1 = 46.7
|color1 = Gold
|label2 = [[Catholic Church]]
|value2 = 18.7
|color2 = DarkOrchid
|label3 = [[Islam in the Netherlands|Islam]]
|value3 = 13.1
|color3 = Green
|label4 = [[Protestant Church in the Netherlands]]
|value4 = 10.5
|color4 = DodgerBlue
|label5 = Other Christian denominations 
|value5 = 7.1
|color5 = Turquoise
|label6 = [[Hinduism]]
|value6 = 3.3
|color6 = Orange
|label7 = [[Buddhism]]
|value7 = 0.5
|color7 = Red
|label8 = [[Judaism]]
|value8 = 0.1
|color8 = Brown
}}
[[Christianity]] is the largest religion in Rotterdam, with 36.3% of the population identifying. The second and third largest religions are [[Islam]] (13.1%) and [[Hinduism]] (3.3%), while about half of the population has [[Irreligion|no religious affiliation]].

Since 1795 Rotterdam has hosted the chief congregation of the liberal Protestant brotherhood of [[Remonstrants]]. From 1955 it has been the seat of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] [[bishop of Rotterdam]] when the Rotterdam diocese was split from the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam|Haarlem diocese]]. Since 2010 the city is home to the largest mosque in the Netherlands, the {{ill|Essalam Mosque|nl|Essalammoskee}} (capacity 1,500).

==Politics==
{{Further|Government of Rotterdam}}
The municipal council consists of 45 members, the largest party is [[Livable Rotterdam]]. The municipal executive consists of mayor [[Carola Schouten]] and nine elderman, belonging to four parties.

==Economy==
[[File:Nationale_Nederlanden,_Rotterdam.jpg|thumb|[[Gebouw Delftse Poort]], one of the tallest office buildings in the Netherlands]]

Rotterdam has always been one of the main centres of the shipping industry in the Netherlands. From the Rotterdam Chamber of the [[Dutch East India Company|VOC]], the world's first multinational, established in 1602, to the merchant shipping leader Royal [[Nedlloyd]] established in 1970, with its corporate headquarters located in the landmark building the 'Willemswerf' in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |title=1997-2005 - PONLHeritage |url=https://sites.google.com/site/ponlheritage2//p-o-nedlloyd/1997-2005-the-ponl-years |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004074852/https://sites.google.com/site/ponlheritage2//p-o-nedlloyd/1997-2005-the-ponl-years |archive-date=4 October 2016 |access-date=24 July 2018 |publisher=P&O Nedlloyd}}</ref> In 1997, Nedlloyd merged with the British shipping industry leader P&O forming the third largest merchant shipping company in the world. The Anglo-Dutch [[P&O Nedlloyd]] was bought by the Danish giant corporation 'AP Moller [[A. P. Moller-Maersk Group|Maersk]]' in 2005 and its Dutch operations are still headquartered in the 'Willemswerf'. Nowadays, well-known companies with headquarters in Rotterdam are consumer goods company [[Unilever]] (since 2020 London), asset management firm [[Robeco]], energy company [[Eneco Energie|Eneco]], dredging company [[Van Oord]], oil company [[Shell plc|Royal Dutch Shell]] (since 2021 [[London]]), terminal operator [[Vopak]], commodity trading company [[Vitol]] and architecture firms [[MVRDV]] and [[Office for Metropolitan Architecture]].

It is also home to the regional headquarters of chemical company [[LyondellBasell]], commodities trading company [[Glencore]], pharmaceutical company [[Pfizer]], logistics companies [[Stolt-Nielsen]], electrical equipment company [[ABB]] and consumer goods company [[Procter & Gamble]]. Furthermore, Rotterdam has the Dutch headquarters of [[Allianz]], [[Maersk]], [[Petrobras]], [[Samskip]], [[Louis Dreyfus Group]], and [[Aon (company)|Aon]]. The City of Rotterdam makes use of the services of semi-government companies [[Roteb]] (to take care of [[sanitation]], [[waste management]] and assorted services) and the Port of Rotterdam Authority (to maintain the [[Port of Rotterdam]]). Both these companies were once municipal bodies; now they are autonomous entities, owned by the city.

[[File:9-028 Rotterdam ECT.jpg|thumb|Unmanned vehicles handle containers at Europe Container Terminals (ECT), the largest container terminal operator in Europe.|left]]
[[File:Waalhaven in Rotterdam 2016.jpg|thumb|The Waalhaven|left]]
Being the largest port and one of the largest cities of the country, Rotterdam attracts many people seeking jobs, especially in the cheap labour segment. The city's unemployment rate is 12%, almost twice the national average.<ref>{{cite web |date=23 April 2009 |title=Werkloosheid in Rotterdam KNSexamen: Weblog Inburgering, NT2, examen |url=http://www.knsexamen.nl/?p=227 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724160116/http://www.knsexamen.nl/?p=227 |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=12 April 2011 |publisher=Knsexamen.nl}}</ref> Rotterdam is the largest [[port]] in [[Europe]], with the rivers [[Meuse (river)|Maas]] and [[Rhine]] providing excellent access to the [[hinterland]] upstream reaching to [[Basel|Basel, Switzerland]] and into France. In 2004 [[Shanghai]] took over as the world's [[List of busiest container ports|busiest container port]]. In 2006, Rotterdam was the world's seventh largest [[Containerization|container port]] in terms of [[twenty-foot equivalent unit]]s (TEU) handled.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/home/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415205510/http://www.portofrotterdam.com/en/home/ |archive-date=15 April 2009 |access-date=6 May 2009 |publisher=Port of Rotterdam}}</ref> The port's main activities are [[petrochemical]] industries and general [[cargo]] handling and [[transshipment]]. The harbour functions as an important transit point for [[bulk material handling|bulk]] materials between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam, goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the ''[[Betuweroute]]'', a new fast freight [[rail transport|railway]] from Rotterdam to [[Germany]], was completed.

Well-known streets in Rotterdam are the [[Lijnbaan]] (the first set of [[pedestrian mall|pedestrian streets]] of the country, opened in 1953), the Hoogstraat, the [[Coolsingel]] with the city hall, which was renovated between 2018 and 2021 giving cyclists and pedestrians more space, meaning that car traffic was reduced from 4 lanes (2 in each direction) to 2 lanes (1 in each direction). Another mainstreet is the [[Weena (Rotterdam)|Weena]], which runs from the Central Station to the [[Hofplein]] (square). A modern shopping venue is the Beurstraverse ("Stock Exchange Traverse"), better known by its informal name '[[Koopgoot]]' ('Buying/Shopping Gutter', after its subterranean position), which crosses the Coolsingel below street level. The Kruiskade is a more upscale shopping street, with retailers like [[Michael Kors]], [[7 For All Mankind]], [[Calvin Klein]], [[Hugo Boss]], [[Tommy Hilfiger]] and the Dutch well-known men's clothier [[Oger (clothing retailer)|Oger]]. Another upscale shopping venue is a flagship store of department store [[De Bijenkorf]]. Located a little more to the east is the [[Market hall (Rotterdam)|Markthal]], with lots of small retailers inside. This hall is also one of Rotterdam's famous architectural landmarks. The main shopping venue in the south of Rotterdam is Zuidplein, which lies close to [[Rotterdam Ahoy]], an accommodation centre for shows, exhibitions, sporting events, concerts and congresses. Another prominent shopping centre called Alexandrium lies in the east of Rotterdam. It includes a large kitchen and furniture centre.

==Education==
[[File:Rotterdam standbeeld Erasmus.jpg|thumb|Bronze statue of [[Erasmus]], created by [[Hendrick de Keyser]] in 1622]]
Rotterdam has one major university, the [[Erasmus University Rotterdam]] (EUR), named after one of the city's famous former inhabitants, [[Desiderius Erasmus]]. The Woudestein campus houses (among others) [[Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University]]. In [[Financial Times]]' 2005 rankings it placed 29th globally and 7th in Europe. In the 2009 rankings of Masters of Management, the school reached first place with the [[Global Alliance in Management Education|CEMS]] Master in Management and the tenth place with its RSM Master in Management.<ref>{{cite web |title=Business School Ranking of the Financial Times 2009 |url=http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-management |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324061111/http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/masters-in-management |archive-date=24 March 2009 |access-date=12 April 2011 |publisher=Rankings.ft.com}}</ref> The university is also home to Europe's largest student association, STAR Study Association Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the world's largest student association, [[AIESEC]], has its international office in the city.

The Hoboken campus of EUR houses the Dijkzigt (general) hospital, the Sophia Hospital (for children), [[:nl:Daniel den Hoedkliniek|Daniel den Hoed clinic]] (cancer institute) and the medical department of the university. They are known collectively as the [[Erasmus MC|Erasmus Medical Center]]. This center is ranked third in Europe by CSIC<ref>{{cite web |title=Europe {{!}} Ranking Web of Hospitals |url=http://hospitals.webometrics.info/en/europe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719074750/http://hospitals.webometrics.info/en/europe |archive-date=19 July 2017 |access-date=14 July 2017 |website=hospitals.webometrics.info}}</ref> as a hospital, and is also ranked within top 50 universities of the world in the field of medicine (clinical, pre-clinical & health, 2017).<ref>{{cite web |title=Erasmus University Rotterdam |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/erasmus-university-rotterdam#ranking-dataset/595522 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222065027/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/erasmus-university-rotterdam#ranking-dataset/595522 |archive-date=22 February 2017 |access-date=14 July 2017 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Willem de Kooning Academy]] is Rotterdam's main art school, which is part of the Hogeschool Rotterdam. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious art schools in the Netherlands and the number 1 in Advertising and Copywriting. Part of the [[Willem de Kooning Academy]] is the [[Piet Zwart Institute]] for postgraduate studies and research in Fine Art, Media Design and Retail Design. The Piet Zwart Institute boasts a selective roster of emerging international artists.

Three ''[[Vocational university|Hogescholen]]'' (Universities of applied sciences) exist in Rotterdam. These schools award their students a professional [[Bachelor's degree]] and postgraduate or [[Master's degree]]. The three ''Hogescholen'' are [[Hogeschool Rotterdam]], [[Inholland University of Applied Sciences|Hogeschool Inholland]] and [[Codarts|Codarts University for the Arts]] (Codarts hogeschool voor de kunsten), a vocational university that teaches music, dance and circus.

