SS Rotterdam
Exciting & iconic photo of the SS Rotterdam by photographer Klaus Lucas.
This former flagship of the Holland America Line sailed on its maiden voyage from Rotterdam to New York in 1959. When it went out of service, Rotterdam wanted to keep it. After endless restorations, it was opened as a hotel, meeting & events center and museum.
1956 1959
Exciting times, exciting furniture
For many people, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to America means a journey to "the new world". However, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean is not always fun. The sea is rough and the climate is unpredictable. HAL therefore sets specific requirements for the design of its newest ship. A gracefully shaped hull and a sharp, high bow should further improve seaworthiness and speed compared to her predecessors. The machine installation will be located in a different location and the ship will have two modern flues next to each other. Where there is traditionally a chimney on other ships, there is now a large deckhouse. This creates the striking, streamlined profile of the ss Rotterdam. The design may have seemed controversial at the time, but this layout was frequently copied on later ships. The HAL attaches at least as much importance to the interior. The shipping company attracts well-known architects and artists for this purpose. For example, the famous interior designer Van Tienhoven will be responsible for important parts of the ship's furnishings, which must be luxurious and functional. He sketches exciting furniture for that time and uses modern materials such as plastic, ceramic and aluminum. Together with well-known Dutch artists, he creates a coherent whole in which applied arts play a major role.
ArtistKlaus Lucas
CodeG15014
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