Service
I often ask myself whether Rotterdam is truly a city of service, because living here for decades has shown me both sides of the story. On one hand, I see a city powered by the Port of Rotterdam, logistics, transport, and global trade systems that exist to serve Europe and beyond. On the other hand, I experience the everyday service sector as a resident and content creator in Rotterdam, where efficiency sometimes replaces warmth and directness replaces traditional hospitality. In this blog introduction, I explore my personal experiences with service in Rotterdam, from restaurants and public services to transport and bureaucracy, to understand what “service city” really means in a place built on movement, systems, and constant economic activity.