Rotterdam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rotterdam
City and municipality
Rotterdam at dusk Lawrence Church The Destroyed City Euromast Cube houses De Kuip Historic town centre of Delfshaven Port of Rotterdam
Flag Coat of arms Brandmark
Nickname(s):  Rotown, Roffa, Rotjeknor, Nultien, 010
Motto(s):  Sterker door strijd (Stronger through effort)
Location in South Holland
Rotterdam Location in South Holland Show map of South Holland Rotterdam Location in Netherlands Show map of Netherlands Rotterdam Location in Europe Show map of Europe
Country	Netherlands
Province	South Holland
Districts	Fourteen Centrum Charlois Delfshaven Feijenoord Hillegersberg-Schiebroek Hoogvliet Hook of Holland IJsselmonde Kralingen-Crooswijk Noord Overschie Pernis Prins Alexander Rozenburg
Government
• Body	Municipal council
Area
• Municipality	325.79 km2 (125.79 sq mi)
• Land	208.80 km2 (80.62 sq mi)
• Water	116.99 km2 (45.17 sq mi)
• Randstad	3,043 km2 (1,175 sq mi)
Population  (1 January 2023)
• Municipality	664,311
• Density	2,969/km2 (7,690/sq mi)
• Urban	1,015,215
• Metro	1,181,284
• Randstad	8,366,078
Demonym(s)	Rotterdammer
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode	3000–3099
Area code	010
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Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands. It is smaller than the capital city, Amsterdam. Rotterdam is located in the province of South Holland. It sits near the North Sea, where the Rhine and Meuse rivers meet the sea. This area is called the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.

The city's history began in 1270 when a dam was built on the Rotte River. In 1340, Rotterdam officially became a city. Today, the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area is one of the largest in Europe. It has about 2.7 million people.

Rotterdam is a very important place for shipping and business. It has Europe's largest seaport. In 2022, Rotterdam had over 655,000 people living there. These people come from more than 180 different countries.

The city is famous for its university and its modern buildings. It has a lively culture and a rich history connected to the sea. During World War II, the city center was almost completely destroyed by bombs. This led to many new and interesting buildings being built. You can see tall buildings designed by famous architects like Rem Koolhaas.

Because of its rivers, Rotterdam is a "Gateway to Europe" and "Gateway to the World." Goods can travel from the port deep into Western Europe. This includes the industrial area of Ruhr in Germany.

Contents History of Rotterdam Early Beginnings Rotterdam in the 20th Century Geography of Rotterdam Rotterdam's Climate People of Rotterdam Population and Districts Diverse Backgrounds Religion in Rotterdam Economy of Rotterdam Education in Rotterdam Culture in Rotterdam Museums and Libraries Music, Film, and Festivals Eurovision Song Contest City Rivalry Architecture in Rotterdam Architectural History Parks and Green Spaces Green Activities Sports in Rotterdam Football Clubs Rotterdam Marathon Tennis Tournament Tour de France Other Sports Yearly Events in Rotterdam Transportation in Rotterdam Motorways Airport Train Services Metro System Tram Services Bus Services Waterbus and Ferry International Connections Twin Towns and Sister Cities Partner Cities Sister Ports Places Named After Rotterdam Famous People from Rotterdam Images for kids See also

History of Rotterdam

Rotterdam has a long and interesting past. It grew from a small settlement to a major world port.

Early Beginnings

People first settled near the Rotte River around the year 950. The name "Rotte" means "muddy water." Around 1150, big floods happened. This led people to build protective walls called dikes and dams. One important dam was built on the Rotte River in the 1260s. This dam is where the Hoogstraat (High Street) is today.

On July 7, 1340, Rotterdam was given "city rights" by Count Willem IV of Holland. This meant it could govern itself more. At that time, only a few thousand people lived there. Around 1350, a shipping canal called the Rotterdamse Schie was finished. This canal helped Rotterdam connect to bigger towns in the north. It became a place where goods were moved between the Netherlands, England, and Germany. This helped the city grow.

From the 1600s, Rotterdam was involved in global trade. Dutch ships from Rotterdam sailed to Africa and the Americas. This was part of a trade network that included goods and people. Rotterdam also played a role in the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the Dutch West India Company (WIC). These were big trading companies.

