Even Leavin for Rotterdam Maritime

Rotterdam Maritime started as a purely domestic show for the indigenous inland shipping, shortsea, dredging and commercial fishing industries but has evolved over the years to become a more broadly based international event which now provides the logicality for merging with Europort. For this 2004 event, some 550 exhibitors are coming from no fewer than 18 countries, including the UK, Germany, Canada, Italy, France, Serbia, Spain, Poland, South Korea, Austria and the Scandinavian countries. For the first time, exhibitors will be participating from Denmark, Brazil and the Czech Republic.

Many Dutch and foreign exhibitors will join forces by presenting themselves in one pavilion.

The merger with Europort is largely a response to urgent requests from the domestic market, which for the past five years has been calling for the creation of a single biennial event for the nation’s maritime sector. In June of this year the members of the Holland Maritime Equipment (HME) trade association voted unanimously for the odd year only event in Rotterdam and urged its members to participate.

HME and the marine group Scheepsgroep Werkendam will this year occupy a 545m 2pavilion in the area linking Hall 1 and Ahoy Plaza.

The rationale was expounded by Martin Bloem, managing director of HME, who said, ‘Most important is Rotterdam’s position as the home base of the ship repair sector and also of the inland and coastal shipping sectors. All of them are domestic markets of major importance to our members. The port of Rotterdam is the maritime heart of the Netherlands. Hence Rotterdam is a better choice than Amsterdam.’

The Ahoy is situated to the south of the River Maas, with a vast car parking area and also well served by public transport. The entirety of Europe’s largest port and hundreds of maritime businesses are situated within a half hour’s drive of the Ahoy, making it relatively simple for visitors already at the show to make excursions and conduct additional business on company premises.

Though not as well known for its nightlife as Amsterdam, Rotterdam nonetheless offers quiet dining in picturesque areas such as the Old Harbour and Delfshaven or nightclubs centred around the Witte de Withstraat, the Nieuwe Binnenweg and the Stadhuisplein. For those who have had one too many Oude Genevers the night before, Maritime Rotterdam mercifully does not open its doors until 11:00 on the 16th through 19th, switching to 10:00 to accommodate the barge captain invasion on the 20th.

The exhibition is open until 19:00 on the Tuesday and Wednesday, 22:00 on the Thursday and Friday, with final doors at 17:00 on the Saturday.

MJ Information No: 19938