Former engineer Roel Valbracht came for the second time from Canada to Rotterdam to show his love for the ss Rotterdam. With his friends Ronald Aker, Arnold Eisma and Lenze Vondeling he painted several equipments in the evaporator room, generator room and main engine room in the right colours.
Roel at work. Picture Ronald Aker
Pictures Klaas Krijnen
During the seventies Holland America Line presented several jazz cruises. On a cold Saturday, probably December 7 1974, the ss Rotterdam left New York with among others Count Basie, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Cannonball Adderley and Joe Williams on a 7-day jazz cruise. Enjoy the wonderful documentary Jazz Ship
Today August 20 66 years ago Her Majesty Queen Juliana hoisted the flag of Holland America Line during the official trials at sea. December 14 1956 the keel was laid at the Rotterdam Drydock Company. September 3 1959 the ss Rotterdam started her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York.
Cruisemagazine Sail Away produced the documentary with the title ss Rotterdam: The ship that refused to fade
Naval architect Stephen Payne praises the fact that the ss Rotterdam has been saved from scrap.
Painters are at work at the ss Rotterdam. For the first time since 2006 the radarmast, smokestacks, derricks and davits are being painted.
s
Pictures made by Maarten and klaas Krijnen
Pictures courtesy of Frits Smits (Smits Vastgoedzorg)
Picture Ryan Derks
Pictures Klaas Krijnen
15 years ago, on February 15 2010, the ss Rotterdam opened her doors for the public. On a cold and windy morning a group of children from a school in the neighbourhood and several celebrities were invited to come to the schip.
Willem Smit, managing director operations and Onno van den Brink, managing director of the owner of the ship had a talk for the press.
The children boarded the ship accompanied by the sounds of a street organ. A street organ was a tradition when passenger liners of Holland America Line left Rotterdam.
Pictures Klaas Krijnen