Compass has been restored

3 Nov 2017 | News

Our volunteers have restored the magnetic compass on the wheelhouse top. It needed maintenance since a long time. The compass was dismounted, cleaned and varnished back to the original state. We are very proud that the compass stands in all its glory on the wheelhouse top again.

The compass after restoration. Picture Henk Salij

The compass in 1994. The brassware has partly been painted white to avoid polishing. Picture Klaas Krijnen

The compass in 2007. Picture Klaas Krijnen

The console of the compass has been varnished. Picture Jan-Willem Koene

The two bulbs that reduce the ships magnetic field have been painted in the original colours red and green. Picture Jan-Willem Koene

Volunteers Ton Lenselink and Jan Tjassens Keiser prepare the console for hoisting it to the wheelhouse top. Picture Henk Salij

The console is back on the wheelhouse top. Picture Henk Salij

Jan Tjassens Keiser at work. Picture Henk Salij

The top of the compass. Picture Jan Tjassens Keiser

Special donation by Leo Knape

14 Oct 2017 | News

This summer our true contributor Leo Knape celebrated his fiftieth birthday. Overwhelmed by the many presents he received he decided to let us share in it. He handed over to the secretary-traesurer and chairman of the Friends of steamschip Rotterdam a cheque of 500 Euro. Picture by Paul van Ommeren

The end of an Era

30 Sep 2017 | News

Today 20 years ago the ss Rotterdam ended her career as flagship of Holland America Line. On September 12 the ship left Vancouver for Fort Lauderdale, where she arrived on September 30 1997.

Historical halyard back on the ss Rotterdam

24 Sep 2017 | News

On September 23 Philip Hilgersom brought back a special showcase to the ss Rotterdam. It contents the halyard that Queen Juliana used when hoisting the houseflag of Holland America Line (HAL) during the official tryals on August 20 1959. The hoisting of the houseflag symbolized the transfer of the ss Rotterdam by the Rotterdam Drydock Company (RDM) to the HAL. It was the start of a glorious career as the flagship of the HAL, ending on September 30 1997 when the ship was decommissioned by the HAL. Captain Albert Schoonderbeek, who was at that time Staff Officer on he ship, took care that the showcase was brought to the HAL headquarters in Seattle. Philip Hilgersom has been an employee of the HAL during many years. Thanks to his efforts HAL has given the showcase with the halyard on loan to our foundation. We are very grateful to the HAL and Philip for bringing back this historical artefact to the ss Rotterdam. Our volunteers will prepare the showcase with its contents for replacement on the original spot. Unless mentioned otherwise, the pictures were made by Jan-Willem Koene.

The showcase with the halyard has been mounted on its original place on Bridgedeck (Picture Klaas Krijnen)

Philip Hilgersoms hands over the showcase with the halyard to Klaas Krijnen, chairman of the Friends of steamship Rotterdam. The red dot on the sportdeck marks the spot where Queen Juliana was standing when she hoisted the company flag of Holland America Line on August 20 1959.