History

A broad look at the history of Rotterdam

In the estuary of the Rotte River, there were settlements in the year 900.

This area belonged to the region of Holland, which was under the rule of the Holy Roman Empire of Charlemagne and later the German Empire.

The surroundings of the Rotte River were ruled by feudal lords. The Lords of Bokel, the Voorschoten Family, Cralinghen, Spangen, and Mathenesse shared the area among themselves.

All these nobles built protective dikes around their territories to protect themselves from floods. Count Floris V (1256-1296) ordered the feudal lords to connect their walls into a single dike to safeguard against sea floods. Rotterdam grew around this dike. In 1325, Oude Haven (Old Harbor) was built. Rotterdam began to benefit from the passage of cargo along the Rotte and Schie rivers. In 1340, a canal was constructed to connect the Schie River to Rotterdam. Initially, Delft and Dordrecht were more important in trade and industry, but Dordrecht suffered significant damage from a major flood in 1421, while Delft failed to expand its port.

Rotterdam did not face these problems. Its closer proximity to deep waters gave it an advantage, and its port was more accessible. After the death of William, there were battles and conflicts among the feudal lords, mainly between the Hoeks and Kabbeljauws families. New fortifications were built, and the city became smaller to be easily defendable. In 1490, Burgundy defeated Frans, and the conflicts ended. Rotterdam then broke Dordrecht’s trade monopoly.

Again, in 1563, a large part of the city was destroyed by fire. However, trade continued to grow. In 1572, Rotterdam was involved in battles again, this time in the Eighty Years’ War between the Netherlands and Spain. During this war, Rotterdam’s position as a trade center was strengthened as it was one of the few ports open to the sea. The city experienced significant growth during this period. After the war, the city walls were demolished, and new port basins were created. It was a time of prosperity, and maritime trade flourished, with institutions like the Admiralty of Rotterdam (1586), the Dutch East India Company (1602), the Dutch West India Company (1621), and the Merchant Adventurers being established.

In the 18th century, Rotterdam had a population of around 50,000 people. Residential buildings, factories, and warehouses were built in the city center. Industries such as tobacco, coffee, gin, and sugar emerged. The population density was high. The wealthy built their homes in the neighboring villages. The French occupation (1795-1813) brought economic stagnation.

After the industrialization of the German Ruhr region, Rotterdam benefited due to its location as a transit point for goods between Germany, Great Britain, and America. The exploration of Africa also opened a new market. The port attracted many immigrants. People came to find work in the rapidly growing city. Between 1850 and 1940, the population increased from 90,000 to 600,000 inhabitants. In the city center, there was not enough space, so significant changes were made to the city’s structure.

Delfshaven was absorbed in 1886, followed by Kralingen in 1895. The southern part of the river continued to grow. The introduction of steam power and mechanization increased the port’s capacity. The New Waterway (Path of Water) was finished in 1872, giving Rotterdam a direct connection to the North Sea. Rotterdam took the title of Holland’s top port from Amsterdam. During the Industrial Revolution, Rotterdam was known as the City of Work. As the city expanded, old buildings were demolished to make room for new ones. This continued until the 20th century.

The economy of Rotterdam suffered another setback during World War I, and it didn’t recover until 1926. The Great Depression of 1929 hit the city hard, causing social unrest due to poverty and unemployment. By the late 1930s, the port started to recover, but the unemployment rate remained high, and the living conditions of the working class were not satisfactory.

14th May 1940, Darkest day in the history of Rotterdam

World War II began. On May 10, 1940, Germany invaded The Netherlands. Four days later, German bombers destroyed Rotterdam. In a ten-minute attack on May 14, the city center, Kralingen, and the surrounding areas were devastated. 2,400 houses, 1,200 small businesses, 500 cafes, and 70 schools were destroyed.

On the same day as the bombing, negotiations for surrender began. The Netherlands signed the necessary documents the following day, and the Germans occupied the country for five years. The city was covered in smoke for three days, and some fires burned for over two months. Later in the war, the city was bombed again, this time by the Allies. The heart of the city was destroyed.

In 1941, a plan for the city’s reconstruction was designed by Witteveen, but it received much criticism. In 1946, Van Traa modified Witteveen’s plan, creating the Basic Plan, which was approved by the Municipal Council. The new plan connected the city center with wide avenues. It focused on functionality, with areas for shops, banks, recreation, and housing. New docks and quays were built, including Botlek (1953) and Europort (1957) for oil refineries. In 1973, Maasvlakte was added to the port.

The city’s empty spaces provided an opportunity for architects to rebuild from scratch, and that’s exactly what they did. During the 1950s and 1960s, many buildings were constructed to fill the gaps between the remaining houses. This resulted in a mix of old and new buildings. Later, these buildings were demolished to make way for larger and more modern structures. However, the post-war reconstruction gave Rotterdam its unique architectural character, and by the early 1960s, it became the world’s largest port. Due to significant economic growth between 1965 and 1973, there was a high demand for cheap labor, leading to an influx of immigrants from the Mediterranean region. In 1975, many immigrants from Suriname, a former Dutch colony, arrived.

The current population is over 600,000 people, and 40% of them are from foreign origins. The population density in Rotterdam is one of the highest in the country, with 4,000 residents per square kilometer.

Rotterdam plays a crucial role in the Dutch economy. Its harbour, which handles 300 million metric tons of goods annually, is a strong pillar in the city’s industry and the surrounding area.

The history of Rotterdam in recent times is complex and multifaceted. This modern city means different things to different people. Some see it as a city devastated by post-war struggles, lacking character, while others view it as a contemporary, multicultural city with towering structures. With its diverse cultures, Rotterdam is gradually moving away from its historical past.

The city’s motto, “Sterker Door Strijd” (Stronger Through Struggle), serves as a reminder of the courage and strength of Rotterdam’s people during the war years.