Hoek van Holland Live Cam

Besides being a major seaport, Rotterdam is also a front-runner in architecture and culture. Who's never heard of the Rotterdam International Film Festival, the Rotterdam Marathon, the Zomercarnaval in Rotterdam, the Feyenoord football team or the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra? There's always something to do in Rotterdam. Visit one of our many museums and drift back to the days of yore. Look down on the city from the heights of the Euromast, or be dazzled by the most beautiful skyline in the Netherlands when you take a Spido harbour cruise on the Maas. Enjoy the food at one of our many highly rated restaurants and then dance the night away in Rotterdam's trendy clubs.

Or go on an endless shopping spree in the city centre where you'll discover some great little shops and galleries on Witte de Withstraat and Oude Binnenweg. And what about the Rotterdam Zoo where you can dive to the bottom of the sea in the sensational Oceanium? The City on the Maas: so much to enjoy!

Because every year the 'Maasstad' (Maas City) has that little bit more to offer. In 2003, water is the central theme. With the events programme 'Waterlife' and other impressive activities in, on and along the river Maas, Rotterdam will be presenting itself even more than ever as a city on the water.

But the 1st Architecture Biennial Rotterdam and various other festivities will also provide you with some surprises and an excellent opportunity to make a voyage of discovery through the most dynamic city in the Netherlands.

You are naturally familiar with Rotterdam as the biggest port in the world, where millions of tonnes of cargo are transhipped every year. But do you also know the Rotterdam that has emerged in the past twenty years? Rotterdam is a city that only reveals its treasures during a voyage of discovery. So make this voyage and let yourself be carried off to new and different parts of the city.

The reconstruction of the Rotterdam city center has been completed. The city center now extends over the river; the Kop van Zuid is now part of the center. After ample opportunity has been given for the realization of offices, shops and recreational space, it is now the turn of housing.

Only five percent of the 600,000 inhabitants of Rotterdam live in the city centre. In other Dutch cities this percentage is around ten percent. The low number of residents in the city center has major consequences for the visitor's experience; when the shops and offices are closed, the streets are far from lively.

Partly for this reason, the 1993-2000 Inner City Program named increasing housing density as a policy spearhead: 10,000 homes must be completed by 2010 in the city center and the Kop van Zuid. This is also laid down in the Fourth Memorandum on Spatial Planning Extra (Vinex).

The demand for housing in our city center is very high. Both Rotterdammers and people from outside the city see the advantages of living in this central location. The center of Rotterdam therefore has a lot to offer: shops, entertainment venues, culture, recreation and an excellent infrastructure.

This housing brochure offers you an overview of data on housing projects that are currently under study and development or that are now being realized (even if the houses have already been sold or rented out). Because the data is subject to change, no rights can be derived from the contents of this folder.

Governing a large city with a population of almost 600,000 requires consideration of many diverse interests. The central local authority concerns itself mainly with the basic ideas and the coherence of its policies. The boroughs have been established to enhance affairs directly concerning communities at district level. Boroughs are areas within the city which have their own elected local governors: the district councils. These concern themselves with affairs directly affecting citizens.

The local authority is regularly involved with central government: National Government and the Parliament (Upper and Lower house). Aldermen, ministers and state secretaries regularly consult together, for example regarding the financial contributions from the state for municipal and urban services. At official levels there is also intensive contact with the State. At provincial (county) level there are regular discussions with the Provincial Executive concerning the daily government and with Provincial States regarding the general government of the province.

The international city (port) of Rotterdam realises the importance of relations abroad. Rotterdam maintains many contacts all over the world. Most alliances are with ports and some of the relationships have been formalised. Collaboration protocols are used to periodically update these formalised contacts and to make them more concrete. Various motives - economic, idealistic and governmental - play a role in initialising such international relationships.

The first official foreign relations with Rotterdam date from the period shortly after the Second World War. They developed from idealistic motives: Children from Rotterdam were given a warm welcome and shelter in Kingston upon Hull after the long hunger winter. Oslo began the annual tradition of donating an enormous Christmas tree as a symbol of freedom and peace. Twinning with cities from the original EEC countries (eg. Liege, Cologne and Lille) came into existence. Stimulating these contacts from 'bottom up' should contribute to the building of a united Europe.

Ever since the end of the sixties, international economic contacts have been made. The main aims being to advance the trade relations and to improve the competitive position. The marketing plans for the Rotterdam Municipal Port Management and the Rotterdam City Development Corporation give guidelines for this. In addition selective use is made of the international programs of central government. Travel by the ministers is also used as a good opportunity to improve Rotterdam's position. Members of the City Council Executives, the relevant administrative city services and the Rotterdam business world work in close cooperation together. In particular, since the 1980's, there has been a strong growth both qualitatively and quantitatively. Intensive bonds are being made between the cities and regions in Europe, USA and in south-east Asia. Also, the city has many good relations in South America, although these are not based on structured programs. Rotterdam representatives have been stationed in various cities abroad to carry out active campaigning and promotion of Rotterdam's interests.

Due to the social involvement, Rotterdam concerns itself with world-wide issues. There is a two pronged policy: on the one hand Rotterdam stimulates the provision of information, and on the other hand it supports projects in developing countries. An active policy towards Eastern European partner cities has been developed since the end of the 1980's. This includes the provision of project support, advice and training. In addition, the population is stimulated to broaden its activities directed towards effecting exchanges with Eastern European partner organisations. An annual subsidy budget is reserved for this. This is also true for countries such as Cape Verdi, Suriname and the Dutch Antilles. Local government has also set up a support point in Rotterdam to cover Middle and Eastern Europe. Its aim is to provide advice and information to private enterprises such as schools, churches and voluntary organisations concerning relevant opportunities and to improve contact between organisations.

The increased internationalisation has made it necessary to maintain an international network for many areas within the governmental working sphere. Exchange of knowledge and orientation of developments elsewhere in the world are important ways in which many governmental institutions can improve their knowledge of their own infrastructure and to keep expertise up to date. Consequently, the district council takes part in a range of exchange activities in many areas. In this way, Rotterdam is able to learn from its foreign partners such as Baltimore and Lille, for example in such issues as revitalising the city and education. In return, these partners abroad have also been able to learn from the experiences within Rotterdam, for example regarding social renewal and security and safety.

The European union and the advances in regionalisation, increase the importance of European relationships. Good contacts with Brussels are a necessity for Rotterdam. That is why the European developments are monitored so closely and where ever possible a request is made for European subsidies. In 1986, Rotterdam was chosen to be one of only six 'founding fathers' involved in setting up Eurocities, a group of metropolitan areas from which a network of 72 European cities and regions has evolved. Eurocities represents the interests of large cities and actively promotes a European City policy. Rotterdam is chairman of this network, and also chairman of the transport committee. In addition Rotterdam is a member of the Regional Committee as set up in the Maastricht treaty.

Although contacts are often initiated from one particular point of view, in practice this often leads to spin-offs in a much wider area. The formula used aids this process: a partner city relationship initiated at governmental level forms an umbrella under which diverse contacts and activities can prosper. There are many examples of this. It is obvious that international contacts form the basis for the many trade and distribution centres which are situated in Rotterdam. Partly due to the good contacts with Osaka it has been possible to start a Japanese school in Rotterdam which is an important precondition for many Japanese companies when determining where to place new businesses. In the areas of art, culture and sport these international relationships have proved their worth. Large exhibitions, such as the Traciers Gold, the Hermitage and the Forbidden City have all been on display at museums. Also the participants field for the World Port Baseball Tournament is always well frequented, in part due to Rotterdam's contacts with the rest of the world.