The port of Rotterdam grew steadily. A big boost came in 1872 when the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) was completed. This new channel made it easier for large ships to reach the port. The city and harbor then started to grow on the south side of the river. The Witte Huis (White House) was built in 1898. It was inspired by American office buildings. At 45 m (148 ft) tall, it was the tallest office building in Europe when it was finished. This showed how fast Rotterdam was growing.

Rotterdam in the 20th Century

During World War I, the Netherlands stayed neutral. Rotterdam became a major center for spies. This was because of its location between Britain, Germany, and German-occupied Belgium. Many spies worked from Rotterdam.

In World War II, Germany invaded the Netherlands on May 10, 1940. The Dutch army fought hard. But on May 14, 1940, the German air force (Luftwaffe) bombed Rotterdam. The city center was almost completely destroyed. About 80,000 people lost their homes. Around 900 people were killed. Many people had already left the city, which kept the number of deaths lower. The City Hall survived the bombing.

After the war, Ossip Zadkine created a statue called De Verwoeste Stad (The Destroyed City). It reminds people of the bombing. The statue is near the Leuvehaven, close to the Erasmusbrug. In 1941, about 11,000 Jewish people lived in Rotterdam. Many were later deported and killed during the Holocaust. A monument, the Jewish Children's Monument, was unveiled in 2013.

In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina gave Rotterdam its motto: 'Sterker door strijd' (Stronger through effort). This was to honor the city's courage and strength during the war.

Rotterdam was rebuilt from the 1950s to the 1970s. Because the old center was gone, new, modern buildings could be planned. In 1953, the Lijnbaan opened. It was Europe's first shopping street where cars were not allowed. This new design got a lot of international attention. The new Central Station was finished in 1957. The Euromast tower was built in 1960 for a flower show called the Floriade.

From the 1980s, the city focused on amazing architecture. Old harbor areas were redeveloped. Bold new buildings, apartments, and offices were built. This made the city center more "livable" and created a new skyline. In the 1990s, the Kop van Zuid area was built on the south bank of the river. It became a new business center. In 2015, Rotterdam was named European City of the Year.

Geography of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is split into two parts by the Nieuwe Maas river. Bridges and tunnels connect the northern and southern parts. These include the Erasmusbrug and the Maastunnel.

The city center is on the north side of the river. But new buildings have extended the center to the south, in an area called Kop van Zuid. From its center, Rotterdam stretches all the way to the North Sea. This area is mostly filled with the port.

Much of Rotterdam is built behind dikes. This means large parts of the city are below sea level. For example, the Prins Alexander Polder is 6 m (20 ft) below sea level. The lowest point in the Netherlands is just east of Rotterdam.

The Rotte River no longer flows directly into the Nieuwe Maas. Its water is now pumped through a pipe. An artificial beach was created along the Nieuwe Maas between 2003 and 2008. People can also visit the beach at Hook of Holland, which is part of Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is the center of the Rijnmond area. It is very close to The Hague. These two areas are so close they almost form one big city. They share the Rotterdam The Hague Airport and a train system called RandstadRail. There are plans to create an official "Metropolitan region Rotterdam The Hague." This area would have about 2.5 million people.

The Rijnmond area is part of the Randstad. This is one of the most important and crowded areas in northwest Europe. The Randstad has a population of 7.1 million people.

Rotterdam's Climate

Rotterdam has a mild oceanic climate. This is like other coastal areas in the Netherlands. Winters are cool, and summers are mild to warm. Temperatures can go above 30 °C about 4 days each summer. In winter, temperatures can drop below −5 °C for short times. Rain is common throughout the year. Spring and summer are usually drier and sunnier. Autumn and winter are cloudier with more rain or snow.

People of Rotterdam

Rotterdam is a very diverse city. People from many different backgrounds live here.

