SS Rotterdam Passenger Lists 1904-1937
The SS Rotterdam of the Holland-America Line ca 1900. GGA Image ID # 1fb26b0330
All Digitized Passenger Lists For the SS Rotterdam Available at the GG Archives. Listing Includes Date Voyage Began, Steamship Line, Vessel, Passenger Class and Route.
View our SS Rotterdam Archival Collection that Includes Rotterdam (1897) Holland-America Line Ship's History (Brief); Rotterdam (1908) Holland-America Line Ship's History (Brief); Passenger Lists; Brochures; Passage Rates; Route Maps, Track Charts, Abstract of Logs; Sailing Schedules; Illustrations and Paintings; Photographs; Postcards; Excerpts from Information for Passengers; Advertisements; Books; Fleet of the Holland-America Line - 1915, and more.
1904-02-02 SS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin Class
Date of Departure: 2 February 1904
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain G. Stenger
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Count L. C. van Limburg-Stirum, Rev. Géza Kacziàny, Ph.D., Miss Laura Bessieres, Miss Marg. Bullard, and Mr. W. F. van Heemskerck Düker, Jr.
1904-09-24 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 24 September 1904
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain A. Hoggeveen
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): General N. Fedoroff, Mrs. Charles Judson Gould, Miss Maria Ewing Gould, Dr. Chas. Street Mills, Countess J. Rypperda Wierdsma and Family, and Captain A. F. Lucas and Family.
1908-07-25 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 July 1908
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore F. H. Bonjer, Lt. R.N.R
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mrs. Hastings Arnold, Rev. Geo. W. Atkinson, Miss Elsie Janis, Mr. Spencer Kellogg Jr., Mrs. Fred. Pabst, Mrs. Leigh Hunt, Prof. A. C. Visser van Yzendoorn, and Miss Elisabeth A. Plankinton.
1910-08-27 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 27 August 1910
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Hon. George Birkhoff Jr., Judge Eugene G. Hay, Mrs. Olga Samaroff, Prof. Phillip Vollmer, General Stewart L. Woodford, Dr. Carl W. Johnson, and Mrs. Josephine Notman.
1912-08-31 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 31 August 1912
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Judge E. B. Bennett, Hon. Geo B. McClellan, Prof. Hugo de Vries, Dr. Lewis B. Stillwell, and General J. H. Smith.
1913-04-05 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 5 April 1913
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. L. H. Baekeland, Prof. O. Bolza, Hon. Juan de D. Garcia Kohly, Dr. Henry Lefèvre, and Captain Duncan K. Major Jr.
1914-10-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 October 1914
Route: Rotterdam to New York
Commander: Commodore G. Stenger
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Prof. O. Abrahamsohn, Baroness Alice Schenk, Dr. Kate Brodnitz, and Mrs. Hugo Reisinger.
1920-10-19 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 19 October 1920
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Gen. Buller Ames, Prof. Kuno Francke, Dr. Rabindranath Tagore, and Sydney C. Cockerell.
1921-02-12 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 February 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Countess C. van Limburg Stirum, Dr. Hans Nabholz, Prof. Ernst Schwartz, Mr. R. W. Boissevain, and Rev. John Koelman.
1921-06-08 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 8 June 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): His Excellency W. Phillips, Baroness von Hundelshausen, Col. L. J. Kolb, Mrs. C. von Homeyer, Dr. B. Groce, Baron N. Kanda, Dr. G. Pfromm, Mrs. E. Rotschild, and Mr. W. Rotschild.
1921-07-12 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 July 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): His Excellency J. H. van Royen, Count L. Mercati, Baroness H. de Pflügl, Mr. E. St. John Greble Jr., Mr. F. B. Leland, Mrs. G. Whittell Jr., Dr. Otto Eppenstein, and Miss M. Wittnauer.
1921-08-17 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 August 1921
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore J. Baron
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Senator J. J. France, Prof. Dr. E. Cohen, Col. C. C. Haines, Mrs. G. A. Armour and Family, Miss Frances Howland, Hon. E. H. Wyndham, Bishop Heinmiller, and Dr. J. B. Harvey.