Unique to the city is the [[STC Group|Shipping & Transport College]] which offers masters, bachelors and vocational diplomas on all levels.

==Culture==
[[File:HerdenkingVuurgrensRotterdam1940 2007 edit1.jpg|thumb|Rotterdam waterfront, with spotlights shining into the air to commemorate the [[Rotterdam Blitz]]]]
Once primarily a city of labour, for its harbour and related industries, Rotterdam has now developed into a city of culture too, with various museums, cultural centres and activities, offering a stage for [[#Architecture|architecture]], music, visuals arts, poetry, cinema, theatre, and culture more generally, with a range of festivals and other events, and a buzzing nightlife. The city has its own orchestra, the [[Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra]], with its well-regarded young music director [[Lahav Shani]], which plays at the congress and concert building ''[[De Doelen]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra |url=https://www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl/ |access-date=20 December 2023 |website=www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl |language=nl}}</ref>  The [[Rotterdam Ahoy|Ahoy]] complex in the south of the city is used for pop concerts, exhibitions, tennis tournaments and other activities. There are also several theatres and cinemas, including [[New Orleans (Rotterdam)|LantarenVenster]] and [[Cinerama (Rotterdam)|Cinerama.]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Cinerama Rotterdam (1960 – heden) |url=https://bioscoopgeschiedenis.com/bioscopen/zuid-holland/rotterdam/cinerama-rotterdam-1960-heden.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324135749/https://bioscoopgeschiedenis.com/bioscopen/zuid-holland/rotterdam/cinerama-rotterdam-1960-heden.html |archive-date=24 March 2019 |access-date=20 July 2020 |website=Bioscoop Geschiedenis}}</ref>

Alongside [[Porto]], Rotterdam was [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2001.

=== Museums, libraries and archives ===
Rotterdam has various cultural institutions. Well-known [[museum]]s are the [[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]], [[Het Nieuwe Instituut]], the [[Wereldmuseum]], the [[Kunsthal]], [[Kunstinstituut Melly]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Witte de With museum |url=http://www.wdw.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519121705/http://www.wdw.nl/ |archive-date=19 May 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> and the [[Maritime Museum Rotterdam]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Maritiem Museum official site |url=http://www.maritiemmuseum.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010220183748/http://www.maritiemmuseum.nl/ |archive-date=20 February 2001 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref> The Historical Museum Rotterdam has changed into [[Museum Rotterdam]], which aims to exhibit the development of Rotterdam as a contemporary transnational city, and not merely the city's past.<ref>[https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/ Museum Rotterdam] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505051131/https://museumrotterdam.nl/en/|date=5 May 2016}}, retrieved 25 April 2016.</ref> Other museums include the [[:nl:Belasting & Douane Museum|Tax & Customs Museum]], the [[Netherlands Marine Corps Museum]], [[Rotterdam Public Transport Museum]] and the [[Natural History Museum Rotterdam|Natural History Museum]]. The [[FENIX Museum of Migration]] is scheduled to open in 2025.<ref>De volkskrant, 18 December 2023, p. V2-3.</ref>

The first municipal library of Rotterdam was founded in 1604. The current [[:nl:Bibliotheek Rotterdam|Bibliotheek Rotterdam]] (Public library), was established in 1869, and is currently the largest cultural organization in Rotterdam, with fifteen branches across the city.

The Rotterdam City Archives (''Stadsarchief Rotterdam'') was established in 1857. Here one can find administrative records and sources about the city's historical development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stadsarchief Rotterdam |title=Archives |url=https://www.stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/english/search/archives/index.xml |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Stadsarchief Rotterdam |language=nl |archive-date=24 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224221044/https://stadsarchief.rotterdam.nl/english/search/archives/index.xml |url-status=dead }}</ref> The archival holdings include, among other, general archives, notarial deeds, an audiovisual collection, and a library.

=== Popular music, film, festivals ===
Rotterdam has a long tradition of popular music, including the city's Jazz scene before and after WWII.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Zirkzee |first=Hans |title=Jazz in Rotterdam: De geschiedenis van een grote stadscultuur |publisher=Uitgeverij Lecturis |year=2015 |isbn=9789462261334 |location=Eindhoven}}</ref> A major historical moment in the city's music history is the legendary [[Kralingen Music Festival|Kralingen Pop Festival]], which took place in Rotterdam in 1970 (featuring, among other, [[Pink Floyd]], [[Jefferson Airplane]], [[The Byrds]], [[Canned Heat]], [[It's a Beautiful Day]], and [[Santana (band)|Santana]]). The festival was also made into a film, ''Stamping Ground'' (dir. George Sluizer).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eye Filmmuseum |title=Stamping Ground [Film 1970] |url=https://player.eyefilm.nl/nl/films/stamping-ground-directors-cut |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Eye Film Player}}</ref> Alternative (music) culture became prominently present in the city in these days. From the 1960s until the 2000s, Rotterdam had a thriving [[squatting|squatters movement]], which not only accommodated thousands of people, but also created social centres and cultural venues.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dee |first=E.T.C. |title=Squatting the Grey City |date=2018 |publisher=Cobble Books |isbn=9780244385804 |location=Rotterdam |page=256}}</ref> From this movement came clubs like Boogjes, Eksit, Nighttown, Vlerk and Waterfront. A major reference is [[Poortgebouw]], which was squatted in 1980 and quickly legalised.

Rotterdam also became the home of [[Gabber]], a type of hardcore electronic music popular in the mid-1990s, with hard beats and samples. Groups like [[Neophyte (band)|Neophyte]] and [[Rotterdam Terror Corps]] (RTC) started in Rotterdam, playing at clubs like Parkzicht. In the years 2005–2011, the city struggled with keeping venues for pop music; many of them suffered severe financial problems.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 July 2006 |title=Nighttown gesloten door curator |url=https://3voor12.vpro.nl/artikelen/overzicht/2006/juli/nighttown-gesloten-door-curator.html |access-date=20 December 2023 |website=3voor12 |language=nl}}</ref> This resulted in the disappearance of the major music venues Nighttown and WATT and smaller stages such as Waterfront, Exit, and Heidegger. The city today has a few stages for [[pop music]], like [[Rotown]], [[Poortgebouw]] and Annabel. Additionally, the venue [[WORM (Rotterdam)|WORM]] focuses on [[experimental music]], as well as various other cultural activities.

WORM also screens films and hosts a film lab, ''Filmwerkplaats''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Worm |title=Filmwerkplaats - Worm - A Rotterdam based organisation working at the intersection of culture and arts. |url=https://worm.org/spaces/filmwerkplaats/ |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=Worm |language=en}}</ref> In fact, Rotterdam has an extensive film history,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Paalman |first=Floris |title=Cinematic Rotterdam: The Times and Tides of a Modern City |publisher=010 Publishers |year=2011 |isbn=9789064507663 |publication-place=Rotterdam}}</ref> ranging from avant-garde classics, such as [[De brug|The Bridge]] ([[Joris Ivens|Ivens]], 1928), to internationally acclaimed documentaries from the post-war era, such as [[Houen zo!|Steady!]] (Van der Horst, 1952), and all kinds of fiction films. Of major importance within this context has also been the [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]] (IFFR), an annual event that lasts more than ten days (end of January, beginning of February), which has been organized since 1972. Besides the IFFR, several smaller film festivals take place in Rotterdam too, such as the [[Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam]] (AFFR).   
[[File:Flickr - FaceMePLS - Zomercarnaval Rotterdam 2010 (20).jpg|thumb|[[Summer Carnival]] in Rotterdam]]
Throughout the year, many different festivals take place in Rotterdam. There are the summer festivals celebrating the city's multicultural population and identity, such as the Caribbean-inspired "[[Summer Carnival]]", the Dance Parade, Rotterdam 666, and the Metropolis pop festival. There are also [[Poetry International Web|Poetry International]] (in June), the [[North Sea Jazz Festival]] (in July), the Valery Gergiev Festival (in September), and, also in September, the festival 'September in Rotterdam', the festival 'World of the Witte de With Quaret', and the [[World Port Days]].

=== Eurovision Song Contest ===
[[File:ESC 2021 Rotterdam - Artwork at Ahoy Parking.jpg|thumb|City decor for the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2021]]|left]]
On 30 August 2019, it was announced by the [[European Broadcasting Union]] and Dutch television broadcasters [[AVROTROS]], [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting|NOS]] and [[Nederlandse Publieke Omroep (organization)|NPO]], that Rotterdam would host the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2020]], following the Dutch victory at the {{Escyr|2019}} contest in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]] with the song "[[Arcade (song)|Arcade]]", performed by [[Duncan Laurence]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam to host Eurovision 2020! |date=30 August 2019 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072007/https://eurovision.tv/story/rotterdam-to-host-eurovision-2020 |archive-date=2 October 2019 |access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> However, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Europe]], the 2020 contest was cancelled, and Rotterdam was later retained as host of the {{Escyr|2021}} contest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official EBU statement & FAQ on Eurovision 2020 cancellation |date=18 March 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318142008/https://eurovision.tv/official-ebu-statement-and-faq-eurovision-song-contest-2020-cancellation |archive-date=18 March 2020 |access-date=6 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam returns as Eurovision Song Contest Host City in 2021 |date=16 May 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-to-return-to-rotterdam-in-2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517081418/https://eurovision.tv/story/eurovision-song-contest-to-return-to-rotterdam-in-2021 |archive-date=17 May 2020 |access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> The contest took place at [[Rotterdam Ahoy]], with the semi-finals taking place on 18 and 20 May 2021, and the final taking place on 22 May 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dates for Eurovision 2021 announced |date=15 June 2020 |url=https://eurovision.tv/story/dates-for-eurovision-2021-announced |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615113932/https://eurovision.tv/story/dates-for-eurovision-2021-announced |archive-date=15 June 2020 |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> This was the first time that Rotterdam hosted the contest, and the first time that the Netherlands hosted the contest since {{Escyr|1980}}, when it was held in [[The Hague]].

