Rotterdam isn’t your typical old European city with cobbled lanes and medieval squares. Much of it was rebuilt after the devastating bombing in 1940, but that doesn’t mean its history is hard to find.
Rotterdam is a Dutch city that has been moulded by migration, scarred by wartime and rebuilt to be a designated European Capital of Culture.. There are plenty of ways to explore the history of Rotterdam through walking tours, discovering multicultural neighbourhoods, symbolic monuments and stories shared by locals.
If you’re planning a trip to Rotterdam, I hope this guide helps you get a better sense of how the city became what it is today.
Rotterdam Docks from the ‘Tornado’ observation deck at Fenix Museum
History of Rotterdam
Learning about the history of Rotterdam is a big subject, so to give you an overview, I thought a timeline of events would be a handy way to break it down. From a simple dam on the River Rotte to becoming Europe’s largest port, Rotterdam has come a long way. Here’s a look at some of the key moments that shaped the city.
History of Rotterdam Timeline
- 1270 – A dam is built in the River Rotte. This is where Rotterdam gets its name.
- 1340 – Rotterdam officially becomes a city after being granted city rights by Count William IV of Holland.
- 15th Century – The city grows into a small but important trading hub, thanks to its inland waterways.
- 1568–1648 – Rotterdam sides with the Dutch rebels against Spain. The Eighty Years’ War eventually leads to the independence of the Dutch Republic.
- 1588 to 1672 – In the Dutch Golden Age, Rotterdam flourishes as a port city with trade, shipbuilding, and the population all growing rapidly. This economic strength was fuelled by the transatlantic slave trade.
- 1609 to 1621 – Dutch East India Company (VOC) undertook the conquest of the Banda Islands, an important spice trading centre in Eastern Indonesia, resulting in a massacre of the Bandanese in 1621.
- 1940 (14 May) – Rotterdam was heavily bombed during WWII by Nazi Germany.
- 1945 (2 September) – World War II officially ended, and the Netherlands regained its freedom.
- 1940s–1960s – In the post-war era, Rotterdam is rebuilt with modernist architecture and a focus on functional urban planning and innovation.
- 1945–1949 – The Dutch-Indonesian War began after Indonesia declared independence. The Netherlands formally recognised Indonesian sovereignty in 1949.
- 1962 – The Port of Rotterdam becomes the world’s largest port (a title held until 2004).
- 1991 – The Cold War came to an end, marking a shift in international relations, including for the Netherlands.
History of Migration in Rotterdam
Rotterdam has migration to thank for the city it has become. Its strategic location on the River Maas and its deep-water port made it a natural hub for trade and travel.
In the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, the city attracted skilled workers, merchants, and refugees. It might surprise you, but refugee migration isn’t new. The Huguenots, who were French Protestants fleeing persecution, were among those who arrived.
This period also included the brutal reality of slavery. The Dutch West India Company (WIC) was a key player in the transatlantic slave trade, transporting enslaved Africans to Dutch colonies in the Caribbean and South America. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was involved in the Asian slave trade, which mostly supplied enslaved people for domestic work, both within Asia and in the Netherlands.
The legal slave trade ended in 1814, but slavery in Dutch colonies continued until 1863. The Dutch government and several cities, including Rotterdam, have since issued formal apologies for the Netherlands’ role in slavery.
By the 19th and early 20th centuries, Rotterdam had become a major departure point for Europeans heading to the Americas. The Holland-America Line operated from Katendrecht and carried millions of passengers across the ocean. Many migrants stayed in Rotterdam temporarily, making it their home between journeys.
After the Second World War, Rotterdam had to rebuild quickly. To support this, workers came from southern Europe, Turkey, Morocco, Suriname, Indonesia, Cape Verde, and the Dutch Caribbean. They played a big part in the city’s recovery and brought new energy and cultures with them.
Today, more than half of Rotterdam’s population has a migration background, and about one in eight residents are thought to have ancestors who were enslaved in the Atlantic region. The largest migrant communities in Rotterdam are from Morocco, Turkey, and Suriname, and their identity is visible in the food, music, festivals, and creative scenes.
Verhalenhuis Kaap Belvédère: Rotterdam’s City Stories Centre
History Of Rotterdam: Things To Do
Visit the Fenix Museum of Migration
Rotterdam doesn’t shy away from its complex migration story. The FENIX Museum of Migration opened in May 2025 in Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district, housed in a restored 1923 warehouse once used by the Holland-America Line. They tell stories across generations and continents and are a reminder that migration is about movement, both leaving and arriving.
