Rotterdam?s? difference and diversity attracts top talent expats

Rotterdam is now a favoured expat hotspot for talented professionals looking for an ideal location for their skills.

Traditionally known as the ‘Gateway to Europe’, the Dutch mega-port of Rotterdam is now a hive of expatriate talent living in and loving every aspect of the city. Its spectacular skyline outlines its development into a totally 21st-century hub for trade, innovation and lifestyle, and its many historic landmarks track its impressive maritime heritage from the 14th century to the present day. It’s now deservedly popular as a hub for expatriate talent, especially in the tech sector, attracting the brightest and best individual talent as well as a good number of multinational companies.

For incoming expats, there’s a choice of neighbourhoods according to personal preferences, with Zevenkamp and Ommoord best for expat families due to their peaceful atmospheres and safe supply of childrens’ playgrounds. The Maritime Quarter is more exclusive, suited to high-end professionals and crammed with luxury apartments and restaurants offered exquisite international cuisine. In addition, the area is known for its views overlooking the River Maas. Business professionals and upwardly moving expats are attracted to Kop van Zuid, a relatively new development featuring ultra-modern accommodation, and expats with an artistic streak will love Oude Westen for its cultural diversity and high number of artists and entrepreneurs.

Over the past decade or so, Rotterdam has become a thriving hub for international businesses including Proctor and Gamble and Unilever, although it’s perhaps best know for its startups and other expat entrepreneurial activities in the hi-tech sector. The city’s Erasmus University, a top-ranking business school, is famous and draws not just Dutch students but the brightest and best international students as well. Dutch nationals living in Rotterdam are very proud of their city and its international reputation, and new arrivals don’t take long to feel the same way about this buzzing, ultra-modern conurbation with its amazing history and heritage.