Rotterdam, city of immigrants. Early in the 20^th century (and during) a large number of immigrants from many different countries came to Rotterdam to look for there own fortune and help build the city. Immigrants even had more work then local citizens since there was so much construction work (a job that was usually given to immigrants)(still is actually). After the Second World War, there was another boost in immigrants to the city, now that the city needed to rebuild itself. All these factors, combined with the fact that Rotterdam is a harbor city, have made Rotterdam the most diverse city in the Netherlands. (With over 45% consisting of ethnic minorities!!). Today, the city houses more than 160 nationalities!

Now, the discussion about integration has been a long and wary one. 10th generation Dutch not getting along with the Moroccan/Turkish/Surinam very well and the other way around etc etc etc. (been there/done that). But the truth is that through all this time, something new was created, a mixture of cultures and behaviors and attitudes, and the truth is that they are all just getting closer and closer. The combination of all these, in my opinion, is what give Rotterdam its taste. There isn’t a nationality that you wouldn’t expect to see in Rotterdam and that fact by itself 

Makes Rotterdam unique, and puts her on the global map.

In 2001, Rotterdam was the culture capital of Europe, and that is extremely difficult when your such a multicultural city because the culture is a new and combined one and not one that has been preserved for hundreds of years.

The largest ethnic groups in Rotterdam are Moroccan, Turkish, Surinamese and Cape Verdians (Rotterdam is, after Lisbon, the largest community of Cape Verdians in Europe with more than 15.000 people).