The Rhine in Rotterdam

The port of Rotterdam is the biggest port of Europe. It was the world's busiest port for decades until 2004. Now it is in competition with Shanghai and Singapore.

In the past century the port of Rotterdam has progressively expanded towards the west, from the centre of Rotterdam to the North Sea. The latest step of this expansion is the Europoort located at the south-west of Hoek van Holland.

The port of Rotterdam is a big sea port, but it is also an important river port. Many goods arriving by sea are transfered to canal-boats and transported to Germany, France and Switzerland via the Rhine river.