ss Rotterdam

The Grande Dame of the Seas

The ss Rotterdam was built by the company Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij NV (RDM) and is the largest passenger ocean liner ever constructed in the Netherlands. It was the flagship of the Holland-America Line from 1959.

With 228 meters long, 28 meters wide, and 51 meters high, with a gross tonnage of 38,645, the ship is popularly known as The Grande Dame. The “ss” stands for stoomschip (steamship).

The ss Rotterdam sailed all the seas of the world and was the first to circle the globe from Alaska to New Zealand in 80 days. It mainly carried out transatlantic voyages between Rotterdam and New York, and during the off-season, it operated as a cruise ship.

In 1997, the company Premier Cruises acquired the vessel and renamed it Rembrandt, but after the company’s bankruptcy in 2000, the ship was left stranded in the Caribbean.

In 2005, businessman Joep van Nieuwenhuyzen bought the ship on behalf of RDM, with support from the Port of Rotterdam Authority.

After several restorations in Gibraltar, Cádiz, Gdansk, and Wilhelmshaven, the ss Rotterdam returned to the port of Rotterdam in 2008.

Hotel, Events, and Heritage

In 2010, the ss Rotterdam began its new role as a floating hotel, and since 2013, the company WestCord Hotels has managed its operations. The Steamship Rotterdam Foundation oversees the conservation of the vessel.

Today, the ship functions as a venue for special events. On the main deck, there are 29 rooms, including 10 meeting rooms, as well as two restaurants. Its lounges preserve authentic and luxurious 1950s furnishings, and the interior features numerous rooms decorated with artworks in ceramic, wood, glass, bronze, textile, plastic, and paper, as well as a theater.

The Cultural Heritage Agency has listed the ship as a valuable interior ensemble, recognizing its historical and architectural significance. The Grande Dame is a source of pride for Rotterdam and the entire country, combining history, luxury, and maritime culture in a single place.

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