Skip to main content

About Rotterdam

About Rotterdam
  1. Home
  2. About Rotterdam

Introduction.

In a rapidly changing world, Rotterdam offers space for good ideas and for people who dare to dream and do. Rooted in the Rotterdam mentality, unpolished, entrepreneurial and worldly, the city is working towards a future that is smart, healthy, circular and vibrant. Rotterdam is a testing ground for pioneers: a city that is always in motion and invites collaboration. Entrepreneurs flourish here, artists push creative boundaries, scientists innovate, and students develop the knowledge and skills needed for the world of tomorrow.

Rotterdam is a city for frontrunners who choose a place where the port connects the world, where people work on health and knowledge for the future, where elite sport pushes boundaries and festivals celebrate life. A city that offers space for innovation, international trade, conferences and tourism. A place where entrepreneurs find opportunities, residents take initiative and students build their future. Whether it is about doing business, studying, innovating or dreaming, Rotterdam offers room to grow.

Rotterdam.

Rotterdam is a port city on the Nieuwe Maas, in the province of South Holland. The city originated around a dam in the river Rotte, built around 1270. In 1340, the settlement was granted city rights. From its position on the river and around the port, Rotterdam grew into an international trade and port city.

In the nineteenth century, Rotterdam’s development changed significantly. The port was at risk of silting up, after which hydraulic engineer Pieter Caland developed a plan for the Nieuwe Waterweg: a canal through the dunes of Hoek van Holland. Work began in 1866 and was completed in 1872. This gave Rotterdam a better connection to the North Sea. Around 1900, the city grew rapidly. New docks were built on the left bank of the Maas, and the population rose from just over 200,000 in 1890 to around 500,000 by the end of the First World War.

On 14 May 1940, Rotterdam’s city centre was bombed. Within fifteen minutes, large parts of the city centre were destroyed. At least 800 people were killed, around 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless, and 25,000 homes and 11,000 other buildings were destroyed. An area of 258 hectares lay in ruins. The bombing and the reconstruction that followed have had a defining impact on the city’s appearance.

Today, Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands by population. On 1 January 2025, Rotterdam had 672,565 registered residents. According to provisional figures, the city had more than 673,000 residents on 1 January 2026. Rotterdam is home to people of more than 170 nationalities.

The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe. In 2025, total throughput amounted to 428.4 million tonnes. Container throughput grew that year to 14.2 million TEU. The port area covers 12,500 hectares of land and water, including more than 6,000 hectares of industrial sites.

Rotterdam is also a city of neighbourhoods, culture, architecture, education, healthcare, tourism and entrepreneurship. The Wijkprofiel, published by Onderzoek010, describes the city through 14 areas and 71 neighbourhoods.

Rotterdam at a glance.

  • Rotterdam originated around a dam in the Rotte, built around 1270.
  • Rotterdam was granted city rights in 1340.
  • The Nieuwe Waterweg was built between 1866 and 1872.
  • The population grew from just over 200,000 in 1890 to around 500,000 by the end of the First World War.
  • On 14 May 1940, a large part of the city centre was destroyed by a German bombing raid.
  • At least 800 people were killed in the bombing and around 80,000 Rotterdammers were left homeless.
  • Rotterdam had 672,565 registered residents on 1 January 2025.
  • According to provisional figures, Rotterdam had more than 673,000 residents on 1 January 2026.
  • After Amsterdam, Rotterdam is the municipality with the largest population in the Netherlands.
  • Rotterdam is home to people of more than 170 nationalities.
  • The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port in Europe.
  • The port area covers 12,500 hectares of land and water.
About Rotterdam Make it Happen

Sources and further information

The facts on this page are based on the following public sources: