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.

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.

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.

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.

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.