Snowy Range Pass

Snowy Range Pass

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Katendrecht and SS Rotterdam

Katendrecht has been a port area of Rotterdam for centuries.  It was a rough place that most proper citizens would avoid.  Besides the many commercial businesses associated with the marine industry, it was also the red light district.  Before WWII it had the largest Chinese community in Europe known for their opium dens and gambling houses. 




  
Katendrecht is a peninsula on the south side of the Nieuwe Maas River.  There is now a walking bridge from the Hotel New York in the Kop Van Zuid peninsula to Katendrecht. There are numerous water taxis that provide transportation around the port.  Anneke and her friend walked the bridge to see Hotel New York which was originally the home office of the Holland America Line.  The unofficial name is "Hoerenloper" which loosely translates to Whoremonger bridge.









Today, with the port having moved out towards the North Sea, Katendrecht has been transformed into a family residential area.  Seaman bars have turned into specialty restaurants.  Houses of ill repute are now regular houses still with the viewing window in evidence. 
It is turning into a trendy hot spot.












The SS Rotterdam is permanently docked in Katendrecht as a hotel/ restaurant/museum.  Entrance is free but for a fee you can have a tour.  Its Royal Inauguration was in 1958, which Anneke attended from a distance. The pool deck cafe has a great view. For maritime buffs, it is a must see. 













10 comments:

Laura said...

You are not the only photographer in the family!

Wanderin' said...

It's so true that Rotterdam has been a port for centuries. My ancestors sailed from Rotterdam to the New World many, many years ago!

Nickie and Jim said...

So nice to spend time with an old friend. Love the name of the bridge!! Thanks for the pictures.

Erin said...

Is that historic photo at the end of the post "Anneke" attending the Royal Inauguration from a distance?

Rick and Kathy Rousseau said...

Always someplace to see that makes our list grow longer. The beauty surrounding the area as well as the history add to the mystique.
Be Safe and Enjoy!

It's about time.

Peter said...

A stately old ship that SS Rotterdam and a real piece of grand history!

Jim and Sandie said...

From red light to trendy. Love learning the history of places like that.

Paul and Marti Dahl said...

Nice to see the SS Rotterdam preserved as a museum and open for tours. Hopefully the same can be done for the liner United States, it would be a shame to see her broken up.

Gypsy said...

Any city with a port has seamen, which leads to a red light district. They may have cleaned it up, but it probably just moved someplace else. It certainly looks like a beautiful place now.

John and Carol said...

Enjoyed reading about some of the history of where you are visiting. It wss a very interesting post.