ROTTERDAM The most beautiful metropolis in the Netherlands

ROTTERDAM IS A CITY IN THE NETHERLANDS. IT IS THE LARGEST PORT CITY IN EUROPE AND ONE OF THE BUSIEST IN THE WORLD. THE CITY IS KNOWN FOR ITS MODERN ARCHITECTURE AND VIBRANT CULTURAL SCENE, AS WELL AS ITS HISTORY AS A MAJOR INDUSTRIAL CENTER. ROTTERDAM IS LOCATED IN THE WEST OF THE NETHERLANDS, NEAR THE MOUTH OF THE RIVER NIEUWE MAAS. IT IS THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THE COUNTRY AFTER AMSTERDAM.

History

ROTTERDAM HAS A LONG AND INTERESTING HISTORY. THE CITY WAS FOUNDED IN THE 13TH CENTURY AND QUICKLY BECAME AN IMPORTANT TRADING CENTER. IN THE 16TH AND 17TH CENTURIES, ROTTERDAM GREW INTO ONE OF THE BUSIEST PORTS IN THE WORLD, THANKS TO ITS STRATEGIC LOCATION AND STRONG CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER EUROPEAN CITIES. IN THE 19TH CENTURY, THE CITY BECAME AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL CENTER, WITH A FOCUS ON SHIPBUILDING AND THE PRODUCTION OF STEEL AND OTHER GOODS.

WW2

DURING WORLD WAR II, ROTTERDAM WAS HEAVILY BOMBED BY THE GERMAN ARMY. ON MAY 14, 1940, THE CITY WAS ATTACKED BY THE LUFTWAFFE, THE GERMAN AIR FORCE. THE BOMBING DESTROYED MUCH OF THE CITY CENTRE, INCLUDING MANY HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND HOUSES. AFTER THE WAR, THE CITY WAS REBUILT AND MANY OF THE DAMAGED BUILDINGS WERE REPLACED BY MODERN BUILDINGS. TODAY, ROTTERDAM IS A THRIVING CITY WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION AND A VIBRANT CULTURAL SCENE!