Quick facts
Rotterdam overview
Rotterdam (orange) and the other large cities of Netherlands
Rotterdam lies in South Holland in Netherlands at 51.92°N, 4.48°E, about 9 m above sea level. The local time zone is Europe/Amsterdam (UTC+2).
It is the biggest urban centre of Netherlands: the next largest cities are Amsterdam (741,636), The Hague (474,292), Utrecht (376,435). Together, the three largest cities hold 11.3% of the national population.
The national capital, Amsterdam, is about 57 km away; the nearest large city is Delft, 13 km from Rotterdam.
Netherlands as a whole has a live population of 18,477,643 (+0.5% a year) and ranks #71 of 238 countries — see the Netherlands population page for the full statistics and the Netherlands atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Rotterdam
Largest cities in Netherlands
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rotterdam | South Holland | 868,135 |
| 2 | AmsterdamCapital | North Holland | 741,636 |
| 3 | The Hague | South Holland | 474,292 |
| 4 | Utrecht | Utrecht | 376,435 |
| 5 | Groningen | Groningen | 244,807 |
| 6 | Eindhoven | North Brabant | 235,691 |
| 7 | Tilburg | North Brabant | 221,947 |
| 8 | Breda | North Brabant | 184,126 |
| 9 | Nijmegen | Gelderland | 177,359 |
| 10 | Almere Stad | Flevoland | 176,432 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has about 868,135 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Rotterdam the capital of Netherlands?
No. The capital of Netherlands is Amsterdam (741,636 people), about 57 km away. Rotterdam is the largest city of the country.
How big is Rotterdam compared with the rest of Netherlands?
Its 868,135 residents are 4.7% of the 18,477,643 people living in Netherlands today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Rotterdam?
In South Holland, Netherlands, at latitude 51.92 and longitude 4.48, 9 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Delft (13 km), Zoetermeer (15 km), Dordrecht (18 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Rotterdam Population 2026 — Netherlands. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/netherlands/rotterdam/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/netherlands/rotterdam/">Rotterdam Population 2026 — Netherlands</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.