There is a parade of a Caribbean celebration today. They are expecting 300,000 people to be watching. With many roads being closed, our bus (and others) are being diverted. I am impressed with our bus driver navigating around on extremely narrow roads….. she was amazing!

Originally formed in 1873, HAL transported passengers to NY and America for a better life. The company left the Netherlands to NY in 1971 to become a “cruise” line. Our guide said that the company then came back to Holland in 2008 but I don’t believe so. As far as I know, it is still headquartered in Seattle.

Poor people were housed in area of the Maas River and generally worked in harbour. All the old homes were torn down and replaced new buildings around 10 years ago. 

Rotterdam was almost totally destroyed during 2nd WW by fires started by the bombing. 

1270 Rotterdam started to be settled when a dam was built on the Rotte River….. an area that was swampy. The swampy area had been inhabited with small farms only, staring around 900. 

 Lijnbann, a pedestrians street with fancy shops and cafes. 

There are no public toilets in the city. 

1962-2004, Rotterdam was the largest port in world but has been declining since. Last year though, the largest ship came into port with 24,000+ containers.  

The ground was boggy …..swampy so had to have 50+ piles to support a building. 

On ships containing porcelain from China, many were broken. They thought they could copy it here but they had to make earth-ware cuz didn’t have stuff to make porcelain…. now called Delft earth-ware.

Lots of building made from brick cuz they have no stone. 

There is 24 hour pumping to keep water levels lower. 

Some of the newer high rises are referred to as “no-nonsense”….a little boring but efficient. 

An apartment in city cost for 40 sq mtrs 300,000 euro, 50 is 500+, etc.