=== Rivalry ===
There is a healthy competition with [[Amsterdam]], which is often viewed as the cultural capital of the Netherlands. This rivalry is most common amongst the city's football supporters, [[Feyenoord]] (Rotterdam) and [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] (Amsterdam) and it is so severe, football games are only played with the home crowd present due to out-of-control riots in the past. There is a saying: "Amsterdam to party, Den Haag (The Hague) to live, Rotterdam to work". Another one, more popular by Rotterdammers, is "Money is earned in Rotterdam, distributed in The Hague and spent in Amsterdam".<ref>Joanna Shapland (Editor){{google books|UF0EXPYmo-4C|Justice, Community Civil Society: A Contested Terrain (2013)|page=92}}</ref> Another saying that reflects both the rivalry between Rotterdam and Amsterdam is "Amsterdam has it, Rotterdam doesn't need it". Bright magazine editor Erwin van der Zande notes that this phrase is on T-shirts in Rotterdam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam, Netherlands – We Be High |url=https://webehigh.org/rotterdam-netherlands/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200704231628/https://webehigh.org/rotterdam-netherlands/ |archive-date=4 July 2020 |access-date=4 July 2020}}</ref>

== Architecture ==
{{see also|List of tallest buildings in Rotterdam}}
[[File:Kop van Zuid DSCF5860.jpg|thumb|350px|right|The Wilhelmina pier at the [[Kop van Zuid]] in the distance, on the left the [[Erasmus Bridge]] can be seen]]
Rotterdam has become world famous because of its modern and groundbreaking architecture. Throughout the years the city has been nicknamed ''[[Manhattan]] at the Meuse''<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam in de wolken |url=http://www.rtm-xl.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Artikel-Trouw-Pg1-en-Pg2-klein.jpg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134839/http://www.rtm-xl.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Artikel-Trouw-Pg1-en-Pg2-klein.jpg |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Manhattan on the Meuse continued |url=https://www.vesteda.com/en/rotterdam-new-orleans/algemeen/manhattan-on-the-meuse-continued.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134842/https://www.vesteda.com/en/rotterdam-new-orleans/algemeen/manhattan-on-the-meuse-continued.aspx |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=vesteda.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zo gaat 'Manhattan aan de Maas' eruit zien - RTV Rijnmond |url=https://www.rijnmond.nl/media/74143/Zo-gaat-Manhattan-aan-de-Maas-eruit-zien |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133728/https://www.rijnmond.nl/media/74143/Zo-gaat-Manhattan-aan-de-Maas-eruit-zien |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Rijnmond.nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Vijf must sees in het Manhattan aan de Maas |date=8 November 2014 |url=https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/vijf-must-sees-in-het-manhattan-aan-de-maas~b7bddea4/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827133728/https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/vijf-must-sees-in-het-manhattan-aan-de-maas~b7bddea4/ |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=21 November 2013 |title=Foto's: Rotterdam wordt Manhattan aan de Maas |url=http://www.metronieuws.nl/binnenland/2013/11/fotos-rotterdam-wordt-manhattan-aan-de-maas |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134848/https://www.metronieuws.nl/binnenland/2013/11/fotos-rotterdam-wordt-manhattan-aan-de-maas |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Metronieuws.nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Architecture in Rotterdam |url=http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/architecture-in-rotterdam-1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215162927/http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/architecture-in-rotterdam-1.htm |archive-date=15 December 2016 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> and ''The architectural capital of the Netherlands''<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam - architectural tour - Architecture Tour Amsterdam, Rotterdam Holland and architectural guided travel, tours, excursions, study trips of the Netherlands |url=http://www.architecturetours.nl/Rotterdam-architectural-tour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134846/https://www.architecturetours.nl/Rotterdam-architectural-tour |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Architecturetours.nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stunning Structures: The Best of Rotterdam's Architecture |date=19 August 2014 |url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/the-netherlands/articles/stunning-structures-the-best-of-rotterdam-s-architecture/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134834/https://theculturetrip.com/europe/the-netherlands/articles/stunning-structures-the-best-of-rotterdam-s-architecture/ |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Theculturetrip.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Architectuur in Rotterdam |url=http://www.nieuws.top010.nl/architectuur-in-rotterdam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925024545/https://nieuws.top010.nl/architectuur-in-rotterdam |archive-date=25 September 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> both for its skyline and because it is home to internationally leading architectural firms involved in the design of famous buildings and bridges in other big cities. Examples include [[Office for Metropolitan Architecture|OMA]] ([[Rem Koolhaas]]), [[MVRDV]], [[Neutelings Riedijk Architects|Neutelings & Riedijk]] and [[Erick van Egeraat]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Architectuur in Rotterdam |url=http://www.cityguiderotterdam.com/nl/er-op-uit/architectuur/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190827134848/https://www.cityguiderotterdam.com/nl/er-op-uit/architectuur/ |archive-date=27 August 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=14 July 2014 |title=Discover the architecture of Rotterdam |url=http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/architecture-in-rotterdam-1.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215162927/http://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/rotterdam/architecture-in-rotterdam-1.htm |archive-date=15 December 2016 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Holland.com}}</ref> It has the reputation in being a platform for architectural development and education through the NAi ([[Netherlands Architecture Institute]]), which is open to the public and has a variety of exhibitions on architecture and urban planning issues and prior the [[Berlage Institute]], a postgraduate laboratory of architecture. The city has 38 skyscrapers and 352 high-rises and has many skyscrapers planned or under construction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam &#124; Buildings |url=https://www.emporis.com/city/100760/rotterdam-netherlands |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190324144345/https://www.emporis.com/city/100760/rotterdam-netherlands |archive-date=24 March 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=Emporis}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam |url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/rotterdam |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910134654/http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/city/rotterdam |archive-date=10 September 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=The Skyscraper Center}}</ref> The top 5 of highest buildings in the Netherlands consists entirely of buildings in Rotterdam.<ref>{{cite web |title=Netherlands |url=http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/netherlands |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910134858/http://www.skyscrapercenter.com/country/netherlands |archive-date=10 September 2019 |access-date=27 August 2019 |publisher=The Skyscraper Center}}</ref> It is home to the two tallest buildings in the Netherlands, the [[Maastoren]] with a height of 165 meters and the [[De Zalmhaven|Zalmhaven Tower]] (completed in 2021) with a height of 215 meters.

===History===
In 1898, the {{cvt|45|m|ft|adj=mid|abbr=off}} high-rise office building the White House (in Dutch [[Witte Huis]]) was completed, at that time the tallest office building in Europe.
In the first decades of the 20th century, some influential architecture in the modern style was built in Rotterdam. Notable are the [[Van Nelle Factory|Van Nelle fabriek]] (1929) a monument of modern factory design by [[Johannes Brinkman|Brinkman]] and [[Leendert van der Vlugt|Van der Vlugt]], the [[Art Nouveau|Jugendstil]] clubhouse of the [[Royal Maas Yacht Club]] designed by Hooijkaas jr. en Brinkman (1909), and [[Feyenoord]]'s football stadium [[De Kuip]] (1936) also by [[Johannes Brinkman|Brinkman]] and [[Leendert van der Vlugt|Van der Vlugt]]. The architect [[Jacobus Oud|J. J. P. Oud]] was a famous Rotterdammer in those days. The Van Nelle Factory obtained the status of UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]] in 2014.
During the early stages of [[World War II]] the centre of Rotterdam was [[Rotterdam Blitz|bombed]] by the German [[Luftwaffe]], destroying many of the older buildings in the centre of the city. After an initial crisis re-construction, the centre of Rotterdam has become the site of the ambitious new architecture.
[[File:Kubuswoningen in rotterdam.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Cube house|Cube Houses]], popularly known as the ''Blaak-forest'' in 2014]]
[[File:Markthal Rotterdam bij avond.jpg|thumb|The [[Market hall (Rotterdam)|Markthal]] at night as seen from the Binnenrotte]]
[[File:Euromast2.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Euromast]] in 2005]]

Rotterdam is also famous for its [[Lijnbaan]] 1952 by architects Broek en Bakema, Peperklip by architect Carel Weeber, Kubuswoningen or [[cube house]]s designed by architect [[Piet Blom]] 1984.

The newest landmark in Rotterdam is the [[Market hall (Rotterdam)|Markthal]], designed by architect firm [[MVRDV]]. In addition to that, there are many international well-known architects based in Rotterdam like [[Office for Metropolitan Architecture|O.M.A]] ([[Rem Koolhaas]]), [[Neutelings Riedijk Architects|Neutelings & Riedijk]] and [[Erick van Egeraat]] to name a few. Two architectural landmarks are located in the Lloydkwartier: the STC college building and the [[Schiecentrale|Schiecentrale 4b]]. The construction of the Depot of the [[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]] was started in 2003 and was officially opened by king Willem-Alexander on 5 November 2021. It is the world's first fully accessible art depot.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mvrdv.nl/projects/10/depot-boijmans-van-beuningen |title=MVRDV - Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen |publisher=Mvrdv.nl |date= |accessdate=10 February 2022 |archive-date=10 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110131514/https://www.mvrdv.nl/projects/10/depot-boijmans-van-beuningen |url-status=live }}</ref>[[File:Erasmusbrug across the Nieuwe Maas river.jpg|thumb|[[Erasmusbrug|Erasmus Bridge]] in 2011]]

[[File:Montevideo 2010.JPG|thumb|right|upright|The former headquarters of the [[Holland America Line]] next to modern residential architecture in 2010]]Rotterdam also houses several of the tallest structures in the Netherlands.
*The [[Erasmusbrug]] (1996) is a 790-meter (2,600&nbsp;ft) cable-stayed bridge linking the north and south of Rotterdam. It is held up by a {{cvt|138|m|ft}} tall pylon with a characteristic bend, earning the bridge its nickname 'De Zwaan' ('the Swan').
*Rotterdam has the tallest residential building in the Netherlands: the [[De Zalmhaven|De Zalmhaven Tower]] ({{cvt|215|m|ft|1}}).
*Rotterdam is also home to the tallest office building '[[Maastoren]]' ({{cvt|164.75|m|ft|disp=or}}) which houses [[Deloitte]]. This office tower surpassed the 'Delftse Poort' ({{cvt|160|m|ft|disp=or}}) which houses Nationale-Nederlanden insurance company, part of [[ING Group]] as tallest office tower in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=ING building brief |url=http://inghouse.ing.com/intra/eng/buildings/delftsepoort.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308113741/http://inghouse.ing.com/intra/eng/buildings/delftsepoort.html |archive-date=8 March 2005 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Emporis Maastoren |url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=maastoren-rotterdam-nestreetrlands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106054009/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=maastoren-rotterdam-nestreetrlands |url-status=usurped |archive-date=6 November 2012 |access-date=3 April 2010}}</ref>
*The skyline of Rotterdam also houses the {{cvt|185|m|ft}} tall [[Euromast]], which is a major [[tourism|tourist]] attraction. It was built in 1960, initially reaching a height of {{cvt|101|m|ft}}; in 1970, the Euromast was extended by {{cvt|85|m|ft}}.

