Ferris wheel in the evening in Rotterdam during the blue hour. by Bart Ros

Ferris wheel in the evening in Rotterdam during the blue hour.

Rotterdam (/ˈrɒtərdæm/ ROT-ər-dam, UK also /ˌrɒtərˈdæm/ ROT-ər-DAM,[5][6] Dutch: [ˌrɔtərˈdɑm] (audio speaker iconlists)) is the second largest city and municipality in the Netherlands. It is located in the province of South Holland, at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas River that leads from the North Sea to the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta. Its history dates back to 1270, when a dam was built in the Rotte River. In 1340, Rotterdam was granted city rights by Count William IV of Holland. The Rotterdam-Den Haag metropolitan area, with a population of about 2.7 million, is the 10th largest in the European Union and the most densely populated in the country.

Rotterdam, a major logistics and economic center, is the largest seaport in Europe. In 2020 it had 651,446 inhabitants[7] and more than 180 nationalities lived there. Rotterdam is known for its university, riverside location, vibrant cultural life, maritime heritage and modern architecture. The almost complete destruction of the city center during World War II Rotterdam Blitz has resulted in a diverse architectural landscape, including skyscrapers designed by architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Piet Blom, and Ben van Berkel.[8][9]

The Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt rivers provide waterways access to the heart of Western Europe, including the highly industrialized Ruhr area. The extensive distribution system with rail, roads and waterways has earned Rotterdam the nicknames