On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
Captain C
As part of the reunion, we took a harbour tour of the Port of Rotterdam. Many of us chose to hang out and talk, but I was captivated by the sights and workings of the largest seaport in Europe…
(don’t worry, I was social the rest of the time)
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
The lovely Erasmus Bridge.
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
Close up of the bridge, with a human for scale.
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
The Johan De Witt, a Landing Platform Dock. It was enormous and ponderous.
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
The Johan De Witt‘s tug.
Rotterdam HarbourJuly 9, 2024
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
Rotterdam HarbourSeptember 9, 2024
A large container ship loading up (IIRC) for a journey to ports which have likely traded with the Netherlands for centuries.
Baud
Heh, I read that as Costco Shipping.
I love ships.
Ramalama
@Baud: SAME!
Princess
We did that tour — it’s fascinating and a real glimpse into the world of shipping.
Steve in the ATL
@Baud: @Ramalama: same as well!
In my first job I represented a port authority and it was fascinating. Did I ever have to arrest a ship? Of course! Did cranes ever drop containers on longshoremen? I have no idea where you would get such a crazy idea!
MCat
This is marvelous. Fascinating. I just love the Netherlands. Thanks so much.
frosty
During the last few years of my career I was doing stormwater work for the Maryland Port Administration. I loved going to one of their seven terminals for field work. Acres of cars (and John Deere tractors) coming off the RO-RO ships, dozens of cranes, stacks of containers.
Mart
I consulted at a Euorpoort facility in the Netherlands, protected by enormous ocean flood/storm surge gates. My American work buddy who had never been very far from home was gob smacked. Kept saying stupid American shit like I can’t believe “they” could build something like this – in front of “them”. Luckily “they” generally are nicer than “us”… Pretty sure our plant guide tried to kill us by speed walking up a steep long ramp from the unloading dock to the processing area. While waiting for my partner to make it up, I said to our guide, you’re not even breathing hard. He said he rode his bike 80 miles each day on the levee to and from work. Being an American, I cursed at him, and we had a good laugh!
Dmkingto
Cool pictures. In the bridge closeup, what are the things that look like upside down traffic lights angled up for something coming down the bridge cables?
Captain C
@Princess: Agreed.
Captain C
@MCat: Glad you enjoyed it!
Captain C
@Dmkingto: I’m not sure; they do look like some sort of traffic regulation lights but I didn’t get close enough to see.