Rotterdam, Capelle aan den IJssel and Prince Alexander

The port of Rotterdam is the largest port and industrial complex in Europe and is possibly even more famous than the highest tower in the Netherlands that is located in the same city: the Euromast. A system of harbor basins and industrial sites, situated directly on the North Sea, is used 24 hours a day for the supply, removal, storage and transhipment of goods. The port has no obstacles such as locks, bridges or tidal restrictions and around 1,000 ports worldwide are connected to Rotterdam. This port was even the largest in the world until it was overtaken by Shanghai.

Not only do you get a good picture of the influx of (freight) traffic by water, but you also explore the easternmost borough of Rotterdam: Prins Alexander, which was built in the Prins Alexanderpolder. That polder was drained between 1865 and 1874, at the time to be used as agricultural land. A total of fourteen puddles were drained. When Rotterdam wanted to expand housing and employment, the farmers had to leave the area. In this way, a new neighborhood could be built, in which old elements are united with modern buildings.