Card Art: Rotterdam IV

Roland | March 19, 2008 at 3:14 pm | In Art on Eurodam |

In our continuing series of Eurodam art by Stephen Card, today we’re featuring his painting of Rotterdam IV. The fourth version of the line’s flagship was built in 1908 at Harlan & Wolff Ltd. in Belfast, Ireland. Rotterdam IV was 203.53 meters (667 feet) long with a beam of 23.47 meters (77 feet), and a draft of 10 meters (32.8 feet). Its service speed was 16.5 knots.

Rotterdam IV carried 32 first-class, 555 second-class and 2,232 third-class passengers (of which 1,064 were housed in collapsible cabins). The ship was the largest in the North Atlantic fleet until 1929 when Statendam was introduced, and was the first liner to have a glass-enclosed promenade deck for the use of first-class passengers. The ship was sold for scrap in 1939.

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Very nice painting love Stephan Card paintings a/b the fleet. I notice that the Dutch flag have the anchor. That meant that the captain is also commander with the Royal Netherlands Marine.

The Rotterdam became a very popular ship famous fore here long voyages to the Mediterranean. When she was sold fore scrap in 1939 some of here interior was sold to hotels and other venues in Rotterdam. Among here bar which found a new home in the Grand hotel at the Boompjes in Rotterdam. Sadly the bombardment of Rotterdam on may 14th 1940 also destroyed this hotel. There is not much left of the ship only a view bad tiles.

The scrapping of the Rotterdam started with demolition of the deck houses she was to high to passed the bridges over the river. When finally the hull was on here way to the scrap yard the Netherlands was at war. She sailed passed the burned out Statendam within months Rotterdam lost not only there city but also two of there former flagships.

Greetings Ben.
The total number of first class passengers where 532 when she came into service.

Comment by Maasdam — March 20, 2008 #
Ben:

Your figure doesn’t match the Dalkmann/Schoonderbeek book, “125 Years of Holland America Line.” They say that when Rotterdam IV sailed its maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York July 7, 1908, it broke the record for most passengers carried in regular class — 1,009 (445 in first, 564 in second).

Otherwise, you are correct about the ship’s inglorious end.

Comment by Roland — March 20, 2008 #
Roland my information is based on different books and HAL own information from that period. She broke the record of most cabin passengers carried. But even then she was not booked up to capacity. (i own also a copy of the book by Dalkmann/Schoonderbeek)

The number in the article going with the Rotterdam painting and i quote “Rotterdam IV carried 32 first-class, 555 second-class and 2,232 third-class passengers (of which 1,064 were housed in collapsible cabins).” is not right aether. The combined figure fore both first and second was only 587 and thats not correct.

As i wrote she was capable of carrier 532 first, 555 second and 2232 third class passengers. Making a total number of 3319 passengers the Rotterdam was able to Carrier. She never run booked full to capacity.

Greetings Ben.
ps she and the Statendam of 1929 are my favorite HAL ships.

Comment by Maasdam — March 20, 2008 #
Ben:

Since you are in Rotterdam, I’ll defer to your expertise. But I’m going to send a query to Capt. Schoonderbeek to get his take on the issue.

Comment by Roland — March 20, 2008 #
Roland,

Unfortunately it occurred more than once that the book by Dalkmann/Schoonderbeek has some errors in dates.
I am relying on the Dutch book by G.J. de Boer, titled ‘125 jaar Holland Amerika Lijn’.
This book says that the s.s. Rotterdam made her maidenvoyage on 13 June 1908.
Please compare following dates with the Dalkmann/Schoonderbeek book:
Keel laid: 6 November 1906
Launched: 3 March 1908
Hand over: 6 June 1908
She arrived back in Rotterdam from her last Transatlantic on 28 November 1939 and was laid up till she was sold for scrap on 2 January 1940 to Frank Rijsdijk in Hendrik Ido Ambacht, where she arrived on 2 February 1940.

As for the number of pax: In 1929 a refurbishment took place and from then she could carry 517 First class and 1130 Tourist class.

Comment by wvdleek — March 20, 2008 #

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