Rotterdam has a reputation for being a platform for architectural development and education through the Berlage Institute, a postgraduate laboratory of architecture, and the NAi ([[Netherlands Architecture Institute]]), which is open to the public and has a variety of exhibitions on architecture and urban planning issues.

Over 30 new highrise projects are being developed. A Guardian journalist wrote in 2013 that "All this is the consequence of the city suffering a bombardment of two things: bombs and architects."<ref name="Wainwright 2013" />
{{Panorama
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| height = 200
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===Parks===
Within Rotterdam's urban structure, parks and greenery play an important role. A number of well-known parks in Rotterdam are:[[File:Arboretum Trompenburg Nl 2.jpg|thumb|right|Arboretum Trompenburg]]
*''Het Park'' ([[:nl:Het Park (Rotterdam)|Het Park bij de Euromast]]), is a 70 acres park on the Maas, south of the Westzeedijk, at the [[Euromast]]. The eastern half of the park was constructed between 1852 and 1863 to a design by the firm Jan David Zocher. The western part was added in 1866 with some modifications. The first [[Floriade (Netherlands)|Floriade]] in 1960 was held in Het Park, with the Euromast observation tower being erected to mark the event. [[Rijksmonument|National Heritage site]] since 2011. Originally, the park continued across the Westzeedijk, were the Medical Faculty was built in the 1960s (now Erasmus MC). See also: Museumpark.
*[[Museumpark]], close to Het Park, was originally designed in 1927 by architect W.G. Witteveen, who also designed [[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]]. Today, several museums have clustered around the park. 
*[[Diergaarde Blijdorp]], which is situated on the northwest side of Rotterdam, complete with a walkthrough sea aquarium, called the [[Oceanium]].
*[[Arboretum Trompenburg]] in [[Kralingen]]. The park dates back to 1820, but it was only after it was opened to the public in 1958 that the park, which was managed by the (Van Hoey) Smith family for generations, gained wider attention. The park, approximately 20 acres in size, contains approximately 4,000 different types of trees, shrubs and perennials, amongst others the national plant collections of [[conifers]], ''[[Quercus]]'', ''[[Beech|Fagus]]'', ''[[Rhododendron]]'', ''[[Ligustrum]]'', ''[[Rodgersia]]'' and ''[[Hosta]]''.
*''Park Schoonoord'' (3 acres) is located in the [[Scheepvaartkwartier]] and was designed in its current form in 1860 by Jan David Zocher.
*The [[Kralingen-Crooswijk|''Kralingse Bos'']] (500 acres) with the [[Kralingse Plas]] (250 acres) is located in the [[Kralingen]] district and has been based on a design by [[Marinus Jan Granpré Molière]] since 1928. In 1953 the Kralingse Bos officially opened.[[File:20070619Rozenburgpark2.jpg|thumb|right|Park Rozenburg]]
*The ''Vroesenpark'' in the district Rotterdam-Noord was laid out from 1929 to a plan by city architect W.G. [[:nl:Willem Gerrit Witteveen|Witteveen]].
*The ''Zuiderpark'' (780 acres) is located in the district of [[Charlois]]. The park was laid out as a utility park from 1952 and not as an ornamental park.
*''Park Rozenburg'' is a {{convert|7.41|acre|ha}} park in the neighbourhood [[Kralingen]]. The park is a protected municipal monument (Dutch: ''Gemeentelijk monument'').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park Rozenburg |url=https://www.rotterdam.nl/park-rozenburg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517144615/https://www.rotterdam.nl/park-rozenburg |archive-date=17 May 2023 |access-date=28 August 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rozenburgpark – Een groene oase in de Rotterdamse wijk Kralingen |url=https://rozenburgpark.nl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230612085151/https://rozenburgpark.nl/ |archive-date=12 June 2023 |access-date=28 August 2023 |website=rozenburgpark.nl}}</ref>

==== Green activities ====
Since 28 May 1994, Rotterdam has had the phenomenon [[wiktionary:opzoomeren|''Opzoomeren'']]. 15% of Rotterdam residents (about 100,000 residents) say they participate in this phenomenon.<ref>Data Omnibus Survey 2016 of the Municipality of Rotterdam.</ref> At the end of 2020, the city has a record number of 2,503 Opzoomer streets,<ref>[https://www.opzoomermee.nl/over-opzoomeren/ A history of Opzoomeren] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122112948/https://www.opzoomermee.nl/over-opzoomeren/|date=22 November 2022}} (Dutch).</ref> which is mainly reflected in the construction of facade gardens.

[[File:Dakpark Rotterdam.jpg|thumb|right|Dakpark Rotterdam]]
The municipality of Rotterdam is encouraging the construction of [[green roof]]s. There is an attractive subsidy for roof owners and the city has now provided a number of municipal buildings with a green roof. As of 1 January 2020, the water storage capacity requirement has been increased to 30 liters of water storage capacity per square metre. This reduces the burden on the sewer system during heavy rainfall and reduces the risk of flooding on the street.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Groene daken |url=https://www.rotterdam.nl/wonen-leven/groene-daken/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929231316/https://www.rotterdam.nl/wonen-leven/groene-daken/ |archive-date=29 September 2017 |access-date=18 May 2022}}</ref>
*The city's largest green roof is located on top of the [[Groothandelsgebouw]] next to Central Station.
*The ''Dakakker'' is the largest roof farm in Europe on top of the Schieblok.
*The ''Dakpark'' is an elongated, narrow park in the district [[Bospolder-Tussendijken]] in Rotterdam-West. It has been built at a height of about nine meters, is about 85 meters wide and extends for about a kilometer from Hudson Square to near Marconi Square.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161230161647/http://www.nederlandwordtanders.nl/projecten/dakpark-rotterdam/ Article about Dakpark on Nederlandwordtanders.nl]</ref>
*The municipality of Rotterdam will provide the flat roof of the conference and concert building [[De Doelen]] with greenery and water storage. The design for the roof was made by Kraijvanger Architects.<ref>Robert Muis (ed.). De Doelen Rotterdam will have a green roof with water storage. On: [https://architectenweb.nl/nieuws/ artikel.aspx?ID=49365 Architectenweb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517150110/https://architectenweb.nl/nieuws/|date=17 May 2022}}, 1 June 2021.</ref>

==Sports==
Rotterdam calls itself ''Sportstad'' (City of Sports). The city annually organises several world-renowned sporting events. Some examples are the [[Rotterdam Marathon]], the [[World Port Tournament]], and the [[Rotterdam Open|Rotterdam World Tennis Tournament]]. Rotterdam has also hosted a race of the [[Red Bull Air Race World Championship]] and the car racing event [[Monaco aan de Maas]] (Monaco at the Meuse).

The city is also the home of many sports clubs and some historic and iconic athletes.

===Football===
[[File:Robin Van Persie August 2007.jpg|thumb|[[Robin van Persie]] began his career with [[Excelsior Rotterdam|Excelsior]] and broke through in Feyenoord.]]
[[File:Rotterdam feyenoord stadion 1.jpg|thumb|De Kuip, Feyenoord home stadium]]

Rotterdam is the home of three professional [[Association football|football]] clubs, being [[Eredivisie|first tier]] clubs [[Feyenoord]], [[Sparta Rotterdam|Sparta]], and [[Excelsior Rotterdam|Excelsior]].

Feyenoord, founded in 1908 and the dominant of the three professional clubs, has won sixteen national titles since the introduction of professional football in the Netherlands. It won the [[UEFA Champions League]] as the first Dutch club in 1970 and won the World Cup for club teams in the same year. In 1974, they were the first Dutch club to win the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] and in 2002, Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup again. In 2008, the year of their 100-year-anniversary, Feyenoord won the [[KNVB Cup]].

Seating 51,480, its 1937 stadium, called ''Stadion Feijenoord'' but popularly known as [[De Kuip]] ('the Tub'), is the second-largest in the country, after the [[Amsterdam Arena]]. De Kuip, located in the southeast of the city, has hosted many international football games, including the final of [[UEFA Euro 2000|Euro 2000]] and has been awarded a FIFA 5 star ranking. There were concrete plans to build a new stadium with a capacity of at least 63,000 seats, these fell through after supporter backlash and lack of funds.

Sparta, founded in 1888 and situated in the northwest of Rotterdam, won the national title six times; Excelsior (founded 1902), in the northeast, has never won any.

