Rotterdam

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of Europe’s most important port and logistics centers. The city has an estimated population of about 678,530 inhabitants (2026 estimate). Located in the province of South Holland on the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta, Rotterdam developed into a major international trading hub thanks to its strategic access to the North Sea. Its port, the Port of Rotterdam, is the largest seaport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world.

Much of Rotterdam’s historic center was destroyed during the Bombing of Rotterdam in 1940. After the war, the city was largely rebuilt with bold modern architecture, giving it a distinctive skyline unlike that of other Dutch cities. Today, notable landmarks include the Erasmus Bridge, the innovative Cube Houses, and the Markthal. Rotterdam is also the birthplace of several notable figures, including the Renaissance humanist scholar Desiderius Erasmus and Dutch international footballer Robin van Persie.