1922-07-22 SS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 22 July 1922
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Commodore J. Baron, R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Baron G. W. De Vos van Steenwyk, Dr. Clinton Reed Barker, Dr. F. P. Herff and Mrs. Herff, Rev. Chas. S. Macfarland, Dr. J. Weinstein, Carl Stoeckel and Mrs. Stoeckel, Prof. Stanislaw Jan Zowski-Zwierzchowski, and Mrs. A. H. G. Fokker.
1922-10-17 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 17 October 1922
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Plymouth
Commander: Commodore Baron, R.N.R.
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Lady Fiennes, Lt. Col. C. H. Gurney, D.S.O., Hon. G. D. Hopper, Dr. J. Rosenstirn, Prince A. Thurn-Taxis, Mrs. Juliet Gridley Schönrock, Dr. E. A. Staab, and Commodore Baron.
1924-04-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 15 April 1924
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. E. Albrecht, Mrs. B. Adriance, Mr. W. F. Angell, Lt. Col. S. D. Lewis, Mrs. Th. Pershing, and Mr. J. Pinheiro.
1924-05-21 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 21 May 1924
Route: Rotterdam to Halifax and New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Hon. B. Singer, Dr. A. Galamb, Mrs. C. L. Morgenthau, Rev. Th. B. Downey, Marchioness L. del Sera Fiaschi, and Mr. Fred. Stockwell.
1924-11-12 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 12 November 1924
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): His Excellency A. de Feitosa, His Excellency R. M. Tobin, Dr. C. C. Wang, Sir P. Perry, and Mr. R. C. Greenleaf.
1925-09-02 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin
Date of Departure: 2 September 1925
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Bishop W. N. Ainsworth, Rt. Rev. Mgr. Aloysius Meuwese, V.G., Dr. Charles M. Adams, M.D., Prof. W. J. Long, and Mme. H. de C. Fitzgerald.
1926-07-20 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 20 July 1926
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Hon. F. Posthuma, Prof. F. A. F. C. Went, Rt. Rev. J. H. Tihen, D.D., Major E. L. N. Glass, Hon. A. R. Zimmerman, and Mr. Paul Whiteman.
1926-08-25 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Cabin
Date of Departure: 25 August 1926
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Commodore Van den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Hon. R. H. Norweb, Baroness A. Hatvany, Dr. H. R. Geyelin, Prof. Dr. A. F. Holleman, W. H. van Breda Kolff, and Hon. H. C. Thompson Jr.
1928-06-02 SS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Swiss Band
Date of Departure: 2 June 1928
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain Van Den Heuvel
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): F. Heuer, J. Ouboter, Mrs. A. Zueger, Prof. A. Schenk, Dr. H. T. Eisele, and Mr. Walter Herzog
1929-05-29 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 29 May 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Baron W. van Boetzelaer, Mr. H. E. Winlock, Rev. Dr. R. F. Wicks, Mr. G. F. Simmons, and Mr. M. G. Jenkins.
1929-06-15 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Student Third Cabin Association (S.T.C.A.)
Date of Departure: 15 June 1929
Route: New York to Rotterdam via Plymouth and Boulogne-sur-Mer
Commander: Captain Krol
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mr. Leonard G. Rice, Mrs. Rolando Boecklin, Professor Robert H. Anacher, Miss Claudia Hatch, Columbia University Orchestra, Dr. Albert M. Barrett, Professor George A. Bingley, Professor R. P. Boas, Dr. Emilie Cailliet, Miss Dorothy Coggeshall, Mr. Alden B. Dow, Professor Paul Fatout, Prof. Carl Fryxell, Mr. Theodore Hetzel, Miss Louise H. Hazard, Dr. J. Jacobs, Professor Lawrence Martin, Mrs. Pauline Wittwer Miller, Judge J. B. Sullivan, Professor Walter Schwenn, Mr. Alphons Vorenkamp, Dr. E. S. Wittwer, and Mr. Lars Onsager.
