History of Rotterdam
Around 1260 a dam was constructed in the Rotte river, from which Rotterdam derives its name. Around this dam a settlement was established where people primarily made a living from fishing. Soon it also became a trading place and one of the first ports. The history of Rotterdam In 1340 Count Willem IV of Holland granted Rotterdam city rights. After that, around 1360, construction began on the city walls and moats.
Rotterdam became a major trading center for agricultural products and wool. The world-famous scholar Desiderius Erasmus was born in 1467 or 1469 in Rotterdam and spent his early years in the city, where his name is frequently found. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Rotterdam expanded further, and was competing with cities like Delft. The sixteenth century Old Harbor is a tangible sign of this growth.
Furthermore, countless new buildings were erected and the Laurenskerk was expanded. During the Uprising, Johan Oldebarnevelt laid the foundation for new port expansion, which in turn laid the foundation for the important role the city would later play in maritime trade. Not until 1825 did the city expand beyond its ramparts and moats. The more or less triangular space between Coolsingel, Goudsesingel and the Nieuwe Maas was not more than 140 hectares; thus, the city was crowded.
Laurenskerk
Only after the construction of the New Waterway in 1872 did the town expand beyond the city limits. As the gateway to Europe, Rotterdam benefited from the booming German economy, the industrial heart of Europe. New ports brought plenty of jobs and tens of thousands of people moved to Rotterdam from Brabant and Zeeland (both provinces in the southern part of the Netherlands) to Rotterdam, providing cheap labor.
New neighborhoods were established and the city also grew by annexing neighboring communities, such as Delfshaven Overschie. During the Second World War, much of Rotterdam was destroyed by the extensive bombing that took place in May of 1940. Although this was a huge blow to the city, the inhabitants immediately began rebuilding. And they did so quite successfully.
Rotterdam became the largest port in the world. Its vast new residential districts and modern subway system are symbolic of Rotterdam’s dynamism. Beginning in the 1970s, new streams of immigrants from all over the world transformed Rotterdam into a multicultural city, causing considerable tension. In 2001, the election of right-wing politician Pim Fortuyn’s party ‘Liveable Rotterdam’ brought an end to decades of Social Democratic dominance in the city.
The Maas river is an essential part of Rotterdam. The river plays an important role for Rotterdam as a world port and as a gateway to Europe. It also forms the dividing line between the northern and southern parts of Rotterdam. The Erasmus Bridge connects these two parts of the city, ensuring their cohesion.
In recent years much has changed in Rotterdam. The skyline was expanded with several new architectural icons, such as the Markthal, the building complex De Rotterdam, and the eye-catching new Central Station. Amid those impressive high rises, pioneering and creative entrepreneurs are busy ensuring the city also has an exciting cultural life.
Rotterdam has grown into a dynamic city with prominent post-war architecture. The city now has more than 680.000 inhabitants (1 January 2025) – from 170 countries – who share a love for the city.
