Welcome to the website of the Friends of steamship Rotterdam
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
25 years ago
The ss Rotterdam departs from New York in April 1993 (picture Klaas Krijnen)
The building of # 300
After the keel was laid on December 1956 the building of the new flagship of Holland America Line, then known as # 300, went prosperous. On March 28 1958 the front of the Promenadedeck was almost ready, as can be seen on the first picture. Next to the tent the two...
60 years ago
60 years ago the ss Rotterdam was launched by the Rotterdam Drydock Company. Half a year before a lot of work still had to be done to complete the hull. March 15 1958 the level of the Promenadedeck had been reached. On the first picture can be seen that the bow was...