Population and Districts

Historical population
Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1398 2,500 —     1477 5,738 +1.06% 1494 4,374 −1.58% 1514 5,116 +0.79% 1622 19,532 +1.25% 1632 29,500 +4.21% 1665 40,000 +0.93% 1732 56,000 +0.50% 1795 53,212 −0.08% 1830 72,300 +0.88% 1849 90,100 +1.17% 1879 148,100 +1.67%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1899 318,500 +3.90% 1925 547,900 +2.11% 1965 731,000 +0.72% 1984 555,000 −1.44% 2005 596,407 +0.34% 2006 588,576 −1.31% 2007 584,046 −0.77% 2010 603,425 +1.09% 2011 612,502 +1.50% 2012 617,347 +0.79% 2014 624,799 +0.60% 2020 651,446 +0.70%
Source: (1398–1795)

The city of Rotterdam is part of the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area. This area covers 1,130 square kilometers. In 2015, it had about 2.5 million people. The city of Rotterdam itself covers 325.79 square kilometers. In 2019, it had 638,751 people. The population was highest in 1965, with over 731,000 people. Then it went down for a while. Now, it is growing again, but slower than other Dutch cities.

Rotterdam has 14 smaller areas called submunicipalities. These include Centrum, Charlois, and Prins Alexander. Prins Alexander is the largest, with about 85,000 people. The size of Rotterdam has grown over time. This is because it has joined with other nearby towns.

Diverse Backgrounds

Rotterdam has a high percentage of residents whose parents were born outside the Netherlands. This makes Rotterdam a very multi-ethnic and multicultural city. About 52.9% of the population has at least one parent born in another country. In 2010, there were 80,000 Muslims, which was 13% of the population. The mayor of Rotterdam, Ahmed Aboutaleb, is of Moroccan descent and is a Muslim.

The city has the largest Dutch Antillean community. It also has its own Chinatown at the West-Kruiskade.

Religion in Rotterdam

Christianity is the largest religion in Rotterdam. About 36.3% of people identify as Christian. Islam is the second largest religion (13.1%). Hinduism is third (3.3%). About half of the people in Rotterdam say they have no religious beliefs.

Rotterdam has been home to the main church of the liberal Protestant group called Remonstrants since 1795. Since 1955, it has been the home of the Catholic bishop of Rotterdam. The city also has the largest mosque in the Netherlands, the Essalam Mosque, which opened in 2010. It can hold 1,500 people.

Economy of Rotterdam

Rotterdam has always been a major center for shipping in the Netherlands.

The VOC, the world's first multinational company, had a branch in Rotterdam in 1602. Later, the shipping company Royal Nedlloyd was founded here in 1970. In 1997, Nedlloyd joined with a British company to become the third-largest shipping company in the world.

Today, many well-known companies have their main offices in Rotterdam. These include the consumer goods company Unilever, the investment firm Robeco, and the energy company Eneco. Other big companies here are the dredging company Van Oord and the oil company Royal Dutch Shell. Rotterdam also has regional offices for companies like LyondellBasell (chemicals) and Pfizer (medicine).

The city's unemployment rate is 12%, which is higher than the national average. This is because many people come to Rotterdam looking for jobs, especially in areas that require less training.

Rotterdam is the biggest port in Europe. The Maas and Rhine rivers give ships great access to inland Europe. This includes places like Basel, Switzerland and parts of France. Goods are moved from Rotterdam by ship, train, or road. In 2004, Shanghai became the world's busiest container port. In 2006, Rotterdam was the seventh largest container port in the world. The port mainly handles petrochemical products and general cargo. It is a key point for moving large amounts of materials between Europe and other continents. In 2007, the Betuweroute, a new fast freight railway to Germany, was finished.

Rotterdam has famous streets for shopping and business. The Lijnbaan was the first car-free shopping street in Europe, opened in 1953. The Coolsingel street has the city hall. The Weena street runs from the Central Station. The 'Koopgoot' (Shopping Gutter) is a modern shopping area below street level. The Kruiskade is a more fancy shopping street with luxury brands. The Markthal is a famous building with many small shops inside. In the south, Zuidplein is a main shopping area near Rotterdam Ahoy, a big center for events. Another large shopping center is Alexandrium in the east.

Education in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has excellent schools and universities.

The main university is Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR). It is named after Desiderius Erasmus, a famous philosopher who lived in the city. The Rotterdam School of Management at EUR is highly ranked in Europe. The university is also home to Europe's largest student association, STAR.

The Willem de Kooning Academy is Rotterdam's main art school. It is known as one of the best art schools in the Netherlands. It is especially good for Advertising and Copywriting. The Piet Zwart Institute, part of the academy, offers advanced studies in art and design.

