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Rotterdam Passenger Lists 1899-1954

Map of Rotterdam Harbor circa 1908. GGA Image ID # 1757f2bf74

Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Rotterdam's commercial and strategic importance is based on its location near the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas (New Meuse), a channel in the delta formed by the Rhine and Meuse on the North Sea. These rivers lead directly into the centre of Europe, including the industrial Ruhr region.

Front Cover, Ships List, SS Spaarndam, Holland-America Line 1899-09-07

1899-09-07 SS Spaarndam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Saloon (Cabin)
Date of Departure: 7 September 1899
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain G. Stenger

Front Cover, Holland-America Line SS Rotterdam Cabin Class Passenger List - 2 February 1904.

1904-02-02 SS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 2 February 1904
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest, Potsdam, 2 July 1904

1904-07-02 TSS Potsdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 July 1904
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line TSS Rotterdam, Rotterdam to New York

1904-09-24 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 September 1904
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain A. Hoggeveen

Passenger Manifest, Nieuw Amsterdam, 20 June 1908

1908-06-20 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 June 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain H. C. Van Der Zee

1908-07-25 Passenger Manifest for the TSS Rotterdam

1908-07-25 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 July 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore F. H. Bonjer, Lt. R.N.R

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line TSS Statendam, 1908, Rotterdam to New York

1908-08-15 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 August 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain P. Van Den Heuvel

Front Cover of a Cabin Passenger List for the SS Ryndam of the Holland-America Line, Departing 12 September 1908 from Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer

1908-09-12 TSS Ryndam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 September 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain A. Roggeveen

1908-09-19 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin Passengers
Date of Departure: 12 September 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain B. G. Bruinsma

Passenger Manifest, Potsdam, 18 September 1909

1909-09-18 TSS Potsdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 September 1909
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain G. Bruinsma

Passenger Manifest, Holland-America Line, Westbound, TSS Rotterdam 27 August 1910

1910-08-27 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 August 1910
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest, Nieuw Amsterdam, 17 September 1910

1910-09-17 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 September 1910
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain A. Roggeveen

Passenger Manifest, TSS Ryndam, Holland-America Line, December 1910, Rotterdam to New York - Front Cover

1910-12-17 TSS Ryndam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 December 1910
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain P. Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, SS Ryndam, Holland-America Line, May 1911, Rotterdam to New York - Front Cover

1911-05-13 TSS Ryndam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 13 May 1911
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain P. Van Den Heuvel

1912-06-18 Passenger Manifest for the TSS Noordam

1912-06-18 TSS Noordam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 18 June 1912
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain W. Krol, Lt., R.N.R

Passenger Manifest, SS Rotterdam, Holland-America Line, August 1912, Rotterdam to New York

1912-08-31 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1912
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest, SS Rotterdam, Holland-America Line, April 1913, Rotterdam to New York

1913-04-05 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 April 1913
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest, Potsdam, 2 August 1913

1913-08-02 TSS Potsdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 August 1913
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: B. C. Van Walraven, Lt. R.N.R.

1914-10-15 Passenger Manifest for the TSS Rotterdam

1914-10-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 October 1914
Route: Rotterdam to New York
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger

Passenger Manifest Cover, October 1914 Westbound Voyage - SS Ryndam

1914-10-31 TSS Ryndam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 October 1914
Route: Rotterdam to New York
Commander: Captain P. Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, TSS Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland-America Line, May 1915, Rotterdam to New York

1915-05-29 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1915
Route: Rotterdam to New York
Commander: Captain J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, TSS Rotterdam, Holland-America Line, October 1920, Rotterdam to New York - Front Cover

1920-10-19 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 19 October 1920
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, TSS Rotterdam, Holland-America Line, February 1921, Rotterdam to New York - Front Cover

1921-02-12 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 February 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, TSS Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland-America Line, June 1921, New York to Rotterdam - Front Cover

1921-06-04 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 June 1921
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain P. Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line SS Rotterdam - 1921 - Front Cover

1921-06-08 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 June 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, Holland-America Line SS Rotterdam - July 1921 - Front Cover

1921-07-12 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 July 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, Holland America SS Rotterdam August 1921 - Front Cover

1921-08-17 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 August 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron

Passenger Manifest, Holland America SS Rotterdam - 1922 - Front Cover

1922-10-17 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 October 1922
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore Baron, R.N.R

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line - SS Veendam - Front Cover

1923-05-23 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 May 1923
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Van Walraven

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line SS Rotterdam - April 1924 - Front Cover

1924-04-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 April 1924
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line, TSS Rotterdam, 1924

1924-05-21 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 21 May 1924
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer, Southampton, and Halifax
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line SS Rotterdam 1925 - Front Cover

1925-09-02 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 September 1925
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line SS Rotterdam July 1926 - Front Cover

1926-07-20 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1926
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Holland America SS Veendam Aug 1926

1926-08-03 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 3 August 1926
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol

Passenger Manifest, Holland America SS Rotterdam Aug 1926 - Front Cover

1926-08-25 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 August 1926
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest, Veendam, 7 August 1928

1928-08-07 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 7 August 1928
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line TSS Rotterdam, 1929 Rotterdam to New York

1929-05-29 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol

Passenger Manifest, Rotterdam, 15 June 1929

1929-06-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association (S.T.C.A.)
Date of Departure: 15 June 1929
Route: New York to Plymouth, Boulogne-sur-Mer, and Rotterdam
Commander: Captain Krol

Passenger Manifest Cover, August 1929 Westbound Voyage - TSS Nieuw Amsterdam

1929-08-13 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association Members
Date of Departure: 13 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line TSS Statendam 1934 Front Cover

