Rotterdam. Make It Happen

In 2018, a monumental color photograph by maritime photographer Danny Cornelissen adorned the façade of the Cruise Terminal on Rotterdam’s Wilhelminapier. The image captures a massive container ship heading straight toward the lens, conveying not only the power and scale of global shipping but also the tension of the moment when vessel and city draw near.

This photograph was part of the Rotterdam. Make It Happen campaign and symbolizes the city’s inseparable connection to its port. The Cruise Terminal — once a hub for cargo handling and now a gateway for international cruises — becomes, through this work, a tribute to Rotterdam’s enduring maritime identity.

The photograph — crisp, dynamic, and monumental — captures the very essence of Rotterdam as a global port city. Commissioned by the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, and Rotterdam Partners, Mothership developed the concept, oversaw execution and project management, and acted as curator of the entire project.