ss Rotterdam, making new memories
The Steamship Rotterdam, or ss Rotterdam for short, is the largest ocean liner ever built in the Netherlands. The ss Rotterdam was launched at the Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij (RDM) in 1958. It was a symbol of post-war reconstruction and became an icon for Rotterdam, a city that had suffered devastating damage. In the spirit of the reconstruction, and in keeping with Rotterdam’s motto of ‘stronger through battle’, no effort or cost was spared in making sure that ‘La Grande Dame’ was the finest and most luxurious vessel of the era, and the history of the vessel can still be felt on board.
The ss Rotterdam, a former flagship of the Holland-Amerika Lijn, sailed many oceans of the world as a passenger ship and then a cruise ship. After a successful period cruising, this iconic liner was saved from the salvage yard. As much of her 1950s interior and as many of her works of art as possible were restored to their former glory between 2005 and 2008, and after a turbulent renovation phase, the ship was finally acquired by WestCord Hotels, who already owned the adjacent Hotel New York at the time. The ss Rotterdam has been accessible to the public since 15 February 2010, and in that time it has become one of the city’s most popular hotspots. Nowadays the vessel is permanently moored in the Rotterdam Maashaven near Katendrecht.
The former flagship features a 4-star hotel, a restaurant, two bars and a terrace, and is a visitor attraction as well as a special venue for events, including weddings. All of the vessel’s interior spaces are characterised by the 1950s design style and still incorporate many authentic elements.