1929-08-23 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 23 August 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel

Passenger Manifest Cover, September 1929 Westbound Voyage - TSS Volendam

1929-09-04 TSS Volendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 4 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain De Koning

Passenger Manifest Cover, September 1929 Westbound Voyage - TSS Rotterdam

1929-09-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 11 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol, R.N.R

Front Cover, Passenger Manifest, TSS Nieuw Amsterdam, Holland-America Line, July 1930, Rotterdam to New York

1930-07-26 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 26 July 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Van Dulken

Front Cover, Passenger Manifest, SS Rotterdam, Holland-America Line, August 1930

1930-08-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Cabin
Date of Departure: 9 August 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen

Passenger Manifest, TSS Statendam, Holland-America Line, September 1930

1930-09-27 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist Third Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 September 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Krol

Passenger Manifest Cover, October 1931 Westbound Voyage - TSS Rotterdam

1931-10-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 9 October 1931
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen

Passenger Manifest Cover, August 1932 Westbound Voyage - TSS Statendam

1932-08-26 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 26 August 1932
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest Cover, September 1933 Westbound Voyage - TSS Rotterdam

1933-09-02 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 2 September 1933
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain J. Van Dulken

Passenger Manifest, Rotterdam, 26 May 1934

1934-05-26 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 26 May 1934
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain J. Van Dulken

Front Cover of a First, Tourist, and Third Class Passenger List from the SS Statendam of the Holland-America Line, Departing 29 June 1934 from New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer

1934-06-29 SS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First, Tourist, and Third Class
Date of Departure: 29 June 1934
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain J. J. Bijl

1934-08-25 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 25 August 1934
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Front Cover, Holland-America Passenger Manifest - TSS Statendam 1934

1934-10-06 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 6 October 1934
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest, Veendam, 13 July 1935

1935-07-13 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 13 July 1935
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain P. Lagaay
Note: Includes Passenger Information and STCA Students and Staff.

Passenger Manifest, Holland America Line TSS Statendam 1936

1936-08-06 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 6 August 1936
Route: Rotterdam to New York and Boston via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest Cover, July 1937 Westbound Voyage - TSS Statendam

1937-07-10 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 10 July 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest Cover, July 1937 Westbound Voyage - TSS Veendam

1937-07-24 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 24 July 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York and Boston via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain A. Filippo

Passenger Manifest Cover, August 1937 Westbound Voyage - TSS Statendam

1937-08-06 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 6 August 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York and Boston via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest Cover, August 1937 Westbound Voyage - TSS Rotterdam

1937-08-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 11 August 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain G. J. Barendse

Passenger Manifest Cover, September 1937 Westbound Voyage - TSS Veendam

1937-09-04 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 4 September 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain A. Flippo

Passenger Manifest Cover, August 1938 Westbound Voyage - TSS Statendam

1938-08-20 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 20 August 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commander G. J. Barendse

1938-08-27 Passenger Manifest for the TSS Nieuw Amsterdam

1938-08-27 TSS Nieuw Amsterdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: All Classes
Date of Departure: 27 August 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore J. J. Bijl

Passenger Manifest Cover, October 1938 Westbound Voyage - TSS Statendam

1938-10-01 TSS Statendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Cabin, Tourist and Third Class
Date of Departure: 1 October 1938
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commander G. J. Barendse

1948-07-23 Passenger Manifest for the TSS Veendam

1948-07-23 TSS Veendam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: First And Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 23 July 1948
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Southampton
Commander: Captain C. Van Beek

1953-07-15 Passenger Manifest for the SS Maasdam

1953-07-15 SS Maasdam Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Tourist
Date of Departure: 15 July 1953
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Le Havre, Southampton, and Cobh
Commander: Captain J. B. Van Gaart

Front Cover, Passenger Manifest, M.V. Sibajak, Holland-America Line, August 1954

1954-08-31 M.V. Sibajak Passenger List

Steamship Line: Holland-America Line
Class of Passengers: Not Stated
Date of Departure: 31 August 1954
Route: Rotterdam on to New York via Le Havre
Commander: Captain H. Rijnbergen
Note: Includes a list of crew members and rank

Rotterdam Harbor

Between the years 1888 and 1893, the essential works west of " Spoorweghaven," connected with the afore-said basin, were carried out.

The main point, ever borne in mind, was never to do more than was strictly necessary, but on the other hand, it was often found difficult to meet the increasing demand for haven space.

Originally Rhine Haven was 3 meters under low-tide deep, and was destined for river vessels; later on, it was deepened to 7 and 8.50 meters under low-tide and used for transshipment from sea-ships into river vessels, while along its banks, as the want was felt, quay-walls were made, where ships of deep draught can discharge into vans, trucks or warehouses.

It turned out that the circumstance which in the early eighties made that the R. T. A.'s works were but little used had entirely changed for the better ten years later. The direct trade that then declined had now again become very considerable, although it rested on quite a different basis.

In 1880 the Commune resolved to build and manage a dry-dock for itself, for it was becoming evident that it was indispensable for the prosperity of the harbor for it to possess an establishment for the repair of big sea-ships, while there seemed to be no chance of private initiative undertaking to provide what was a matter of life and death for the Port of Rotterdam.

In 1883 three floating dry-docks were opened.

In 1890 The Town Council resolved to extend the docking accommodation, and consequently, a third dry-dock was got ready by 1893.

In 1892 a further increase of docking-space was voted; the new dry-dock, completed in 1904, was berthed in the Maas Haven.

Furthermore, later on, some commercial and trading interests concerned in the Port opened three docks.