The Port of Rotterdam is the most important port in the European continent which is well-connected to different ports across the world.
The port of Rotterdam is one of the most important ports in Europe. The history of the port dates back to the 14th century when it was just a fishing settlement. It is located on the River Rotte. Over the years it has become one of the premier ports in the city. It has contributed immensely towards the economic growth of not only the country but also that of Europe. It is in fact the most important port in Europe.
History of the Rotterdam Port
This development of the port was a gradual process and was given an impetus by the discovery of an open link that connected the waterway with the North Sea. It was known as the Nieuwe Waterweg. After the opening up of this channel, Rotterdam port was ready to become the crucial link between Europe and the rest of the world.
In its early days, the mouth of the River Rotte was blocked as a result of the building up of dams. These dams were a major obstacle and restricted the movement of ships.
Cargo was now transported over the dam and it had to be transferred from one ship to
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another. The port was now increasingly used for movement of cargo. A herring fishing industry came into being and played an instrumental role in the transformation of the small settlement to a flourishing city.
Rotterdam was now a full fledged trading port. Trading vessels sailed to and from the port of Rotterdam to the Dutch East Indies and South America. Most of them carried spices and tobacco. During the 19th century, the port of Rotterdam was frequently used for supplying oil to the countries in Western Europe. The Rotterdam Port, however, suffered considerable damage during the Second World War. But then it was soon restored to its erstwhile state and was soon flocked by shipping companies.
Port of Rotterdam-Facts
The port of Rotterdam is spread over an area of 10,500 hectares and is about 75 feet in depth. It is served by 500 services that connect the port to as many as 1000 other ports scattered across the rest of the world. Its links with the European market is established by the network of railways, inland shipping, roadways, pipeline and coastal shipping. It is equipped with all the facilities required for the transportation and handling of goods.
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