1929-09-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First and Second Cabin
Date of Departure: 11 September 1929
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Krol, R.N.R
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Miss Jane Addams, Charles Evans Hughes, Dr. W. A. R. Goodwin, Bishop W. H. Heard, and Rev. Dr. W. R. Breed.
1930-08-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Cabin
Date of Departure: 9 August 1930
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. J. H. French, Mrs. I. H. Mesta, Hon. E. W. Wakelee, F. M. Wren, and Mrs. F. D. Alexander.
1931-10-09 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 9 October 1931
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain Lieuwen
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. Lewis H. Adler, Jr., Col. Daniel Moore Bates, Mr. J. Krishnamurti, Mrs. C. Du Pont Lyon, and Mr. Thomas W. Seagram.
1933-09-02 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 2 September 1933
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain J. Van Dulken
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant III, Prof. Edward B. Hill, Mr. G. A. Plimpton, Dr. Georg Musa, Col. W. F. Pearson, Mrs. Helen Goldsmith, and Rev. Dr. Edgar Franklin Romig.
1934-05-26 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: First Class
Date of Departure: 26 May 1934
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain J. Van Dulken
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Dr. J. H. van Roijen, Miss Florence St. John Baldwin, Prof. Edward B. Weston, and Mr. David Schonwald.
1937-08-11 TSS Rotterdam Passenger List
Steamship Line: Holland-America Line / Netherlands American Steam Navigation Company (NASM)
Class of Passengers: Cabin and Tourist Class
Date of Departure: 11 August 1937
Route: Rotterdam to New York via Boulogne-sur-Mer and Southampton
Commander: Captain G. J. Barendse
Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Senator Frank H. Benson, Prof. David Bryn-Jones, Hon. Robert H. Curry, Col. Herman F. Doeleman, and Major T. J. Oakley Rhinelander.
Passenger Lists contained in the GG Archives collection represent the souvenir list provided to the passengers of each cabin class (and other classes). Many of these souvenir passenger lists have disappeared over the years. Our collection contains a sampling of what was originally produced and printed by the steamship lines.
Recap and Summary
The Storied Voyages of the SS Rotterdam (1904–1937)
The SS Rotterdam, flagship of the Holland-America Line, was more than just a transatlantic liner—it was an emblem of European-American cultural exchange, a conduit for diplomacy, science, and aristocracy, and a vessel that transported some of the most influential figures of the early 20th century.
From aristocrats and military leaders to scientists, artists, and business magnates, the passenger lists spanning 1904 to 1937 offer a remarkable window into a bygone era of grand travel. These carefully curated records, preserved in the GG Archives, provide an unparalleled insight into the social, cultural, and political dynamics of the time.
Most Fascinating Passenger Lists & Their Significance
1. 1904-02-02 | Cabin Class | The Aristocrats’ Crossing | New York to Rotterdam
- Why It Stands Out: One of the earliest documented voyages, this high-society crossing carried European nobility, esteemed scholars, and political figures.
- Notable Travelers:
- Count L. C. van Limburg-Stirum – Dutch nobility and a later Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.
- Rev. Géza Kacziàny, Ph.D. – A Hungarian intellectual, likely traveling for diplomatic or academic purposes.
- Mr. W. F. van Heemskerck Düker, Jr. – A prominent Dutch businessman, emphasizing Rotterdam’s role in European commerce.
2. 1908-07-25 | First & Second Cabin | The Socialites’ Voyage | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: A mix of American wealth, European scholars, and entertainment figures, this voyage highlights how the Rotterdam was a nexus for transatlantic cultural exchange.
- Notable Travelers:
- Mrs. Hastings Arnold & Mrs. Fred. Pabst – Prominent American socialites, signifying the ship’s appeal to the elite.
- Miss Elsie Janis – A rising Broadway and film star, suggesting entertainers favored the Rotterdam for travel to Europe.
- Spencer Kellogg Jr. – Heir to the Kellogg fortune, demonstrating the ship’s connection to industrial tycoons.
3. 1910-08-27 | First & Second Cabin | The Political and Military Voyage | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage included distinguished politicians, military generals, and diplomatic elites, making it one of the most strategically significant crossings.
