Rotterdam’s Giant Challenge: Drydock Launch in 1923 in Color!

This gripping colorized footage unveils a monumental maritime feat in Rotterdam’s harbor in 1923—nearly a century ago—capturing the launch of an 8,000-ton drydock and the Herculean effort to maneuver it under the River Maas bridges. Watch as a dozen steam tugs, their funnels collapsing to clear the bridge, wrestle with the colossal structure, sending smoke and steam billowing over spectators crowding the bridge, momentarily engulfed in the smoky spectacle. A testament to early 20th-century engineering and Dutch port prowess, this restored film grips history buffs, maritime enthusiasts, and industrial fans, offering a dazzling glimpse of Rotterdam’s industrial might in vibrant color.