This new photo-album can be accessed (as usual) via my website.

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Met vriendelijke groeten / With kind regards

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
Every year the same specially round the docks located in the city centrum. It's so boring.

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Originally posted by Willem:

That's your idea.
Some 450.000 people found it very interesting !

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Originally posted by Maasdam:

Yeh BORRING. The rest Borring whatever the amount of visitors

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I allways got the impression that you were proud to be a 'Rotterdammer', but the only interesting facts for you seem to be only cruiseships.
And that is only a very small factor in the harbour.

Did you make any excursions ? ?
Have you ever been in the World Port Center ?
Have you ever visited a RPA ship ?
Have you ever visited one of the Royal Navy ships ? ?
Have you ever visited a Coast Guard ship ? ?

Well, it seems that it is the same every year, but I have seen new things every visit I made to my city of birth during the World Port Festival.
The most boring things that I have noticed, are the performances on the main podium by reggea-musicians and DJ's en other so-called 'singers'.
That is not what the World Port Festival is about. These three days are to show what happens in the port of Rotterdam.

I do not like most of the changes made in the city itself. But I do like to be in the harbour whenever it's possible.
Maybe it is because I am sailing quite often on the old minesweeper of the AMS60 class, ms BERNISSE and being amongst people who worked (sailed) for the Rotterdam Port Authority, the Royal Navy and the merchant navy.

Maybe it is also because I grew up in the growing city and walked many, many kilometers along the banks of the river. Mabe it is because I have worked for the largest seagoing company Rotterdam ever had. Maybe it is because my first job was on board of the largest passengership ever built in the Netherlands, even on a shipyard in Rotterdam.

I am still proud to be a born Rotterdammer and I am still proud that Rotterdam is one of the greatest ports in the world. And I am still proud having worked on that, allthough a very tiny part.

But proud is not only fore 3 days a year. But every day year after year. Love the harbor and when feel down and sad i go to the banks of port and let free my thoughts.

Love cruise ships but thats my passion. All other activities and the hundreds of differences ships visit the port i cane see every day if i wanted. Just a bike ride of 10 minutes and I'm in the Waalhaven.

Have worked fore Manny different company's around the port. Among theme former Nedlloyd. Smit Internationale, Van Ommeren etc. etc. And seen much of the port in that period.

As i wrote have worked fore great Rotterdam shipping company's with such big historical history as HAL. Don't forget that van der Vorm family who at last owned HAL and sold it to Carnival came from Van Ommeren.

Have visit on occasions the new WPC, seen Manny different Marine ships inside and outside included submarines. They visit the port year round and not only with the Open Port Days. In my Smit period have visit 4 times on of the Cost Guard Vessels.
Sailed a/b the pilot boat one time. Even was a guest in the Cruise Port Rotterdam offices. And i cane go one and one.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
It's really a remark of someone who left the city Manny years ago.

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And that my friend had very important reasons

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Originally posted by Willem:

And that my friend had very important reasons

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Now Willem you made a mistake as they always said Rotterdammers are straight to the point.

I'M NOT YOU'RE FRIEND FRIEND.

[ 09-09-2007: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

As Robert says: It is ALMOST the same every year.

That means that every year there are new aspects to see. New ships, new excursions, new demonstrations.

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Originally posted by Robertdam:
well, I was also at the world port festival this year and i think you are both right. It is almost the same every year and you can say its boring because of that. But I had a great day there (I'm no rotterdammer...) took some nice pictures and found some great historic stuff at the nautical market. The weather was nice and I met again some people that had the same hobbies as I do and it's always great talking to them. So yes, it is the same every year but going there is still better then staying at home I think.

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It's not about to have it right. It's simply my opinion nothing more, nothing less. If people have a great day visiting the Open Port festival it's good. Have been through 26 open port festivals and year after year almost the same thing happens. So i decided 4 years ago to stop going to the festival.

But i have found memories of the first ones. I think it was the 3th edition where my father and mother bought 2 tickets for the ms Prinses Beatrix (SMZ ferrie) the ship sailed of the Park Kade to the SMZ terminal at the Hoek van Holland. Being 9 years and going on such a big ship. Was marvelous it was my first steps a/b an passenger vessel (although it was a ferry)

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Originally posted by Willem:
As Robert says: It is ALMOST the same every year.

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Other events that are about the 'same' every year:

Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany)

Boston Marathon (World Famous)

The Americas Cup (same race, just different boats)

Carnival (Rio de Janeiro, Venice) and Mardi Gras (New Orleans)

Fleet Week (New York)

Independence Day (any country: same ole fireworks and parades)

New Years Day (same as above)

Running of the Bulls (Pamplona, Spain)

World Cup (Soccer: same game, just different teams)

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:

Other events that are about the 'same' every year:

Oktoberfest (Munich, Germany)

Boston Marathon (World Famous)

The Americas Cup (same race, just different boats)

Carnival (Rio de Janeiro, Venice) and Mardi Gras (New Orleans)

Fleet Week (New York)

Independence Day (any country: same ole fireworks and parades)

New Years Day (same as above)

Running of the Bulls (Pamplona, Spain)

World Cup (Soccer: same game, just different teams)

Superbowl, World Series, Stanley Cup (same as above)

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Yes, that is just what I mean.
Are those boring ? ? ?

As they are about the same every year is not a reason for not going