- Notable Travelers:
- Hon. George Birkhoff Jr. – A prominent American legal mind, involved in international law and diplomacy.
- General Stewart L. Woodford – U.S. Minister to Spain, playing a crucial role in pre-WWI international relations.
- Prof. Phillip Vollmer – A leading German-American academic, emphasizing the intellectual weight of the voyage.
4. 1920-10-19 | Cabin Class | The Intellectual Voyage | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This list includes some of the most distinguished scholars and cultural figures of the era, making it one of the most academically prestigious voyages.
- Notable Travelers:
- Dr. Rabindranath Tagore – Nobel Prize-winning poet, philosopher, and artist, one of the most influential literary figures of the 20th century.
- Prof. Kuno Francke – A renowned German-American historian, involved in educational reforms.
- Sydney C. Cockerell – A prominent museum director and book historian, signifying the ship’s role in cultural preservation.
5. 1921-07-12 | Cabin Class | The Diplomats' Voyage | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This list includes diplomatic elites, barons, and European aristocrats, reflecting the ship’s high status in international affairs.
- Notable Travelers:
- His Excellency J. H. van Royen – A Dutch statesman, crucial in post-WWI European diplomacy.
- Count L. Mercati – Italian nobility, demonstrating the ship’s appeal to European aristocracy.
- Mr. E. St. John Greble Jr. – A prominent American businessman, reinforcing the commercial ties between the U.S. and Europe.
6. 1926-07-20 | First & Second Cabin | The Political and Scientific Delegation | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage carried a mix of political leaders, scientists, and religious figures, illustrating the Rotterdam’s role in facilitating international discourse.
- Notable Travelers:
- Hon. F. Posthuma – A Dutch Minister of Agriculture, indicating the voyage’s governmental significance.
- Prof. F. A. F. C. Went – A leading biologist, likely traveling for scientific conferences or research collaboration.
- Rt. Rev. J. H. Tihen, D.D. – A Catholic Bishop, highlighting the ship’s importance to religious figures.
7. 1929-06-15 | Student Third Cabin | The Academic and Artistic Exchange | New York to Rotterdam
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage was specifically organized for students and academics, showcasing the Rotterdam’s role in transatlantic education and artistic collaboration.
- Notable Travelers:
- Mr. Leonard G. Rice & Professor Robert H. Anacher – Scholars in political science and international relations.
- Dr. Emilie Cailliet – A noted French philosopher and theologian.
- Columbia University Orchestra – Suggesting cultural exchange through music and performance.
8. 1931-10-09 | First Class | The Philosophers' and Thinkers’ Voyage | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage brought together philosophers, theologians, and influential legal minds, making it one of the most intellectually stimulating crossings.
- Notable Travelers:
- Dr. Lewis H. Adler, Jr. – A legal scholar and historian.
- Col. Daniel Moore Bates – An influential political strategist.
- Mr. J. Krishnamurti – A world-renowned Indian philosopher, marking this voyage as one of deep intellectual significance.
9. 1937-08-11 | Cabin & Tourist Class | The Political and Cultural Exchange | Rotterdam to New York
- Why It Stands Out: This voyage, coming on the eve of WWII, featured a mix of politicians, professors, and military officials, reflecting the tense geopolitical climate of the time.
- Notable Travelers:
- Senator Frank H. Benson – A key U.S. political figure, involved in international negotiations.
- Prof. David Bryn-Jones – A historian specializing in European politics.
- Major T. J. Oakley Rhinelander – A military official, likely involved in pre-war intelligence discussions.
Conclusion
The SS Rotterdam was more than just an ocean liner—it was a vessel of diplomacy, intellectual exchange, and cultural connectivity. Whether carrying European nobility, political leaders, scientists, artists, or Hollywood elites, the Rotterdam bridged continents and ideas, leaving an indelible mark on early 20th-century transatlantic travel.
Through these preserved passenger lists, we gain a deeper understanding of an era defined by discovery, diplomacy, and the pursuit of knowledge—one voyage at a time.