Rotterdam also has three [[Hoofdklasse|fourth tier]] clubs, SC Feijenoord (Feyenoord Amateurs), PVV DOTO and TOGR.
Rotterdam is and has been the home to many great football players and coaches, among whom:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*[[Bert van Marwijk]]
*[[Coen Moulijn]]
*[[Howard D Carter]]
*[[Dirk Kuyt]]
*[[Ernst Happel]]
*[[Faas Wilkes]]
*[[Giovanni van Bronckhorst]]
*[[Georginio Wijnaldum]]
*[[Henrik Larsson]]
*[[Danny Blind]]
*[[John de Wolf]]
*[[Jon Dahl Tomasson]]
*[[Leo Beenhakker]]
*[[Louis van Gaal]]
*[[Ove Kindvall]]
*[[Kevin Strootman]]
*[[Memphis Depay]]
*[[Pierre van Hooijdonk]]
*[[Pim Doesburg]]
*[[Puck van Heel]]
*[[Rinus Israël]]
*[[Robin van Persie]]
*[[Ronald Koeman]]
*[[Roy Makaay]]
*[[Ruud Gullit]]
*[[Sonny Silooy]]
*[[Willem van Hanegem]]
*[[Wim Jansen]]
*[[Winston Bogarde]]
*[[Włodzimierz Smolarek]]
*[[Julio Ricardo Cruz]]
}}

===Marathon===
[[File:Hardlopers marathon in Rotterdam.JPG|thumb|Runners during the marathon in Rotterdam]]
Rotterdam has its own annual international [[Rotterdam Marathon|marathon]], which offers one of the fastest courses in the world. From 1985 until 1998, the [[Marathon world record progression|world record]] was set in Rotterdam, first by [[Carlos Lopes]] and later in 1988 by [[Belayneh Densamo]].

In 1998, the world record for women was set by [[Tegla Loroupe]], in a time of 2:20.47. Loroupe won the Rotterdam Marathon three consecutive times, from 1997 to 1999.

The track record for men is held by [[Bashir Abdi]], who ran a time of 2:03.36 in 2021. The female record was set in 2012 when [[Tiki Gelana]] finished the race in 2:18.58. Gelana went on to become the 2012 Olympic champion in London, a few months later.

The marathon starts and ends on the ''[[Coolsingel]]'' in the heart of Rotterdam. It attracts a total of 900,000 visitors.

===Tennis===
[[File:Arthur Ashe.jpg|thumb|Arthur Ashe at the [[1975 ABN World Tennis Tournament]]]]

Since 1972, Rotterdam hosts the indoor hard court [[Rotterdam Open|ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament]], part of the [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] Tour. The event was first organised in 1972 when it was won by [[Arthur Ashe]]. Ashe went on to win the tournament two more times, making him the singles title record holder.

Former [[The Championships, Wimbledon|Wimbledon]] winner [[Richard Krajicek]] became the tournament director after his retirement in 2000. The latest edition of the tournament attracted a total of 116,354 visitors.<ref>{{cite web |last=ABN Amro WTT |title=Laatste nieuws · 40e ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament |url=http://www.abnamrowtt.nl/nieuws-en-media/laatste-nieuws/40e-editie/bezoekersrecord-op-40e-editie-abn-amro-world-tennis-tournament |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220121606/http://www.abnamrowtt.nl/nieuws-en-media/laatste-nieuws/40e-editie/bezoekersrecord-op-40e-editie-abn-amro-world-tennis-tournament |archive-date=20 February 2013}}</ref>

===Tour de France===
In November 2008 Rotterdam was chosen as the host of the [[Grand Départ]] of the [[2010 Tour de France]].
Rotterdam won the selection over the Dutch city of [[Utrecht]]. Germany's Düsseldorf had previously also expressed interest in hosting. The [[Amaury Sport Organisation]] (ASO), the organizer of the Tour de France, said in a statement on its web site that it chose Rotterdam because, in addition to it being another big city, like London, to showcase the use of bikes for urban transportation, it provided a location well-positioned considering the rest of the route envisioned for the 2010 event. The start in Rotterdam was the fifth to take place in the Netherlands. The [[prologue]] was a {{cvt|7|km|2}} individual time trial crossing the centre of the city. The first regular stage left the [[Erasmusbrug]] and went south, towards Brussels.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 October 2009 |title=Tour de France 2010 – The route |url=http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016053229/http://www.letour.fr/2010/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html |archive-date=16 October 2009 |access-date=14 October 2009 |publisher=Tour de France}}</ref>

The second stage of [[2015 Tour de France|2015 edition]] took the riders through Rotterdam on their way to [[Neeltje Jans]] in Zeeland.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 December 2014 |title=Utrecht – Grand Depart Tour de France 2015 |work=Holland.com |url=http://www.holland.com/uk/press/holland-news/events/utrecht-grand-depart-tour-de-france-2015.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924041914/http://www.holland.com/uk/press/holland-news/events/utrecht-grand-depart-tour-de-france-2015.htm |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=23 October 2014 |title=Analysis: A Tour route with a difference |work=[[Cycling Weekly]] |url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/untypical-tour-de-france-2015-route-typical-prudhomme-140923 |access-date=11 July 2015 |archive-date=12 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712111312/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/racing/tour-de-france/untypical-tour-de-france-2015-route-typical-prudhomme-140923 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The 2024 edition of the [[Tour de France Femmes]] began in Rotterdam, with three stages in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Farrand |first=Stephen |date=10 July 2023 |title=Tour de France Femmes to start in the Netherlands in 2024 |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-femmes-to-start-in-the-netherlands-in-2024/ |access-date=10 July 2023 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en |archive-date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710213207/https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-de-france-femmes-to-start-in-the-netherlands-in-2024/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Rowing===
Members of the student rowing club [[Skadi (rowing club)|Skadi]] were part of the '[[Holland Acht]]', winning a gold medal at the [[Rowing at the Summer Olympics|Olympics]] in [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Men's Eight - Final |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/1996-olympic-games/mens-eight/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623140852/http://www.worldrowing.com/events/1996-olympic-games/mens-eight/ |archive-date=23 June 2020 |access-date=21 June 2020 |website=World Rowing |publisher=World Rowing.com}}</ref> Since the opening in April 2013, Rotterdam hosts the rowing venue [[Willem-Alexander Baan]] that hosted the [[2016 World Rowing Championships]] for Seniors, U23 and Juniors.

===Field hockey===
In [[field hockey]], Rotterdam has the largest hockey club in the Netherlands, [[HC Rotterdam]], with its own stadium in the north of the city and nearly 2,400 members. The first men's and women's teams both play on the highest level in the Dutch ''Hoofdklasse''.

===Baseball===
Rotterdam is home to the most successful European [[baseball]] team, [[DOOR Neptunus|Neptunus Rotterdam]], winning the most [[European Cup (baseball)|European Cups]].

===Boxing===
[[File:Bep van Klaveren, Olympische Spelen 1928 Amsterdam.jpg|thumb|upright|Bep van Klaveren]]
Rotterdam has a long boxing tradition starting with [[Bep van Klaveren]] (1907–1992), aka 'The Dutch Windmill', Gold medal winner of the 1928 [[Amsterdam Olympics]], followed by professional boxers like [[Regilio Tuur]] and Don Diego Poeder.

===Swimming===
Rotterdam's swimming tradition started with [[Marie Braun]] aka Zus (sister) Braun, who was coached to a gold medal at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics by her mother Ma Braun, and 3 European titles three years later in Paris. In her career as 14-time national champ, she broke 6 world records. Ma Braun later also coached the Rotterdam-born, three-times Olympic champion [[Rie Mastenbroek]] during the Berlin Olympics in 1936. In later years [[Inge de Bruijn]] became a Rotterdam sports icon as triple Olympic Gold medal winner in 2000 and triple European Gold medal winner in 2001.

===Sailing===
Olympic Gold medalist, in the [[O-Jolle]] during [[sailing at the 1936 Summer Olympics|1936 Olympics]], [[Daan Kagchelland]] was born in Rotterdam and member of the [[:nl:Rotterdamsche Zeil Vereeniging|Rotterdamsche Zeil Vereeniging]]. The Kralingse plas was and is still a source of Olympic sailors like [[Koos de Jong]], [[Ben Verhagen]], [[Henny Vegter]], [[Serge Kats]] and [[Margriet Matthijsse]].

===Motorcycle racing===
Motorcycle speedway was staged in the Feyenoord Stadium after the second world war. The team which raced in a Dutch league was known as the Feyenoord Tigers. The team included Dutch riders and some English and Australian riders.

===Sportsmen of the year election===
Since 1986, the city has selected its best sportsman, woman and team at the [[Rotterdam Sportsman of the year|Rotterdam Sports Awards Election]], held in December.

===Other famous Rotterdam athletes===
[[File:Francisco Elson.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Francisco Elson]]]]
*[[Mia Audina]], a retired Indonesia-born badminton player, living in Rotterdam.
*[[Nelli Cooman]], a Surinamese-born retired athlete who held the [[60 metres|60 m]] dash world record, and was the world and European champion in that event.
*[[Robert Doornbos]], a Rotterdam-born race car driver, who competed in the [[Formula One]].
*[[Robert Eenhoorn]], a Rotterdam-born retired MLB shortstop, who competed for the [[New York Yankees]], the [[Anaheim Angels]] and the [[New York Mets]].
*[[Dex Elmont]], a Rotterdam-born judoka, who finished second in the European championships in 2009 in the {{cvt|65|to|73|kg|0}} division.
*[[Guillaume Elmont]], a Rotterdam-born judoka, who became world champion in 2005 in the {{cvt|73|to|81|kg|0}} division.
*[[Francisco Elson]], a Rotterdam-born basketball player who played in the NBA, won the NBA finals in 2007 with the [[San Antonio Spurs]].
*[[Ignisious Gaisah]], a Ghanaian-born long jumper with a personal best of {{cvt|8.43|m|ft|2|abbr=off}}, residing in Rotterdam since 2001. Gaisah is a multiple medal winner in several international events, both as a citizen of Ghana and the Netherlands.
*[[Francis Hoenselaar]], a Rotterdam-born female darts player, generally recognised as the best Dutch female darts player ever.
*[[Robert Lathouwers]], an athlete born in a Rotterdam suburb, specialised in the 800 m. Lathouwers gained international notoriety when he got disqualified after shoving Irish athlete [[David McCarthy (born 1983)|David McCarthy]] in the 2010 European Championships.
*[[Fatima Moreira de Melo]], a Rotterdam-born, three-times Olympic champion in field hockey. Moreira de Melo is a professional poker player.
*[[Piet Roozenburg]], a Rotterdam-born draughts player, who was the world champion from 1948 to 1956 and the 8-time Dutch champion.
*[[Betty Stöve]], a Rotterdam-born retired female tennis double specialist and 10-time Grand Slam winner.
*[[Ingmar Vos]], a Rotterdam-born decathlete, with a personal best of 8224 points.

