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 The Waalhaven by night
The Waalhaven by night
 Europe Container Terminals
Europe Container Terminals
Rotterdam has the largest Shanghai have taken over its world leading position. In 2004 Rotterdam has the seventh largest port in the world in terms of containers (TEU) handled.
Most important for the harbour of Rotterdam are the Germany, has been under construction. Large oil refineries are located west of the city. The rivers Meuse and Rhine also provide excellent access to the hinterland.
In the first half of the twentieth century the harbour activities moved from the centre towards the North Sea. The Nieuwe Waterweg was dug from Rotterdam to the North Sea, a canal to disembogue the shallow Rhine and Meuse. The Nieuwe Waterweg was ready in 1872 and all sorts of industrial activity formed on the banks of this canal.
Rotterdam's harbour territory has been enlarged by the construction of the Europoort (gate to Europe) complex along the mouth of the Nieuwe Waterweg, and by the Maasvlakte in the North Sea near Hoek van Holland. The lay-out of a second Maasvlakte was the subject of political debate in the 1990s, because it would be partly government-financed. Construction started in the summer of 2004 (press release, PDF in Dutch).
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With 55% of the inhabitants earning a low income, Rotterdam has its fair share of typical urban problems, such as dilapidated inner city areas.
Racial make-up of the city
Figures are from 2004:
Dutch: 318.672
Surinamese: 52.377
Turkish: 43.550
Moroccan: 34.281
Antillian / Aruban: 20.390
North African (not Moroccan): 18.127
Cape Verdian: 14.919
Other: 97.543
Rotterdam is the city of the Netherlands with the highest percentage of non-western foreigners. Nearly half the population is not born or have at least one parent who is not born in the Netherlands. The city has the biggest Cape Verdian community in the world outside of Cape Verde and the biggest Antillean community outside of the Dutch Antilles.
Historical population
1796: 53,200 inhabitants
1830: 72,300
1849: 90,100
1879: 148,100
1899: 318,500
1925: 547,900
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Rotterdam has one major university, the Hogeschool Rotterdam, Hogeschool INHOLLAND and Hogeschool voor Muziek en Dans. In Rotterdam students who attend higher education comprise around 20% of the city`s population.
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Rotterdam was one of the European Culture Capitals of 2001. The city has its own orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with its world famous musical director Valery Gergiev, a large congress and concert building De Doelen, plus many theatres (among which the new Luxor theatre) and movie theatres. The spacious Ahoy-complex in the south of the city is being used for pop concerts, exhibitions, tennis tournaments and other such activities. A major Zoo called "Blijdorp" is situated at the North side of Rotterdam, complete with a walkthrough sea aquarium called "Oceanium".
The city is home to the Rotterdam Academy of Fine Arts.
Rotterdam is currently going through somewhat of a renaissance, with some urban renewal projects featuring ambitious architecture, an increasingly sparkling nightlife, and a host of summer festivals celebrating the city's multicultural population and identity, such as the Caribbean-inspired 'Summer Carnival', the Dance Parade, Rotterdam 666, the Metropolis popfestival and the World Port days. With the International Filmfestival in january, Poetry International Festival in June, the Valery Gergiev Festival in September they make Rotterdam a real event city.
The self-image of the city is that of a no-nonsense workers' city. In that sense, there is a healthy competition with Amsterdam, which is often viewed as the 'cultural' capital of the Netherlands.
Rotterdam is also the home of Gabber, a type of techno music with fast beats and samples.
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Rotterdam is the home of two PVV DOTO). Feyenoord plays in the Dutch Premier League and was Dutch champion (for the last time) in 1999. In 2002 Feyenoord won the UEFA Cup. The large Feyenoord stadium with its popular name De Kuip (The Tub) in the southeast of the city has hosted many international football games, including the final of Euro 2000.
Rotterdam has its own annual international Belayneh Dinsamo. The marathon starts and ends on the Coolsingel in the heart of Rotterdam.
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Rotterdam is home to the Dutch half of Unilever, and Mittal Steel Company N.V., the world's largest steel company.
Rotterdam has the largest Port of Europe. The Port of Rotterdam has a strong relationship with the Port of Shanghai, the only port in the world exceeding the port of Rotterdam in terms of containers and oil shipped.
The Erasmus University has a strong focus on research and education in management and economics. The University is located on the east side of the city and is surrounded by numerous multinational firms. On Brainpark I, Brainpark II, Brainpark III and 'Het Rivium' you can find offices from Deloitte, PWC, KPMG, CMG, Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola Company, Cap Gemini, Ernst and Young etc. In the centre of the city you find the above mentioned Unilever offices, but also Robeco, Fortis (including Mees Pierson and Stad Rotterdam Verzekeringen) ABN AMRO, ING (Nationale Nederlanden) and the Rotterdam WTC.
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Rotterdam is well connected in international, national, regional and local public transport systems.
Albeit much smaller than the major Dutch hub Schiphol airport, Rotterdam has the second largest airport of the country, Rotterdam Airport (formerly known as Zestienhoven), which is located north of the city. The airport has shown a very strong growth over the past 5 years, this is mostly caused by the growth of low-cost carrier market. It is unknown whether the growth can continue in the future because of the environmental regulations.
 Building of Rotterdam Central Station from 1953. The Central Station is currently under reconstruction
Building of Rotterdam Central Station from 1953. The Central Station is currently under reconstruction
Direct international to France via Thalys
Benelux train to Brussels, Belgium
Nine railway stations within the city boundaries.
Frequent connections with the rest of the country, and Belgium.
During day hours: intercity services:
Intercity line to Amsterdam (the north west)
Intercity line to Dordrecht, Roosendaal and on to Vlissingen (the south west)
Intercity line to Leeuwarden (the north)
Intercity line to Eindhoven and Venlo (the south east)
Hourly night train connecting to Delft, The Hague, Leiden, Schiphol airport, Amsterdam, and, with a detour, Utrecht.
Detailed information available from the site of the Nederlandse Spoorwegen (Netherlands Railways) [8]
Stop on the international high speed line between Paris, opening in 2007
See also Hofplein Line.
To bridge the gap between national train services and local public transportation the Netherlands Randstad is currently developing a regional lightrail system called Randstad Rail. First trains are scheduled for September 2006.
Rotterdam operates two local subway lines.
Erasmus Line: Rotterdam Central station - Albrandswaard (Rhoon, Poortugaal) - Hoogvliet - Spijkenisse
Caland Line: two lines from the northeast of Rotterdam (Ommoord and since September 2005 to the new constructed neighbourhood Nesselande (before it ended at Zevenkamp which is one stop before Nesselande), both in Prins Alexander) and one from Capelle aan den IJssel join; the combined line terminated in the west of Rotterdam, but on November 4, 2002, an extension was opened: the line now connects to the main railway network at Schiedam railway station, has a stop in Pernis and joins the Erasmus Line in Hoogvliet; trains on the Caland Line, like those on the Erasmus Line, terminate in Spijkenisse.
The eastern parts of the Caland Line have some level crossings (with priority), and could therefore be called light rail instead of metro; however, they are integrated in the system; these parts have overhead wires, while the rest has a third rail, the vehicles can handle both.
See also List of Rotterdam metro stations.
Rotterdam offers 9 tramlines with a total length of 93.4 kilometers.
Rotterdam offers 38 buslines with a total length of 432.7 kilometers.
Rotterdam Willemskade - Dordrecht Merwekade.
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Hotels in Netherlands - Rotterdam >>
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