Netherlands-Rotterdam (The largest port in Europe ) Part 17
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Netherlands-Rotterdam
Rotterdam has the largest port in Europe, with the rivers Meuse and Rhine providing excellent access to the hinterland upstream reaching to Basel, Switzerland and into France. In 2004 Shanghai took over as the world's busiest port. In 2006, Rotterdam was the world's seventh largest container port in terms of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) handled.
The port's main activities are petrochemical industries and general cargo handling and transshipment. The harbour functions as an important transit point for bulk materials and between the European continent and overseas. From Rotterdam goods are transported by ship, river barge, train or road. In 2007, the Betuweroute, a new fast freight railway from Rotterdam to Germany, was completed.
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam constructed in 1270 on the Rotte River, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre. Its strategic location at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta on the North Sea and at the heart of a massive rail, road, air and inland waterway distribution system extending throughout Europe is the reason that Rotterdam is often called the Gateway to Europe.
In the province of South Holland, Rotterdam is in the west of Netherlands and the south of the Randstad. The population of the city was 616,250 on February 1, 2012. The population of the greater Rotterdam area, called Rotterdam-Rijnmond or just Rijnmond, is approximately 1.3 million. The combined urban area of Rotterdam and The Hague is the 206th largest urban area in the world. One of Europe's most vibrant, multicultural cities, Rotterdam is known for its university (Erasmus), cutting-edge architecture, lively cultural life, striking riverside setting and maritime heritage. It is also known for the Rotterdam Blitz.
The largest port in Europe and one of the busiest ports in the world, the port of Rotterdam was the world's busiest port from 1962 to 2004, when it was surpassed by Shanghai. 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.
'Rotterdam' is divided into a northern and a southern part by the river Nieuwe Maas, connected by (from west to east): the Beneluxtunnel; the Maastunnel; the Erasmusbrug ('Erasmus Bridge'); a subway tunnel; the Willemsspoortunnel ('Willems railway tunnel'); the Willemsbrug ('Willems Bridge'); the Koninginnebrug ('Queen's Bridge'); and the Van Brienenoordbrug ('Van Brienenoord Bridge'). The former railway lift bridge De Hef ('the Lift') is preserved as a monument in lifted position between the Noordereiland ('North Island') and the south of Rotterdam.
The city centre is located on the northern bank of the Nieuwe Maas, although recent urban development has extended the center to parts of southern Rotterdam known as De Kop van Zuid ('the Head of South', i.e. the northern part of southern Rotterdam). From its inland core, Rotterdam reaches the North Sea by a swathe of predominantly harbour area.
Built mostly behind dikes, large parts of the Rotterdam are below sea level. For instance, the Prins Alexander Polder in the northeast of Rotterdam extends 6 metres (20 ft) below sea level, or rather below Normal Amsterdams Peil (NAP) or 'Amsterdam Ordnance Datum'. The lowest point in the Netherlands (6.76 metres (22.2 ft) below NAP) is situated just to the east of Rotterdam, in the municipality of Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel.
The Rotte river no longer joins the Nieuwe Maas directly. Since the early 1980s, when the construction of Rotterdam's second subway line interfered with the Rotte's course, its waters have been pumped through a pipe into the Nieuwe Maas via the Boerengat.
Rotterdam is in the south of the Randstad. Having a population of 7.1 million, the Randstad is the sixth-largest metropolitan area in Europe (after Moscow, London, the Ruhr Area, Istanbul, and Paris).
The southern part of the Randstad (i.e. the part located in the Province of South Holland) is called the South Wing (Zuidvleugel). Including Leiden, The Hague, Zoetermeer, Delft, Vlaardingen, Schiedam, Capelle aan den IJssel, Spijkenisse and Dordrecht, the Zuidvleugel has a population of around 3 million.
At the heart of the Zuidvleugel are the conurbations surrounding The Hague and Rotterdam. They are close enough to be almost a single conurbation with a population of about 2.5 million. They share the Rotterdam The Hague Airport and a light rail system called RandstadRail. Wikipedia
Viking Cruises walking tour of historic windmills at Kinderdijk, Netherlands (1 of 2)
This is part 1 of 2 of a walking tour conducted by Viking Cruises showing the UNESCO world heritage historic windmills at Kinderdijk, the Netherlands. This is apparently the oldest collection of windmills in the Netherlands still in existence and in operation. These windmills date to 1738 and 1740. Amazing. Highly recommend visiting this site. Sorry that there is not more audio--Viking does their tours with Quietvox devices where you hear the guide through an earpiece. Starting at about 30:30, we are at the visitor center where there is a short video explaining the windmills operation and purpose and thereafter at a lecture explaining the maintenance of the windmills. One of the many amazing aspects of this is that families still apparently live in these windmills and have to make sure the sails are down when they leave their homes for whatever reason. It was really amazing to experience this in person--I hope my video gives some sense of what it was like but this is something I highly recommend doing. This was one of the highlights of our Rhine Cruise.
Hotel Milano, Rotterdam, Netherlands HD review
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Hotel Milano is centrally located only 0.6 miles from Central Station and a 20-minute walk away from shopping district. It offers rooms with free Wi-Fi.
All rooms at Hotel Milano have a modern decor and are fully equipped. They all come with a private bathroom with a bath or shower and toilet. Breakfast is served every morning and includes warm and cold items with fresh seasonal fruits.
Euromast is 0.9 miles away from Hotel Milano and De Doelen is at 2,625 feet. Diergaarde Blijdorp is a 10-minute drive. The Markthal can be found at 1.2 miles distance. Guests can explore the harbour with the Spido. The departure station is only 1.2 miles from the property.