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Hotel New York

Rotterdam, The Netherlands

By CHRIS OWEN

August 11^th, 2016

beginnings

Travelers coming to Rotterdam for a standalone visit, as part of a trip in The Netherlands or either before or after a cruise, have a number of interesting places to visit. Many have something to do with the fact that thousands of emigrants launched their journey to America from here. In town in advance of the arrival of Holland America Line’s new ms Koningsdam, we had some time to explore the area. Appropriately, we stayed at the Hotel New York, former world headquarters for Holland America Line and a perfect base from which to launch a number of walking tours.

steeped in history

Over the years, millions of emigrants made their way to the shores of America from Rotterdam, Liverpool, Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Antwerp. Many of them passed through the Holland America Line headquarters, since 1993 the Hotel New York. Unfortunately Rotterdam does not have an official museum. The old emigrants hotel and chapel where many stayed before embarking on their journey has long been demolished. Located next to Rotterdam’s Passenger Terminal, Hotel New York has restored a tangible era of passenger travel.

diverse as history would have it

Hotel New York has but 72 rooms, all of which were once offices and workspaces of the Holland America Line headquarters. Each is different and no two rooms are alike. Reasonably priced between €120 and €235 per night each as a different view and character.

still preparing travelers

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holland america line museum

While there is not actually a Holland America Line museum per se. Hotel New York is about as close as one might be looking for, complete with the largest collection of Holland America Line artifacts in the world

yesterday and today

More than just a place to stay the night, Hotel New York features a number of dining options ranging from a full breakfast buffet to a handy takeaway stop, full service restaurants and more

a fully functioning hotel

There is a bookshop in the lobby, offering books on cooking, travel, New York and Rotterdam, as well as a selection of toiletries and sundries, for guests who have forgotten to bring their toothbrush or deodorant.

getting around

While we visited a number of interesting places on foot, Rotterdam’s water taxi system (@WatertaxiRis) is simply the fastest way to get from point A to point B. In the 19th-century, hotels had their own carriages and drivers, which later turned into limousines and chauffeurs. Hotel New York has its own water taxi stop and shipmaster.

home town cruise line

During our stay in Rotterdam, we explored the area in details. One common theme among local residents and businesspersons: Holland America Line is Rotterdam’s Home Town Cruise Line. On display in advance of the arrival of new ms Koningsdam, a plethora of Holland America Line flags, especially impressive when seen from water taxi on the Nieuwe Maas, a distributary of the Rhine River.

the yacht club

Exploring Rotterdam from our base at Hotel New York we stopped by the Royal Maas Yacht Club, established in 1851 and one of oldest sailing clubs of the Netherlands. Our host, WestCord Hotels’ Tom Wesselink

The Yacht Club takes pride in many successes in sailing sport competitions including Olympic sailing matches. Notable, sailing yachts Flyer I and in succession with Flyer II, won the Whitbread Round the World Race twice, currently called the Volvo Ocean Race.

history preserved

Jacob van der Goot is the current chairman of the Royal Yachtclub De Maas, a board member of more than one museum and the International Film Festival Rotterdam. An interesting host for our visit, it was hard not to miss his respect of the past tempered with a realistic view of today’s world. In an interesting YouTube video I happened upon while researching this trip, van der Goot talks about The Downside Of Change that set the tone for what we experienced along the way.

A members only establishment, the Royal Maas Yacht Club is also a social gathering place with an extensive collection of Flickr photos

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Like so many places in Rotterdam. the Yacht Club located right on the on the Nieuwe Maas where life goes on in much the way it always has.

ss rotterdam

Of particular interest was the ss Rotterdam, the last great Dutch “ship of state” that is also now a hotel.

the best of the netherlands

Designed by the finest Netherlands artisans of the time, ss Rotterdam sailed for Holland America Line from 1959 until 2010. On board, it was easy to think back to those times when travel by cruise ship was quite a different experience.

world view

Looking for more on the history of Holland America Line, our visit to ss Rotterdam provided a healthy dose. Perhaps more than I bargained for as just one example of the Holland America Line presence in this part of the world.

a walk through the past

On ss Rotterdam, we toured the entire ship including most public spaces and staterooms turned to hotel rooms. It was a bit of a walk in the past, but a recurring theme brought us back throughout the visit: today’s Rotterdam is a relevant, interesting travel experience with great value for those who appreciate the history that got them there.

history preserved

First class areas of the ship were reserved for those booked in staterooms of the same rank, while tourist class was relegated to their own counterparts of those same venues

history alive

“Manned” by volunteers, some of which worked aboard when the ship was in service. ssRotterdam still communicates with ships and cruise travel fans the world over by short wave radio and by sending and receiving Morse Code, the language used by the ships of yesteryear.

port rotterdam

Cruise Terminal Rotterdam currently welcomes about 20 cruise ships a year, including ships of such lines as Holland America, Cunard, Fred. Olsen, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises. It‘s a two-story building with an escalator, elevator, toilets, a glass-enclosed boarding bridge, shops, and other services for travelers.

in the shadows of today

Returning to the Hotel New York after touring Rotterdam, the location seemed even more perfect than before. A 10 minute walk in one direction brings an entirely different experience than the same distance pointed elsewhere.

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the basement

An atmospheric & characteristic ambience with a historical touch, but with the trusted and well known Hotel New York hospitality. Hotel New York recently opened a new restaurant in the basement of her nostalgic building on the Rotterdam Wilhelminapier: NY Basement.

bon voyage

Local Rotterdam residents lined the banks of the river that runs right in front of Hotel New York, providing the best views of ships coming and going from the Port of Rotterdam.

travel

“Travel changes us, and how we experience the world, from the inside—out.” - Orlando Ashford, President Holland America Line

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