Rotterdam.

Visit 

'Manhattan on the Maas'

for  September’s  International Port Festival.

When it comes to ‘going foreign’ not everyone is happy about the idea of flying. For those who aren't,  or even those who would like to even avoid the stress  of driving a car,   the connections by rail or coach to the North Sea Ferry that takes you from Hull to Rotterdam are well worth considering. We tried it and arrived early in the morning.

We began to understand just why it is called 'Euro’ port. Vessels of all shapes and sizes passed by, their home ports' painted on their sterns, Valletta, Hamburg  and beyond, then there were the massive barges that had come up the River Maas from the Rhine and the industrial heartland of Europe. A quick transfer by coach into Rotterdam saw us leaving the petro-chemical complexes of the docks behind and passing the tree filled parklands and camping sites to the North of the city. We were soon into the centre where single deck tram cars with articulated coaches flexed there way around with an air of efficiency. It was the waterfront that made the  great impression on us, perhaps because they were holding the International Port Festival. Sailing ships, warships ancient ships, water boats, all manner of vessels that floated were featured. A fire boat jetted great plumes of water into the sky and there was a carnival atmosphere.

 During this years  festival  which takes place at the beginning of September, the Port and the centre of Rotterdam - along the quays and on the river Maas – there is a unique chance to look behind the scenes of the world’s biggest port.

The different demonstrations on and around the river Maas are spectacular. You will see for instance fast and highly manoeuvrable ships, fire-boats, rescue operations, helicopters and scuba-divers who will demonstrate how they maintain the safety in the Port. Impressive vessels of the Dutch Royal Navy, the Ministry of Waterways & Public Works, inland shipping fleet and merchant marine are on view.  A sparkling display  of ships decorated with lights, "Light on Stream", is planned for the  Friday evening  and (on Saturday evening) an ambitious fireworks event. 

A ride up  to the top of the Euromast Tower gave us a great over view of the city and the river.       To help you learn more about it there is a superb Maritime Museum that you can visit at Leuvehaven and a three hour boat excursion through the  'Port of Europe'  While cruising on the river Maas you have views of the city skyline, it's bridges and travel via the River Lek to  visit the windmills at Kinderdijk 

Rotterdam was severely damaged  during the last world war by both sides  so many of the buildings are new.  The architecture can be quite dramatic and one area has been nicknamed 'Manhattan on he Maas' by the locals   but a ride on the ancient wooden tourist trams that operated on route ten is help get things into perspective.  The cabins maybe about seventy years old but as you sped past the cars as it travels  along on the central reservation it seems like a very sensible mode of transport. You begin wonder why we got rid of ours. After visiting the suburbs where we viewed wooden cows in a play park (the closest flat dwelling children get to the real thing.)  the tram dropped us off outside the town hall.

Directly opposite at Coolsingel 65a, an open air Indonesian Restaurant. There are many of these arising from was evidence of the  Dutch connection with their former colony 

.The paper place setting  doubled as a menu and listed a great variety of reasonably priced dishes but since neither Dutch nor Indonesian languages were part of my Scottish education, I pointed to what the folk at the next table were having and settled back to enjoy a cooling beer.  

When the waitress, Sonia, returned with the dish,  the portion was certainly  generous.  The delicious crispy chicken  sat on a bed of  strongly flavoured noodles and other mysteries. I had never experienced to many flavours on one plate. 

From  the Indonesian Restaurant 
(Raya Jaya)  I walked down Stadhuis Plein  which was lined with open air cafes and football supporters clad in orange (the national colour)  got in the mood for that evening’s international match with Belgium. There was a great atmosphere and although the  place seemed largely to lack much of the old world charm of many other European cities it is certainly worth a return visit,

P&O North Sea Ferries  www.ponsf.com  Tel: 01482 377177.

Netherlands Board of Tourism  PO Box 523, London SW1E 6NT. www.holland.com                               Netherlands Board of Tourism
Tel:0906 871 7777 (recorded information costs 60p per minute.)

The Festival offers a package including:
3 course dinner + bed and breakfast on Saturday 
+ 1 bus-excursion in the harbour area
+ 1 RET-day pass (1 day unlimited public transport in Rotterdam)
+ 50% discount on a roundtrip cruise (Spido)
+ 50% discount on an Euromast’s entrance fee.
Hotel Centraal (3 stars) or
in Hilton Hotel (5 stars) 
Information and reservation: +31 10 414 73 14.Stichting Wereldhaven Festival Tel.: +31 10 412 53 53.
Address: Postbus 23508, 3001 KM Rotterdam
E-mail: wereldhavenfestival@wereldhavenfestival.nl