==Yearly events==
Rotterdam hosts several annual events unique to the city. It hosts the ''Zomercarnaval'' (Summer carnaval), the second-largest Caribbean carnival in Europe, originally called the Antillean carnival. Other events include: North Sea Jazz Festival, the largest Jazz festival in Europe, and a three-day long maritime extravaganza called the World Port Days celebrating the Port of Rotterdam.

*January: 
** [[Six Days of Rotterdam]] – Cycling, Rotterdam Ahoy
** [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]<ref>{{cite web |title=International Film Festival official website |url=http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022074032/http://www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/en/index.html |archive-date=22 October 2006 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
*February:
**[[Rotterdam Open]] – Tennis, Rotterdam Ahoy
**Art Rotterdam – International art fair, Van Nellefabriek
*April–June:
**[[Rotterdam Marathon]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Rotterdam Marathon official website |url=http://www.rotterdammarathon.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061004073720/http://rotterdammarathon.nl/ |archive-date=4 October 2006 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
**[[Poetry International Web|Poetry International]]
**[[Koningsdag|Koningsdag Festival]] (27 April)<ref>{{cite web |title=KoninginnedagFestival official website |url=http://www.koninginnedag.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509083546/http://www.koninginnedag.com/ |archive-date=9 May 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
**CHIO (Concours Hippique International Officiel) Rotterdam<ref>{{cite web |title=CHIO Rotterdam &#124; CHIO Rotterdam |url=https://chio.nl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521010049/https://www.chio.nl/ |archive-date=21 May 2020 |access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>
**[[Roparun]]
*July:
**[[North Sea Jazz Festival]] (Second weekend of July)
**[[Summer Carnival]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Zomer Carnival official website |url=http://www.zomercarnaval.com/index.php?lang=eng |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030722083735/http://www.zomercarnaval.com/index.php?lang=eng |archive-date=22 July 2003 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
*August:
**Pleinbioscoop<ref>{{cite web |title=Pleinbioscoop official website |url=http://www.pleinbioscoop.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929220640/http://www.pleinbioscoop.nl/ |archive-date=29 September 2007 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
**Dag van de Romantische Muziek (Romantic music festival)
**[[Rotterdam Rave]] Festival
*September:
**[[The World Port Days]]<ref>{{cite web |title=World Port Day (Rotterdam) official website (in Dutch and English) |url=http://www.wereldhavendagen.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416234422/http://www.wereldhavendagen.nl/ |archive-date=16 April 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>
*November/December 
**[[Sinterklaas]] (Last weekend before 5 December)
**Boterletterwedstrijden (Sailing regatta for International classes)<ref>{{cite web |title=Boterletter |url=https://www.rzv.nl/wedstrijdzeilen/boterletter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170326234016/http://www.rzv.nl/wedstrijdzeilen/boterletter/ |archive-date=26 March 2017 |access-date=11 May 2020}}</ref>

==Transportation==
Rotterdam offers connections by international, national, regional and local public transport systems, as well as by the Dutch [[motorway]] network.

===Motorways===
There are several motorways to/from Rotterdam. The following four are part of its 'Ring' ([[ring road]]):
*[[A20 motorway (Netherlands)|A20]] (Ring North): [[Hook of Holland]] – ''Rotterdam'' – [[Gouda, South Holland|Gouda]]
*[[A16 motorway (Netherlands)|A16]] (Ring East): ''Rotterdam'' – [[Breda]] (– [[Antwerp]] – [[Paris]])
*[[A15 motorway (Netherlands)|A15]] (Ring South): [[Europoort]] – ''Rotterdam'' – [[Nijmegen]]
*[[A4 motorway (Netherlands)|A4]] (Ring West): ''Rotterdam'' – [[The Hague]] (– [[Amsterdam]])
The following two other motorways also serve Rotterdam:
*[[A13 motorway (Netherlands)|A13]] ([[Amsterdam]] –): [[The Hague]] – [[Delft]] – ''Rotterdam''
*[[A29 motorway (Netherlands)|A29]] ([[Antwerp]] –): [[Bergen op Zoom]] – ''Rotterdam''

===Airport===
Much smaller than the international hub [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]], [[Rotterdam The Hague Airport]] (formerly known as ''Zestienhoven'') is the third-largest [[airport]] in the country, behind [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol Airport]] and [[Eindhoven Airport]]. Located north of the city, it has shown solid growth over the past five years, mostly caused by the growth of the [[low-cost carrier]] market. For business travellers, Rotterdam The Hague Airport offers advantages in terms of rapid handling of passengers and baggage. Environmental regulations make further growth uncertain.

===Train===
[[File:Rtd CS-III.JPG|thumb|Rotterdam's new [[Rotterdam Centraal railway station|Central Station]] reopened in March 2014, designed to handle up to 320,000 passengers daily.]]

Rotterdam is well connected to the Dutch railway network, and has several international connections:

*Southern direction [[Dordrecht]], [[Breda]], [[Eindhoven]], [[Flushing, Netherlands|Flushing (Vlissingen)]] (also international trains to [[Belgium]]/[[France]])
*Western direction [[Hook of Holland]] (reopened as a metro line in 2019)
*North-Western direction [[The Hague]], [[Leiden]], [[Amsterdam]]
*Northern direction (high-speed rail) [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol]], [[Amsterdam]]
*North-Eastern direction [[Utrecht]] and further
*A fifth alternative train system to the Hague, the [[Hofpleinlijn|Hofplein Line]] was converted to the light rail system [[RandstadRail|Randstadrail]] in 2006.
*The city is often mentioned as the terminus of the [[Eurasian Land Bridge]].

===Railway stations===
*[[Rotterdam Centraal railway station|Rotterdam Centraal]] – Rotterdam's main station
*[[Rotterdam Alexander railway station|Rotterdam Alexander]] – Eastern part of Rotterdam
*[[Rotterdam Blaak railway station|Rotterdam Blaak]] – Close to the centre of Rotterdam
*[[Rotterdam Lombardijen railway station|Rotterdam Lombardijen]] – Most Southern part of Rotterdam
*[[Rotterdam Noord railway station|Rotterdam Noord]] – Northern part of Rotterdam
*[[Rotterdam Zuid railway station|Rotterdam Zuid]] – Northern part of the Southern part of Rotterdam
*[[Rotterdam Stadion railway station|Rotterdam Stadion]] – A station near the Feyenoord stadium, open in connection with football matches and music concerts

The main connections:
*Direct international services to [[Belgium]] and [[France]] via high-speed train system: [[Thalys]]
*International trains to the south of France and London via the [[Eurostar]]<ref>{{cite web |date=24 August 2020 |title=Eurostar to launch direct Amsterdam to London route in October |url=http://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/24/coronavirus-eurostar-says-london-to-amsterdam-direct-is-back-on-track |access-date=18 May 2021 |website=The Guardian |language=en |archive-date=26 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526165307/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/aug/24/coronavirus-eurostar-says-london-to-amsterdam-direct-is-back-on-track |url-status=live }}</ref>
*Frequent international trains to [[Antwerp]] and [[Brussels]], Belgium
*Frequent services within the Netherlands:
**Intercity line to [[The Hague]], [[Leiden]], [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Schiphol airport]] and [[Amsterdam]] (north)
**Intercity line to Utrecht and on to [[Deventer]] or [[Enschede]] (the east), [[Leeuwarden]] (north-west) or [[Groningen (city)|Groningen]] (north-east)
**Intercity line to [[Dordrecht]], [[Roosendaal]] and on to [[Flushing, Netherlands|Vlissingen]] (south west)
**Intercity line to [[Dordrecht]], [[Breda]], [[Tilburg]], [[Eindhoven]] and [[Venlo]] (south east)
**Night services every hour connecting every day of the week to Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, and, with a detour, Utrecht. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday night services (either directly or via a detour) to Den Bosch, Eindhoven, Tilburg, Roosendaal.
**Several semi-fast services and local trains originate or call at Rotterdam Centraal; semi-fast services Amsterdam-Breda.
*Detailed information available from the site of the {{lang|nl|[[Nederlandse Spoorwegen]]|italic=no}} (Dutch Railways)<ref>{{cite web |title=Dutch Railway website |url=http://www.ns.nl |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080914030257/http://www.ns.nl/ |archive-date=14 September 2008 |access-date=15 May 2008}}</ref>

In Rotterdam, public transport services are provided by the following companies:
*NS (Dutch Railways): national train services
*RET ([[Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram]]): tram, city-bus, metro, randstadrail and ferry-services in Rotterdam and surrounding cities
*Arriva Netherlands: regional bus services
*Connexxion: regional bus services
*Qbuzz: regional bus services
*Veolia: regional bus services.

===Metro===
{{Main|Rotterdam Metro}}

{{See also|List of Rotterdam metro stations}}

In 1968, Rotterdam was the first Dutch city to open a [[Rapid transit|metro]] system. The metro system consists of three main lines, each of which has its own variants. The metro network has {{cvt|78.3|km|1}} of rail tracks, and there are 70 stations, which makes it the biggest of the Benelux. 5 lines operate the system; 3 lines (A, B and C) on the east–west line, and two (D and E) on the north–south line. Line E (Randstadrail) connects Rotterdam with The Hague as of December 2011.