Expect a show-stopping entrance with the “Tornado”, designed by Ma Yansong of MAD Architects. This eye-catching feature is the 30-metre-tall stainless-steel double-spiral staircase symbolising the unpredictable paths of migrants.
The museum’s exhibitions, such as All Directions and The Family of Migrants, showcase over 150 artworks and 194 photographs, respectively, exploring migration’s global and historical aspects. The Suitcase Labyrinth installation features 2,000 donated suitcases representing personal migration stories dating back to 1898.
Leave enough time to read the back story that accompanies each creative piece to give a greater understanding of the harsh realities of migration and the disparity of opportunities. I truly found it quite an emotional experience.
FENIX Museum of Migration | Open Tues-Sun 10am-5pm
Migration Walking Tour in Katendrecht
Katendrecht, often called the Cape, was once a busy dockside district packed with boarding houses for seafarers. Over time, it became known as a red-light district and one of the city’s rougher areas. It also grew into a melting pot, home to Europe’s first Chinatown and Greek sailors known locally as parawaners. During WWII, Surinamese jazz musicians played at venues like Belvedere because under Nazi rule, Europeans were banned from performing jazz.
Taking a walking tour through the area today, you hear powerful second-generation stories that bring the neighbourhood’s migration history to life. Jorge Lizardo shared how his Cape Verdean father arrived in Rotterdam as a young sailor in the 1960s. David Zee spoke about his Chinese background and how his Dutch grandmother gave up her nationality to marry his grandfather. These personal stories carry the quirks that don’t make it into history books.
Katendrecht has changed dramatically in recent years and has been transformed into one of Europe’s trendiest neighbourhoods. Warehouses have been regenerated into spaces like the Fenix Food Factory and the Migrant Museum, alongside cultural venues, modern apartment buildings, and swanky restaurants with menus that satisfy every craving. The district attracts a new hip crowd, but there’s a real effort to preserve its layered migrant history and give space to the residents that were its foundations.
BOOK Storyhouse Belvédère Tours
Migrant stories in Katendrecht Rotterdam
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Visit Museum Rotterdam
Museum Rotterdam ’40-’45 NOW tells the story of the May 14, 1940, bombing and what followed. Through multimedia displays and original artefacts, it shows how daily life changed for Rotterdammers under Nazi occupation. One room focuses on the buildings that survived and how they were rebuilt. You’ll also find a replica of Ossip Zadkine’s sculpture The Destroyed City, which has become a powerful symbol of the tragic event and the spirit of the people of Rotterdam.
Like many museums, the collection began from a passionate hobbyist. Arie Mast saw the bombing of Rotterdam across the Maas River from his home in Katendrecht. He started collecting items until his house was overflowing and was finally exhibited in 1985. Originally based in Katendrecht, the museum has been located on Coolhaven harbour since 2008.
Museum Rotterdam | Open Tues-Sun 11am-5pm
Find Innovative Statues around Rotterdam
Public statues in the city powerfully nod to the complex history of Rotterdam. Here are some of my favourites spotted in the city:
- Erasmus by Hendrick de Keyser honours the 16th-century scholar and humanist known for advocating peace and open-mindedness. This symbol of free speech is the oldest statue in the Netherlands.
- The Destroyed City, created by Ossip Zadkine, captures the horror of the 1940 bombing.
- Clave by Alex da Silva acknowledges Rotterdam’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade.
- Moments Contained by Thomas J. Price stands outside Rotterdam Centraal Station. This towering bronze sculpture of a young Black woman in casual sportswear shows a stoic yet vulnerable presence.
CLICK to discover the thought-provoking statues in Rotterdam
‘Moments Contained’ by Thomas J Price
Multi-cultural Food in Rotterdam
The cuisine in Rotterdam will never get boring, and it tells tales of its migrant influence. There is no shortage of places to go if you’re craving variety. You can grab Turkish lahmacun, Moroccan harira, Surinamese roti, or Indonesian rendang all in one day. Street food markets like Fenix Food Factory and De Markthal offer global flavours side by side, and neighbourhoods like West-Kruiskade and Katendrecht are packed with Asian, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern eats.
Moroccan Lentil Soup
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More Tour ideas: Historical Things To Do in Rotterdam
To explore the subject of freedom in Rotterdam in more detail, you may wish to consider these tours and activities for your itinerary:
Thank you to Visit Netherlands for making this trip possible and supporting the creation of this guide to help travellers explore the history of Rotterdam. All opinions and words are entirely my own.
PIN to Discover the History Of Rotterdam
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