“Working in Rotterdam as a priest was a dream come true,” says Lars from Denmark. All his life, he has been serving Danish Christians worldwide. In Asia, Latin America and Europe. “In 2004, Rotterdam had the largest port in the world. So many Danish ships arrive every day…. The Netherlands has a large Danish community.” That’s why he was keen to become the new sailor pastor in Rotterdam. A sailor pastor is a priest who visits Danish-flagged ships entering the port every day. He does so for the church Sømandskirken. Besides a church, this is also a meeting house for Danes in the Netherlands and everyone else, regardless of faith or nationality.
“It is also our job to preserve Danish culture. For example, we celebrate Fastelavn every year. Then we knock on a barrel with a cat in it. The one who gets the cat out wins. But we do it now with a cartoon cat on it though,” he laughs. “We also celebrate the longest day of the year, 23 June, by making a doll of a witch that we burn in the garden: the Bonfire. We also have a big Christmas market with hot wine. With that, we reach about 20,000 people in November.” In between celebrations, the church also offers space to get together. For instance, the church has a club for retired captains and youth groups.
Different kinds of people and food and music
When he visited Rotterdam for the first time in 2023, Lars was surprised. “I wasn’t expecting anything. Although I did know the stereotype of an old and dirty port city. But Rotterdam is anything but that. I found the people here very nice and the city very nice to live in.” Still, it took some getting used to compared to all the other cities he has lived in. “There are not so many different people there. Here, many people live from Dutch colonies like the Caribbean or Indonesia. There are also a lot of Scandinavians in Rotterdam. All these cultures also make for different kinds of restaurants, which I love. I also like Rotterdam’s music scene, which has all kinds. Rotterdam a small metropolis so this is where the biggest orchestras come; I often go there.”
Water
Moreover, he is devoted to the water. “Rotterdam is really the Manhatten on the Maas. I love the water, so I sometimes go out on the water and to the Kinderdijk. But I also love the history behind it; it’s important for the city. And that is closer than you think. A lot of what has been built in the city, such as museums, was built with money earned on the water. People think the culture of the Netherlands consists of tulips and clogs but actually, Rotterdam’s history is based on water.
Rules, directness and architecture
Early in his time in Rotterdam, he, like many others probably, thought Danes and Dutch were the same. “The two countries both know a lot of laws and are very organised. And the people from both countries are both also direct. So much so that sometimes it gives us problems. For example, in Latin America and Asia, you have to discuss and do a lot of formalities before you can get to the point. Also, both countries are aware of architecture. I also love the architecture of Rotterdam. By the way, did you know that much in the outdoor space, such as the benches and parks, was designed by a Danish architect, Jan Gehl? Our church also has unique architecture inside and outside. So that’s how we are a part of the city.”
Stricter
But once grounded here, Lars also discovered differences between the countries. “For example, the Protestant culture: in that, the Dutch are a bit stricter. The Danes are a bit wilder and more relaxed; we are called the liberals of Scandinavia. We enjoy life the most. The Dutch do sometimes start talking about things very quickly. Especially in the North of the Netherlands. But Rotterdam is also a fast-paced city. Although you also find that in other big cities like Copenhagen, so it could also be down to that.”
Inhale
His advice to other newcomers is therefore not to be put off by the speed of the city. “Take a deep breath and get to know Rotterdam. You just have to dive in and discover all the beautiful places. Every time you think you know your neighbourhood, you find something else. That’s interesting. You can make a lot of experiences here.”