[[File:Metro Rotterdam future.svg|thumb|Map of the 2020 Rotterdam metro]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Line
! Southern&nbsp;/&nbsp;western&nbsp;terminus
! Northern&nbsp;/&nbsp;eastern&nbsp;terminus
!Additional info
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#00aa50; color:#fff;"| '''Line A'''
|[[Vlaardingen West metro station|Vlaardingen West]]
| [[Binnenhof (Rotterdam Metro)|Binnenhof]]
|Terminates at [[Schiedam Centrum station|Schiedam Centrum]] outside peak hours.
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ffd301; color:#000;"| '''Line B'''
|[[Hoek van Holland Strand metro station|Hoek van Holland Strand]]
| [[Nesselande (Rotterdam Metro)|Nesselande]]
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#ef1f1f; color:#fff;"| '''Line C'''
| [[De Akkers (Rotterdam Metro)|De&nbsp;Akkers]]
| [[De Terp (Rotterdam Metro)|De&nbsp;Terp]]
|
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#1bc5e9; color:#fff;"| '''Line D'''
| [[De Akkers (Rotterdam Metro)|De&nbsp;Akkers]]
| [[Rotterdam Centraal railway station|Rotterdam&nbsp;Centraal]]
|
|-
| style="text-align:center; background:#1a389a; color:#fff;"| '''Line E'''
| [[Slinge (Rotterdam Metro)|Slinge]]
| [[Den Haag Centraal railway station|Den Haag&nbsp;Centraal]]
|
|}

[[File:15-05-2007 Metro Maashaven.jpg|thumb|Rotterdam metro]]

===Tram===
{{Main|Trams in Rotterdam}}

The [[Trams in Rotterdam|Rotterdam tramway network]] offers 9 regular tram lines and 4 special tram lines with a total length of {{cvt|93.4|km|1}}. Service
Tramlines in Rotterdam {{As of|2016|lc=y}}:
*2: (Rotterdam) Charlois – Rotterdam Lombardijen NS – (Rotterdam) Keizerswaard (runs only to the southern part of the city)
*4: (Rotterdam) Molenlaan – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) Marconiplein
*7: (Rotterdam) Oostplein – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) Willemsplein
*8: (Rotterdam) Spangen – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) Kleiweg
*20: Rotterdam Centraal – Rotterdam Lombardijen NS – (Rotterdam) Lombardijen
*21: (Schiedam) Woudhoek – Station Schiedam Centrum – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) De Esch
*23: (Rotterdam) Marconiplein – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) Beverwaard
*24: (Vlaardingen) Holy – Station Schiedam Centrum – Rotterdam Centraal – (Rotterdam) De Esch
*25: (Rotterdam) Schiebroek – Rotterdam Centraal – (Barendrecht) Carnisselande
[[File:RET 2022 Rotterdam Centraal 15-05-2007.JPG|thumb|A [[Alstom Citadis|Citadis]] [[tram]] outside the former [[Rotterdam Centraal station|Rotterdam Centraal]], 2008]]
Special tram lines:
*10: [[City Tour Line 10]], only runs a few months a year and throughout the whole city for tourist information. Using historical Rotterdam Trams from the year 1931.
*18: tramline from Rotterdam Central Station towards Park, runs only at the Dunya Festival and during the Rotterdam World Port Days.
*12: Rotterdam Centraal – Stadion Feyenoord or Rotterdam Centraal – Het Kasteel ('The Castle', Sparta Stadium). Football tramline, only for big fixtures at Stadion Feyenoord or Het Kasteel.
*22: historical tram line, only runs if the [[Rotterdam Public Transport Museum]] is open.
*Snert-tram: historical tram, only in winter as a tourist tram through Rotterdam. Passengers are provided with a cup of "snert"; Rotterdam dialect for erwtensoep ([[pea soup]]). Rolling stock is a historical Rotterdam tram from 1968.
*[[Ice cream|IJsjes-tram]]: summer version of the snert tram, providing tourists with ice cream rather than pea soup.

[[File:Rotterdam Watertaxi (4).JPG|thumb|Water Taxi in Rotterdam]]

===Bus===
Rotterdam offers 55 city bus lines with a total length of {{cvt|432.7|km|1}}.

RET runs buses in the city of Rotterdam and surrounding places like Barendrecht, Ridderkerk, Rhoon, Poortugaal, Schiedam, Vlaardingen, Delft and Capelle aan den IJssel.

Arriva Netherlands, Connexxion, Qbuzz and Veolia run buses from other cities to Rotterdam.

An automated bus service, [[ParkShuttle]], runs between [[Kralingse Zoom metro station]] and the Rivium Business Park in [[Capelle aan den IJssel]].

===The RoMeO Foundation===
The Foundation RoMeO (Rotterdam Public Transport Museum and Exploitation of Oldtimers) was founded in 1997 to bring together various historical transport collections into one collection. Currently, the joint collection consists of more than sixty trams, twenty buses and an underground metro dating from 1967. Since 2010 the [[Rotterdam Public Transport Museum]] is housed in the monumental tram depot Hillegersberg from 1923.<ref>[https://rotterdamnetherlands.com/destination/museums/rotterdam-transport-museum/ Rotterdam Netherlands, your guide in and around the city] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023110209/https://rotterdamnetherlands.com/destination/museums/rotterdam-transport-museum/ |date=23 October 2022 }}.</ref>

===Waterbus===
The Waterbus network consists of seven lines. The mainline (Line 20) stretches from Rotterdam to Dordrecht. The ferry carries about 130 passengers, and there is space for 60 [[bicycle]]s. The stops between Rotterdam and Dordrecht are:
*Rotterdam [[Erasmusbrug]] – [[Krimpen aan den IJssel]] Stormpolder – [[Ridderkerk]] De Schans – [[Alblasserdam]] Kade – [[Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht]] Noordeinde – [[Papendrecht]] Westeind – [[Dordrecht]] Merwekade.

===Ferry===
[[P&O Ferries]] have daily sailings from [[Europoort]] to [[Kingston upon Hull]] in the UK.

==International relations==
Rotterdam has city and port connections throughout the world. In 2008, the city had 13 [[twin towns and sister cities|sister cities]], 12 partner cities, and 4 sister ports.<ref name="brandstrategy">{{cite web |date=2008 |title=Rotterdam. Een sterk internationaal merk |url=http://www.rotterdam.nl/CMO/Document/Merkstrategie%20NL%20nov%202008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629134252/http://www.rotterdam.nl/CMO/Document/Merkstrategie%20NL%20nov%202008.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2015 |access-date=20 March 2015 |publisher=City of Rotterdam |location=Rotterdam, The Netherlands |page=37 |language=nl |type=PDF}}</ref> Since 2008, the City of Rotterdam does not forge new sister or partner connections. Sister and partner cities are not a priority in international relations.<ref>[http://archief12.archiefweb.eu/archives/archiefweb/20160301131037/http://www.rotterdam.nl/BSD/Document/05cBijlage_ProgInternatWEuropActiv_09gr746a.pdf "Rotterdam Wereldstad: Vaste koers, nieuwe ambitities"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728131735/http://archief12.archiefweb.eu/archives/archiefweb/20160301131037/http://www.rotterdam.nl/BSD/Document/05cBijlage_ProgInternatWEuropActiv_09gr746a.pdf |date=28 July 2020 }} Gemeente Rotterdam, 2009. Blz. 33</ref>

On 15 March 2017, the Turkish president expressed his wish that [[Istanbul]] should no longer be the twin town of Rotterdam. A speaker of the Rotterdam municipality then explained that the two cities have no official partnership. Both authorities do cooperate often.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 March 2017 |title=Erdogan wil af van niet bestaande stedenband met Rotterdam |language=nl |trans-title=Erdogan will not continue twin town relationship with Rotterdam |work=[[Algemeen Dagblad]] |url=http://www.ad.nl/dossier-rel-met-turkije/erdogan-wil-af-van-stedenband-met-rotterdam~a445b397/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316024956/http://www.ad.nl/dossier-rel-met-turkije/erdogan-wil-af-van-stedenband-met-rotterdam~a445b397/ |archive-date=16 March 2017}}</ref>

===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Rotterdam is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Baltimore]] (since 1985)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008">{{Cite news |last=Eric Vrijsen |date=23 September 2008 |title=De schaamte voorbij: Gaza als zusterstad |language=nl |work=[[Elsevier (magazine)|Elsevier]] |location=Amsterdam, the Netherlands |url=http://www.elsevier.nl/Algemeen/blogs/2008/9/De-schaamte-voorbij-Gaza-als-zusterstad-ELSEVIER204561W/ |access-date=24 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629160124/http://www.elsevier.nl/Algemeen/blogs/2008/9/De-schaamte-voorbij-Gaza-als-zusterstad-ELSEVIER204561W/ |archive-date=29 June 2015}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Burgas]] (since 1976)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Cologne]] (since 1958)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|ROM}} [[Constanța]] (since 1976)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Dresden]] (since 1988)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|LUX}} [[Esch-sur-Alzette]] (since 1958)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|POL}} [[Gdańsk]] (since 1977)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|CUB}} [[Havana]] (since 1983)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lille]] (since 1958)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liège]] (since 1958)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shanghai]] (since 1979)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Saint Petersburg]] (since 1984)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Turin]] (since 1958)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
*{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Şanlıurfa]] (since 2023)<ref name=brandstrategy/><ref name="Vrijsen 2008"/>
{{div col end}}

===Partner cities===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Antwerp]] (since 1940)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|SWI}} [[Basel]] (since 1945)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|SVK}} [[Bratislava]] (since 1991)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|HUN}} [[Budapest]] (since 1991)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Duisburg]] (since 1950)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Durban]] (since 1991)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] (since 1936)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Jakarta]] (since 1983)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Nuremberg]] (since 1961)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Osaka Prefecture]] (since 1984)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|NOR}} [[Oslo]] (since 1945)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Prague]] (since 1991)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
{{div col end}}

===Sister ports===
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kobe]] (since 1967)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]] (since 1987)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]] (since 1969)<ref name=brandstrategy/>
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tokyo]] (since 1989)<ref name=brandstrategy/>

===Places named after Rotterdam===
[[File:Witte schotel “U.S.A. BICENTENNIAL TOWN OF ROTTERDAM, N.Y. 1776 1976” met in zwart wapen en stadsgezichten, objectnr 67509.JPG|thumb|White dish ''U.S.A. BICENTENNIAL TOWN OF ROTTERDAM, N.Y. 1776–1976'', with black coat of arms and cityscapes]]
The [[Rotterdam (town), New York|town of Rotterdam]], located in the U.S. state of [[New York (state)|New York]], was founded in 1661 by Dutch [[settler]]s, who named it after the city of Rotterdam in the [[Netherlands]], where many immigrants last touched European grounds.<ref>{{cite book |title=University of the State of New York Bulletin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IEnAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA58 |year=1914 |publisher=University of the State of New York |page=58 |access-date=27 December 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430054433/https://books.google.com/books?id=1IEnAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA58 |url-status=live }}</ref> The town borders the [[Administrative divisions of New York#City|city]] of [[Schenectady, New York|Schenectady]]. Founded as a 'first class town' in 1942, Rotterdam has since adopted the Old World Rotterdam coat of arms along with the motto ''Sterker door Strijd'' (Stronger through Effort).<ref>[https://www.rotterdamny.org/history.aspx History of Rotterdam, NY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226111208/https://www.rotterdamny.org/history.aspx |date=26 December 2022 }}. Consulted 26 December 2022.</ref>

