Welcome to the website of the Friends of steamship Rotterdam

65 years ago Holland America Line presented the ss Rotterdam as her new flagship. It was the start of a glorious career that lasted until 1997. From 1997 untill 2000 she sailed as Rembrandt as part of the fleet of Premier Cruises. After bankruptcy of Premier Cruises in september 2000 the future of the ship was very uncertain.

In 2001 we started striving for a new life for the ss Rotterdam in the Rotterdam harbour. The ss Rotterdam came into service for Holland-America Line as their flagship in 1959. Built by the Rotterdam Drydock Company, she is the largest passenger liner ever built in the Netherlands, numbered among the most successful liners ever sailing the seven seas. The ship has largely kept her original character and remains in good condition. Housing company Woonbron has given her a profound refurbishment by which she can service as a static liner for many years. Please explore our website for more information about the history of the ss Rotterdam. Steamship Rotterdam Foundation, alias Friends of steamship Rotterdam, continues her activities including securing a lasting preservation and use in a culturally and historically responsible manner. We are not the owners or operators of the ship. WestCord Hotels are the owners since June 2013.

Explore the ship in a 3D tour, made by Jaap Pameyer (www.fotorondleiding.nl): 3D tour ss Rotterdam

Please visit the website of the operators www.ssrotterdam.nl for information about possibilities on board.

Picture Jan-Willem Koene

Art-restoration fund for the ss Rotterdam

The ss Rotterdam has many artworks. Some of them have to be restorated in cooperation with the Cultural Heritage Agency and the training Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage of the University of Amsterdam. We are raising funds for the restoration. Donations are very welcome on: INGB NL28 0000 0195 95; BIC: INGBNL2A. on behalf of Stichting behoud stoomschip Rotterdam. Please mention: Donation to Art restoration fund. When using Paypal please mention: info@stoomschiprotterdam.nl

The mural Aegean Sea in the Grand Ballroom, former Ritz Carlton, by Cuno van den Steene has partly been restorated (picture Klaas Krijnen).

Restorators Marjan de Visser and Noa Kollaard restorated the painting of Martinus Schouman that has been brought back to the captain’s dayroom.

We are investigating the posibilities to conservate and expose the artworks Cock and Fish of Dick ten Hoedt.

  

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News

The end of the maiden voyage

The end of the maiden voyage

On September 11 1959 the ss Rotterdam finished her maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York. Princess Beatrix used the maiden voyage to attend the Hudson festivities. 350 years ago Henry Hudson sailed on the river that afterwards was named after him. At 8 AM Princess...

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Maiden voyage ss Rotterdam

Maiden voyage ss Rotterdam

60 years ago, on September 3 1959, the ss Rotterdam started her maiden voyage to New York. Princess Beatrix was on board to visit the Hudson-festivities, organized to commemorate that 350 years ago Henry Hudson sailed upon the river that in after years was named after...

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