On September 13 1958 the ss Rotterdam was launched by Queen Juliana at the Rotterdam Drydock Company. The keel was laid at December 14 1956 and the maiden voyage to New York started on September 3 1959. The ss Rotterdam still is the biggest passenger liner ever that has been built in the Netherlands.
Picture taken by Mr. J. Wijdenes
The officers bar on Sun deck was called the Meerpaal. In 1997 the bell of the bar was taken to the new Rotterdam VI. When that ship was sold to Fred Olsen Cruise Lines the bell was taken to the new Rotterdam VII. Captain Bas van Dreumel of the Rotterdam VII decided that the bell should be brought back to the Rotterdam V. His second officer Wessel Brinkman handed the bell over to the chairman of the Friends of steamship Rotterdam. The Friends will give the bel a special place near the former Meerpaal on Sun deck.
Wessel Brinkman and chairman Klaas Krijnen with the bell of the Meerpaal (picture Harry Hobma)
Officers bar the Meerpaal with the bell until 1997 (picture collection Roel Valbracht)
On August 4 2008 the ss Rotterdam arrived in her homeport after a long period of uncertainty and refurbishment. At the end of the day she was moored in the Maashaven.
Holland America Line celebrates 150 years. In co-orperation with Holland America Line and WestCordHotels/ss Rotterdam the Society De Lijn organizes an exhibition in the Odyssee room on B deck. In one of the showcases our foundation exhibits historical materials of the ss Rotterdam, flagship of Holland America Line for 38 years. The exhibition can be visited daily from 10 AM till 5 PM as from July 30 till August 13 (free entrance).
Our volunteers have restorated the artworks Cock and Fish, made by the artist Dick ten Hoedt in 1959 for the grillroom tourist class. About 1980 captain Hans Mateboer saved both artworks from scrap when the grillroom was redecorated. Cock and Fish have a new home in our museum on C deck.
Pictures by Klaas Krijnen
In 1968 the Café de la Paix on Promenade deck has been transformed to the Lido-restaurant. In 1986 the interior has been replaced and the lamps were discarded. Fortunately one of them became part of the collection of Brian Porter, staff-member of Holland America Line. This spring he donated the lamp to our foundation. His former colleague Hans Brinkhoff took care of the lamp and Holland America Line in Seattle provided for transport to The Netherlands. Thanks to the cooperation and a donation of Scan Global Logistics the lamp arrived safely on the ss Rotterdam. It will get a nice place in our museum on board the ss Rotterdam.
The Lido restaurant on November 20, 1971 (picture Kenneth W. Smith)
The Lido-Grill restaurant on April 19, 2023 with the original lamp (picture Klaas Krijnen)
Hans Brinkhoff with the lamp (picture Klaas Krijnen)