The Hoboken campus of EUR has the Erasmus Medical Center. This includes a general hospital, a children's hospital, and a cancer institute. It is ranked as one of the top hospitals and medical universities in the world.

Rotterdam also has three "Hogescholen" (Universities of Applied Sciences). These schools offer professional Bachelor's and Master's degrees. They are Hogeschool Rotterdam, Hogeschool Inholland, and Codarts University for the Arts. Codarts teaches music, dance, and circus arts.

The Shipping & Transport College is unique to Rotterdam. It offers many different diplomas for careers in shipping and transport.

Culture in Rotterdam

Rotterdam was once mainly a city of work because of its port. Now, it has also become a vibrant city of culture.

The city has many museums, cultural centers, and activities. You can find events for architecture, music, visual arts, poetry, cinema, and theater. There are also many festivals and a lively nightlife. The city has its own orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. They play at the De Doelen concert hall. The Ahoy complex hosts pop concerts, exhibitions, and sports events. There are also several theaters and cinemas.

In 2001, Rotterdam was named a European Capital of Culture, along with Porto.

Museums and Libraries

Rotterdam has many cultural places to visit. Famous museums include the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Het Nieuwe Instituut, and the Maritime Museum Rotterdam. The Museum Rotterdam shows how the city has grown into a modern, international city. Other museums include the Tax & Customs Museum and the Natural History Museum. A new museum, 'Fenix, Museum for Migration,' will open in 2025.

The first public library in Rotterdam was started in 1604. Today, the Bibliotheek Rotterdam is the largest cultural organization in the city. It has fifteen branches. The Rotterdam City Archives keeps historical records about the city.

Music, Film, and Festivals

Rotterdam has a rich history of popular music, especially jazz. A big event was the Kralingen Pop Festival in 1970. Famous bands like Pink Floyd played there. This festival also led to a film called Stamping Ground.

Rotterdam also became the home of Gabber. This is a type of fast electronic music that was popular in the 1990s. Groups like Neophyte started here. Today, Rotterdam has music venues like Rotown and Annabel. WORM focuses on experimental music.

Rotterdam has a long film history. It hosts the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) every year. This festival is held in late January and early February. Other film festivals, like the Architecture Film Festival Rotterdam, also take place here.

Many different festivals happen in Rotterdam throughout the year. Summer festivals celebrate the city's diverse population. These include the Caribbean-inspired "Summer Carnival" and the Dance Parade. Other festivals are Poetry International (June) and the North Sea Jazz Festival (July). In September, there are the Valery Gergiev Festival and the World Port Days.

Eurovision Song Contest

In 2019, Rotterdam was chosen to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. This was after the Netherlands won the 2019 contest. However, the 2020 contest was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rotterdam then hosted the 2021 contest instead. It took place at Rotterdam Ahoy. This was the first time Rotterdam hosted the contest. It was also the first time the Netherlands hosted it since 1980.

City Rivalry

Rotterdam has a friendly competition with Amsterdam. Amsterdam is often seen as the cultural capital of the Netherlands. This rivalry is strongest between the football fans of Feyenoord (Rotterdam) and Ajax (Amsterdam). People sometimes say, "Money is earned in Rotterdam, distributed in The Hague and spent in Amsterdam." Another saying is, "Amsterdam has it, Rotterdam doesn't need it."

Architecture in Rotterdam

Rotterdam is famous worldwide for its modern and unique buildings. People sometimes call it Manhattan at the Meuse or The architectural capital of the Netherlands.

Many leading architectural firms are based in Rotterdam. These include OMA (Rem Koolhaas) and MVRDV. The city is a place for new architectural ideas and learning. The NAi (Netherlands Architecture Institute) has exhibitions on architecture and city planning.

Rotterdam has 38 skyscrapers and 352 high-rise buildings. Many more are planned or being built. The top 5 tallest buildings in the Netherlands are all in Rotterdam. It is home to the two tallest buildings in the country: the Maastoren (165 meters) and the Zalmhaven Tower (215 meters), finished in 2021.

Architectural History

In 1898, the White House (Witte Huis) was completed. This 45 m (148 ft) tall office building was the tallest in Europe at the time. In the early 1900s, Rotterdam built important modern buildings. The Van Nelle fabriek (1929) is a famous example of modern factory design. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. The Feyenoord football stadium De Kuip (1936) is also a well-known building from this time.

