PORT CITY ROTTERDAM IN DANGER OF SOCIAL BREAKDOWN

A high number of less-educated workers, many problem neighbourhoods, a port that has been hard hit economically. Another whole generation is in danger of being lost in Rotterdam. Has the city become a ticking time bomb?

Behind the glass of the outer door a note on orange card reads: 'Closed due to circumstances.' But the owner of the sandwich shop across from cafe and gallery 'Anders' on Rodenrijselaan knows better. “That is how Rotterdammers say: we can no longer stay afloat financially and are shutting up shop." And so Rotterdam has one more vacant shop front, he says with some bitterness.

The city is largely dependent on its port and the collapse of world trade in the wake of the economic crisis is taking a heavy toll on the port. As a result, Rotterdam will be harder hit than the Dutch economy as a whole, is the inauspicious message from mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb. read more (nrc.nl)

ROTTERDAM PORT THROUGHPUT DOWN 11 PERCENT read more (radionetherlands.nl)

more features

April 12, 2009