*{{flagicon|Suriname}} [[Nieuw Rotterdam]], [[Nickerie District]], [[Suriname]] (1866–1875)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Rotterdam, New York]], United States
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Rotterdam, Limpopo]], South Africa

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Rotterdam|Category:People from Rotterdam}}

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}
*[[Pierre Bayle]] (1647–1706), enlightenment philosopher<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Bayle, Pierre |volume= 3 |pages = 556&ndash;557 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Leo Beenhakker]] (born 1942), football coach
*[[Giovanni van Bronckhorst]] (born 1975), former footballer with [[Feyenoord]]
*[[Jules Deelder]] (1944–2019), poet, writer, DJ and night mayor
*[[Erasmus|Desiderius Erasmus]] (1466–1536), philosopher and humanist<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Erasmus, Desiderius |volume= 9 |last1= Pattison |first1= Mark |author1-link= Mark Pattison (academic) |last2= Allen |first2= Percy Stafford |author2-link= Percy Stafford Allen| pages = 727&ndash;732 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Pim Fortuyn]] (1948–2002), assassinated politician
*[[Leo Fuld]] (1912–1997), singer
*[[Piet Pieterszoon Hein]] (1577–1629), naval fleet officer and privateer<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Heyn, Pieter Pieterzoon |volume= 13 |last1= Hannay |first1= David McDowall |author1-link= David McDowall Hannay |pages = 437&ndash;438 |short=1}}</ref>
*[[Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff]] (1852–1911), Dutch physical chemist, first winner of the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]]<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= van't Hoff, Jacobus Hendricus |volume= 27 |pages = 896&ndash;897 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Rem Koolhaas]] (born 1944), internationally renowned architect
*[[Willem de Kooning]] (1904–1997), painter
*[[Ruud Lubbers]] (1939–2018), [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] from 1982 to 1994 and [[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] from 2001 to 2005
*[[Bernard Mandeville]] (1670–1733), philosopher, political economist and satirist<ref>{{Cite EB1911|first=John Malcolm |last=Mitchell|wstitle=Mandeville, Bernard de|volume= 17 |pages = 559&ndash;560|short=1}}</ref>
*[[Mary Louisa Molesworth]] (1839–1921), an English writer of children's stories<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Molesworth, Mary Louisa |volume= 18 |page = 660 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Coen Moulijn]] (1937–2011), football player of [[Feyenoord]]
*[[Johan van Oldenbarnevelt|Johan van Oldebarnevelt]] (1547–1619), statesman of the [[Dutch Revolt]]
*[[Jan Jacob van Oosterzee]] (1817–1882), a Dutch divine<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Oosterzee, Jan Jacob van |volume= 20 |page = 120 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Colonel Tom Parker]] (1909–1997), manager of [[Elvis Presley]]
*[[Robin van Persie]] (born 1983), [[Feyenoord]] forward and Dutch international footballer
*[[James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth]] (1649–1685), English nobleman and military officer<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Monmouth, James Scott, Duke of |volume= 18 |pages = 725&ndash;727 |short= 1}}</ref>
*[[Marten Toonder]] (1912–2005), comic writer
*[[Maarten Tromp]] (1598–1653) & [[Cornelis Tromp]] (1629–1691), [[Royal Netherlands Navy|Dutch]] admirals<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Tromp |volume= 27 |page = 304 |short= 1}}</ref> 
*[[Angela Visser]] (born 1966), model and actress, [[Miss Nederland|Miss Holland 1988]] and [[Miss Universe 1989]]

{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2017}}
Rotterdam features in [[Edgar Allan Poe]]'s short story "[[The Unparalleled Adventure of One Hans Pfaall]]" (1835).<ref>Tretsch, John. "Extra! Extra! Poe invents science fiction!" as collected in ''The Cambridge Companion to Edgar Allan Poe'', edited by Kevin J. Hayes. Cambridge University Press, 2002: 117. {{ISBN|0-521-79727-6}}</ref>

Rotterdam features in J.T. [[Sheridan Le Fanu]]'s "Strange Event in the Life of Schalken the Painter" (1839).

In episode 2 of the first series of [[Survivors (1975 TV series)|''Survivors'']] Greg Preston says "Rotterdam was burning, just miles and miles of fire. Oil tanks going off like bombs."

In season 1, episode 2 of [[The Golden Girls (season 1)|''The Golden Girls'']] ("Guess Who's Coming to the Wedding?"), [[Dorothy Zbornak|Dorothy]] reminisces how her ex-husband, Stan, would buy her tulips after they fought. "Towards the end, our house looked like Easter in Rotterdam."

In 1996, the [[United Kingdom|British]] band [[the Beautiful South]] recorded a song named after this region titled ''[[Rotterdam (or Anywhere)]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=everyHit.com – UK Top 40 Chart Archive, British Singles & Album Charts |url=http://www.everyhit.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070717022953/http://www.everyhit.com/ |archive-date=17 July 2007 |access-date=17 March 2016 |website=everyhit.com}}</ref>

Part of [[Jackie Chan]]'s 1998 film ''[[Who Am I? (1998 film)|Who Am I?]]'' is set in Rotterdam.

''[[Ender's Shadow]]'', part of the series ''[[Ender's Game]]'' is partially set in Rotterdam.

In the 2004 video game ''[[Hitman: Contracts]]'', the missions "Rendezvous in Rotterdam" and "Deadly Cargo" are both set in Rotterdam.

The [[2017 Laurence Olivier Awards|2017 Laurence Olivier Award]]-winning play ''[[Rotterdam (play)|Rotterdam]]'', written by [[Jon Brittain]], is set in the city.

In ''[[Battlefield V]]'', this city is used as a map released on its two of its maps on launch, which are Rotterdam and Devastation, and featured the [[British Army]] fighting against the [[Wehrmacht]] and according to its history, the [[Witte Huis|white building]] was almost left untouched by the bombing during WWII and that building can be seen on both in-game and real world.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="175px" heights="175px">
File:Koningin Emmaplein 3-14, juli 2022.tif|Koningin Emmaplein
File:Schielandshuis Rotterdam.jpg|[[:nl:Het Schielandshuis|the Schielandshuis]]
File:Overzicht voorgevel - Rotterdam - 20377524 - RCE.jpg|[[Rotterdam City Hall]]
File:Rotterdam depot boijmans.jpg|[[Depot Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]], It is the first publicly accessible art depot in the world.
File:Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland.jpg|[[Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen]]
File:Halfzijaanzicht van het Witte Huis Rotterdam (2020) 2.jpg|[[Witte Huis]], the first high-rise building in Europe.
File:Van Nelle fabriek.jpg|[[Van Nelle Factory]], [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] since 2014
File:Zalmhaventoren (cropped).jpg|[[De Zalmhaven]]
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[World's busiest ports]], by type of port (a "list of lists")

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Notelist}}

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{See also|Timeline of Rotterdam#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Rotterdam}}
*{{Citation |last=Amersfoort |first=H |title=Mei 1940 – Strijd op Nederlands grondgebied |year=2005 |publisher=SDU |language=nl |isbn=90-12-08959-X |display-authors=etal}}
*{{Citation |last=Brongers |first=E.H. |title=Opmars naar Rotterdam |year=2004 |publisher=Aspect |language=nl |isbn=90-5911-269-5}}
*{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=Richard J.<!--was small caps--> |title=The Third Reich at War |title-link=The Third Reich at War |publisher=[[Penguin Group|Allen Lane]] |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7139-9742-2 |location=London |author-link=Richard J. Evans}}
*{{Citation |last=Götzel |first=H |title=Generaloberst Kurt Student und seine Fallschirmjäger |year=1980 |publisher=Podzun-Pallas Verlag |language=de |isbn=3-7909-0131-8 |oclc=7863989}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Lourens |first1=Piet |title=Inwonertallen van Nederlandse steden ca. 1300–1800 |last2=Lucassen |first2=Jan |publisher=NEHA |year=1997 |isbn=9057420082 |location=Amsterdam}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Rotterdam |b=no |n=no |q=no |s=no |v=no |voy=Rotterdam |species=no |d=no}}
*[https://www.rotterdam.nl/english/ Rotterdam City Council (English)]
*[https://en.rotterdam.info/ Rotterdam Tourism Board]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170113055920/http://www.visitrotterdam.org/ VisitRotterdam.org (Unofficial)] (archived)

{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=''Event created''}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[World Gymnaestrada]] host city|years=1953}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Zagreb]], [[Yugoslavia]] (1957)}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-start}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Tel Aviv]] (2019)}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Eurovision Song Contest]] host city|years=2020/2021}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Turin]] (2022)}}
{{S-end}}
<!--Please note that not all directions need to be filled-->
<!--Please note that preferably only neighboring municipalities or bodies of water should be used-->
{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Rotterdam
|North     = [[Delft]], [[Pijnacker-Nootdorp]], [[Lansingerland]]
|Northeast = [[Zuidplas]]
|East      = [[Capelle aan den IJssel]]<br>[[Krimpen aan den IJssel]]
|Southeast = [[Ridderkerk]]
|South     = [[Nissewaard]], [[Albrandswaard]], [[Barendrecht]]
|Southwest = [[Voorne aan Zee]]
|West      = ''[[North Sea]]''
|Northwest = [[Westland (municipality), Netherlands|Westland]], [[Maassluis]], [[Vlaardingen]], [[Schiedam]], [[Midden-Delfland]]
}}
{{Neighbourhoods of Rotterdam}}
{{South Holland Province}}
{{European Capital of Culture}}
{{European Capital of Sport}}
{{European Youth Capital}}
{{RotterdamSport}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rotterdam| ]]<!--leave the empty space as standard-->
[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:1340 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:Populated places in South Holland]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the North Sea]]