Meet Alexander Bakker, Our Man in Rotterdam

Alexander Bakker is a public relations professional in Rotterdam who is working with Holland America on preparations for the upcoming Eurodam inaugural. He will be sending us occasional blog posts on everything from the history of Holland America’s headquarters in Rotterdam to interviews with the pilot and harbor master, and who knows what else. Here’s his first entry:

Rotterdam is Warming Up!
The city of Rotterdam is warming up for the Eurodam. A special task-force of Holland America Line is lining up the dedication event, which in fact is not one, but a series of events spread over not less than four days!

When the Oosterdam dedication took place in Rotterdam in 2003, more than 300,000 people moved toward the city center and the banks of the river Nieuwe Maas to watch the Oosterdam, which was moored at the cruise terminal together with HAL flagship Rotterdam.

This time the new ship has to do it on her own, but it is expected that again hundreds of thousands people will come and watch. That will start with Eurodam sailing into Rotterdam on Sunday morning June 29. That same day, late in the afternoon, Eurodam will leave port for a short “cruise to nowhere,” returning early the next morning.

During its stay in Rotterdam, Eurodam will host different parties and events, such as a recruitment event and a reception of HAL’s pension fund and De Lijn, the association of former and current employees of HAL.

Until then there is a lot of work to do for everybody involved.