As mentioned, the city center was bombed in World War II. This destroyed many old buildings. After the war, Rotterdam became a place for bold new architecture.

Rotterdam is known for the Lijnbaan (1952), a car-free shopping street. It is also famous for the Kubuswoningen or cube houses. These unique houses were designed by architect Piet Blom in 1984.

The newest landmark is the Markthal. It was designed by the firm MVRDV. Other important buildings include the STC college building and the Schiecentrale 4b. The Depot of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen opened in 2021. It is the world's first art storage facility that is fully open to the public.

Rotterdam has some of the tallest structures in the Netherlands.

• The Erasmusbrug (1996) is a 790 m (2,590 ft) long cable-stayed bridge. It connects the north and south parts of Rotterdam. Its tall pylon, 138 m (453 ft) high, has a special bend. This gives the bridge its nickname 'De Zwaan' ('the Swan').
• The De Zalmhaven Tower is the tallest residential building in the Netherlands, at 215 m (705 ft).
• The tallest office building is the 'Maastoren' (164.75 m (540.5 ft)). It is home to the company Deloitte.
• The Euromast is a 185 m (607 ft) tall tower. It is a major tourist attraction. It was built in 1960 and made taller in 1970.

Rotterdam is known as a place for architectural growth. This is thanks to places like the Berlage Institute and the NAi. More than 30 new tall building projects are being planned.

Parks and Green Spaces

Parks and green areas are very important in Rotterdam. Here are some well-known parks:

• Het Park is a 70-acre park near the Euromast. It was designed in the 1850s. The first Floriade (flower show) was held here in 1960.
• Museumpark is close to Het Park. Several museums are located around it.
• Diergaarde Blijdorp is a zoo on the northwest side of Rotterdam. It has a sea aquarium called the Oceanium.
• Arboretum Trompenburg is a beautiful garden in Kralingen. It has about 4,000 different types of trees and plants.
• Park Schoonoord is a 3-acre park designed in 1860.
• The Kralingse Bos (500 acres) with the Kralingse Plas (250 acres) is a large forest and lake area. It officially opened in 1953.

• The Vroesenpark is in Rotterdam-Noord.
• The Zuiderpark (780 acres) is in the Charlois district. It was designed as a useful park in 1952.
• Park Rozenburg is a 7.41 acres (3.00 ha) park in Kralingen. It is a protected city monument.

Green Activities

Since 1994, Rotterdam has a program called Opzoomeren. About 15% of Rotterdam residents take part. They help make their streets greener, often by creating small gardens in front of their homes.

The city also encourages building green roofs. These roofs have plants on them. They help store water during heavy rain, which reduces flooding.

• The largest green roof in the city is on top of the Groothandelsgebouw near Central Station.
• The Dakakker is the largest roof farm in Europe.
• The Dakpark is a long, narrow park built high up, about nine meters off the ground.
• The city plans to add a green roof to the De Doelen concert building.

Sports in Rotterdam

Rotterdam calls itself Sportstad (City of Sports). It hosts many famous sports events every year.

Some examples are the Rotterdam Marathon, the World Port Tournament (baseball), and the Rotterdam World Tennis Tournament. Rotterdam has also hosted the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

The city is home to many sports clubs and famous athletes.

Football Clubs

Rotterdam has three professional football clubs in the top league (Eredivisie): Feyenoord, Sparta, and Excelsior.

Feyenoord was founded in 1908. It is the most successful of the three. Feyenoord has won sixteen national titles. It was the first Dutch club to win the UEFA Champions League in 1970. They also won the World Cup for club teams that same year. Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup in 1974 and again in 2002. In 2008, they won the KNVB Cup.

Feyenoord's stadium, Stadion Feijenoord, is known as De Kuip ('the Tub'). It holds 51,480 people. It is the second-largest stadium in the Netherlands. De Kuip has hosted many international football games. There are plans to build a new stadium with at least 63,000 seats.

Sparta was founded in 1888 and has won six national titles. Excelsior, founded in 1902, has not won any.

Many great football players and coaches have come from Rotterdam. These include Robin van Persie, Ruud Gullit, and Ronald Koeman.

