History of Rotterdam

Rotterdam has a rich history, mainly focused on its importance as a port. The city became increasingly important during the war with Spain in the 16th century, when Antwerp and Amsterdam were inaccessible. The city went through rapid expansion in the 19th century before being left totally destroyed as a result of WWII bombings, resulting in a city almost completely rebuilt since the late 1940s.

The birth of a city

Rotterdam’s history began when people began to settle near a dam in the River Rotte, and in 1328, the expanding settlement was granted ‘city rights’. From its beginnings as a small fishing port, Rotterdam slowly grew in significance.  With its accessible harbour, it became an important point for trade routes, especially during the war with Spain in the 16th century, when the ports at Antwerp and Amsterdam were blocked. At this time, the city then went through a period of rapid expansion.

Rapid expansion

During the 19th century, with the coming of the industrial revolution, Rotterdam began another phase of dramatic growth and development. The capacity of the port grew with steam power and mechanisation, and the railways transported goods on land.

Rotterdam became increasingly important as a trading port, with the use of steam-powered cranes allowing the port to cope with the unloading of a vast number of ships. In 1872. the Nieuwe Waterweg (New Waterway) opened, giving Rotterdam a direct connection to the North Sea. This expansion continued in the city until the depression of the 1930s, when unemployment and poverty took hold of the city.

The city without a heart

The city was slowly starting to recover from the depression when WWII broke out, and in May 1940, the German army attacked the Netherlands, with Rotterdam coming under a period of sustained bombing. The city was destroyed within days and many of the buildings that were left standing had to be torn down due to structural damage.

The first five days of war were followed by five years of occupation. Rotterdam became a ‘city without a heart’, immortalised by the sculptor Ossip Zadkine’s statue of the same name (Stad Zonder Hart). After the war ended, the city began its recovery and the 1950s and ‘60s were periods of development and reconstruction in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam today

The destruction of the city during the war gave architects the chance to totally recreate and redesign the city, with new buildings springing up all over the city and in spaces between older buildings that had survived the war. It is the impact of the war and subsequent redevelopment that has given Rotterdam its character today, with an interesting mix of old and new. Today, Rotterdam is the second largest port in the world and a crucial provider to the Dutch economy. Aside from shipping-based industries, Rotterdam has a large petrochemical industry.