Rotterdam Marathon

Rotterdam has its own yearly international Rotterdam Marathon. It is known for being one of the fastest courses in the world. Between 1985 and 1998, the world record was set in Rotterdam several times.

The current men's record is 2:03.36, set by Bashir Abdi in 2021. The women's record is 2:18.58, set by Tiki Gelana in 2012. Gelana later won the Olympic gold medal in London.

The marathon starts and ends on the Coolsingel in the city center. It attracts about 900,000 visitors.

Tennis Tournament

Since 1972, Rotterdam has hosted the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. This is a major tennis event. Arthur Ashe won the first tournament in 1972. Former Wimbledon winner Richard Krajicek is now the tournament director. The tournament attracts over 116,000 visitors.

Tour de France

In 2008, Rotterdam was chosen to host the start of the 2010 Tour de France. This was the fifth time the Tour de France started in the Netherlands. The race began with a 7 km (4.35 mi) time trial through the city center. The first regular stage left the Erasmusbrug and went south.

The 2015 Tour de France also passed through Rotterdam. The Tour de France Femmes will start in Rotterdam in 2024.

Other Sports

• Rowing: The student rowing club Skadi has had members win Olympic gold medals. Rotterdam has a rowing venue called Willem-Alexander Baan. It hosted the 2016 World Rowing Championships.
• Field Hockey: Rotterdam has the largest hockey club in the Netherlands, HC Rotterdam.
• Baseball: Neptunus Rotterdam is the most successful European baseball team.
• Boxing: Rotterdam has a strong boxing history. Famous boxers include Bep van Klaveren, who won a gold medal at the 1928 Olympics.
• Swimming: Rotterdam has produced Olympic swimming champions like Marie Braun and Rie Mastenbroek. Later, Inge de Bruijn won three Olympic gold medals in 2000.
• Sailing: Olympic gold medalist Daan Kagchelland was from Rotterdam. The Kralingse plas is a training ground for Olympic sailors.

Yearly Events in Rotterdam

Rotterdam hosts many unique annual events.

• January: 'Zesdaagse van Rotterdam' (cycling) and International Film Festival Rotterdam.
• February: Rotterdam Open ABN AMRO ATP 500 Tennis Tournament and Art Rotterdam (art fair).
• April–June: Rotterdam Marathon, Poetry International, Koningsdag Festival (King's Day), CHIO Rotterdam (horse show), and Roparun (charity run).
• July: North Sea Jazz Festival (one of Europe's largest jazz festivals) and Summer Carnival (Caribbean-inspired parade).
• August: Pleinbioscoop (open-air cinema), Dag van de Romantische Muziek (romantic music festival), and Rotterdam Rave Festival.
• September: The World Port Days (celebrating the port).
• November/December: Boterletterwedstrijden (sailing regatta).

Transportation in Rotterdam

Rotterdam has many ways to travel, including international, national, and local transport.

Motorways

Rotterdam has several major roads, called motorways. Four of these form a 'Ring' (ring road) around the city:

• A20 (Ring North): From Hook of Holland through Rotterdam to Gouda.
• A16 (Ring East): From Rotterdam to Breda (and on to Antwerp and Paris).
• A15 (Ring South): From Europoort through Rotterdam to Nijmegen.
• A4 (Ring West): From Rotterdam to The Hague (and on to Amsterdam).

Other motorways serving Rotterdam are the A13 (from The Hague) and the A29 (from Bergen op Zoom).

Airport

Rotterdam The Hague Airport is the third-largest airport in the Netherlands. It is smaller than Schiphol Airport. It is located north of the city. This airport is popular with low-cost airlines and business travelers.

Train Services

Rotterdam has good train connections within the Netherlands and to other countries.

• International trains: High-speed trains like Thalys go to Belgium and France. Eurostar trains go to London. There are also frequent trains to Antwerp and Brussels.
• National trains: Frequent trains connect Rotterdam to major Dutch cities. These include The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Dordrecht, and Eindhoven. Night trains run every hour to several cities.

Railway stations in Rotterdam:

• Rotterdam Centraal – The main station.
• Rotterdam Alexander – In the eastern part of the city.
• Rotterdam Blaak – Near the city center.
• Rotterdam Lombardijen – In the southern part.
• Rotterdam Noord – In the northern part.
• Rotterdam Zuid – In the northern part of South Rotterdam.
• Rotterdam Stadion – Near the Feyenoord stadium, open for matches and concerts.

Public transport in Rotterdam is run by several companies. NS (Dutch Railways) handles national trains. RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram) runs trams, city buses, metro, and ferries. Other companies like Arriva and Connexxion run regional buses.

Metro System

In 1968, Rotterdam was the first Dutch city to have a metro system. The metro has three main lines with different routes. It has 78.3 km (48.7 mi) of tracks and 70 stations. This makes it the largest metro system in the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). Line E (Randstadrail) connects Rotterdam with The Hague.

Line	Southern / western terminus	Northern / eastern terminus	Additional info
Line A	Vlaardingen West	Binnenhof	Ends at Schiedam Centrum outside busy hours.
Line B	Hoek van Holland Strand	Nesselande
Line C	De Akkers	De Terp
Line D	De Akkers	Rotterdam Centraal
Line E	Slinge	Den Haag Centraal

Tram Services

The Rotterdam tramway network has 9 regular tram lines and 4 special lines. The total length is 93.4 km (58.0 mi).

Regular tram lines include:

• 2: Charlois – Keizerswaard (south of the city)
• 4: Molenlaan – Rotterdam Centraal – Marconiplein
• 7: Oostplein – Rotterdam Centraal – Willemsplein
• 8: Spangen – Rotterdam Centraal – Kleiweg
• 20: Rotterdam Centraal – Lombardijen
• 21: Woudhoek (Schiedam) – Schiedam Centrum – Rotterdam Centraal – De Esch
• 23: Marconiplein – Rotterdam Centraal – Beverwaard
• 24: Holy (Vlaardingen) – Schiedam Centrum – Rotterdam Centraal – De Esch
• 25: Schiebroek – Rotterdam Centraal – Carnisselande (Barendrecht)

Special tram lines:

• 10: A historical tram line that runs in summer for tourists. It uses old Rotterdam Trams from 1931.
• 18: A tramline from Central Station to Park, used for special festivals.
• 12: A football tramline to the Feyenoord or Sparta stadiums for big matches.
• Snert-tram: A historical tram in winter that offers passengers "snert" (pea soup).
• IJsjes-tram: A summer version of the snert tram, offering ice cream.

Bus Services

Rotterdam has 55 city bus lines. They cover a total length of 432.7 km (268.9 mi). RET runs buses within Rotterdam and nearby towns. Other companies run buses from other cities to Rotterdam. An automated bus service called ParkShuttle runs to a business park.

The RoMeO Foundation collects and shows historical transport vehicles. They have over sixty trams, twenty buses, and an old metro train.

Waterbus and Ferry

The Waterbus network has seven lines. The main line goes from Rotterdam to Dordrecht. It carries about 130 passengers and 60 bicycles.

P&O Ferries have daily trips from Europoort to Kingston upon Hull in the UK.

International Connections

Rotterdam has connections with cities and ports all over the world.

Twin Towns and Sister Cities

Rotterdam is twinned with these cities:

Partner Cities

Sister Ports

• Kobe (since 1967)
• Busan (since 1987)
• Seattle (since 1969)
• Tokyo (since 1989)

Places Named After Rotterdam

The town of Rotterdam in New York, USA, was founded in 1661 by Dutch settlers. They named it after the city in the Netherlands. This town uses the same motto as Rotterdam: Sterker door Strijd (Stronger through Effort).

Other places named after Rotterdam:

• Nieuw Rotterdam, Nickerie District, Suriname (1866–1875)
• Rotterdam, Limpopo, South Africa

Famous People from Rotterdam

Many notable people have come from Rotterdam:

Images for kids

• 

  Tower blocks in the Kop van Zuid neighborhood.

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  Topographic map image of Rotterdam (city), as of September 2014.

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  Satellite image of Rotterdam and its port.

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  The 24 municipalities of the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area.

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  Runners during the marathon in Rotterdam.

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  Arthur Ashe at the 1975 ABN World Tennis Tournament.

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  Robin van Persie began his career with Excelsior and broke through in Feyenoord.

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  Bep van Klaveren.

• 

  Francisco Elson.

See also

In Spanish: Róterdam para niños