Is Rotterdam bigger than Amsterdam? Population and area compared (2026)

Amsterdam is bigger than Rotterdam by population, while Rotterdam is bigger by municipal area. On 1 January 2026, Amsterdam had 941,927 residents compared with 673,804 in Rotterdam, a difference of 268,123 people.

Short answer: Amsterdam has more people. Rotterdam covers more territory. So whether Rotterdam is “bigger” than Amsterdam depends entirely on what you are measuring.

Amsterdam vs Rotterdam at a glance

*Official Dutch sources publish somewhat different total municipal surface figures depending on the geographic definition used. The totals in this comparison use the same source for both municipalities, so the comparison remains like for like. Rotterdam is larger under the alternative official figures too.

Which city has more people?

Amsterdam has more residents than Rotterdam. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) records 941,927 people living in Amsterdam on 1 January 2026 and 673,804 in Rotterdam.

That puts Amsterdam ahead by 268,123 residents. Amsterdam remains the largest municipality in the Netherlands by population, with Rotterdam in second place.

The figures refer specifically to people registered as residents of each municipality. They do not represent wider metropolitan regions, commuters or everyone who may be present in either city on a typical day.

Amsterdam's present municipal population also includes Weesp, which became part of Amsterdam in March 2022.

Which city covers more area?

Rotterdam is larger geographically. Using the comparable municipal surface figures published by the Waarderingskamer, Amsterdam covers about 243.7 km² while Rotterdam covers about 324.1 km².

That makes Rotterdam roughly 80 km² larger by total municipal surface.

The difference in land alone is smaller. Amsterdam has roughly 188 km² of land, while Rotterdam has around 218 km². The rest of the municipal surface consists of water.

This matters especially in Rotterdam, where the municipality stretches far west from the central city and includes extensive river, harbour and coastal territory as well as places such as Rozenburg and Hoek van Holland.

Why do some area figures differ?

You may come across different numbers when checking the size of Amsterdam or Rotterdam. That does not necessarily mean one source is simply wrong.

Dutch public datasets use different geographic surface definitions. Some totals include more municipality-assigned water than others. For example, the Waarderingskamer currently reports 243.65 km² for Amsterdam and 324.14 km² for Rotterdam, while the government directory Overheid.nl gives smaller surface figures for both municipalities.

The important point for this comparison is that we use the same definition for both cities. Under either official set of figures, Rotterdam covers more municipal territory than Amsterdam.

Amsterdam is much more densely populated

Physical size does not tell you how crowded a municipality is.

CBS defines population density as the number of residents on 1 January divided by the municipality's land area. Its 2025 comparison puts Amsterdam at 4,968 residents per square kilometre of land, compared with 3,081 in Rotterdam.

So Amsterdam fits substantially more residents into a smaller land area, while Rotterdam spreads a smaller population across a larger municipality.

The density figures here are labelled 2025 deliberately. The population figures at the top of this article are the definitive figures for 1 January 2026, while the cited CBS density comparison belongs to the 2025 statistical period.

Why is Rotterdam so large?

Rotterdam's municipal size is closely connected with the development of its port. The boundary stretches from the central city westwards through a vast harbour and industrial landscape towards the North Sea.

The municipality includes docks, waterways and industrial areas as well as geographically separate or more distant places such as Rozenburg and Hoek van Holland.

That helps explain why Rotterdam can cover considerably more territory than Amsterdam while still having far fewer residents.

The shape of the built-up city also contributes to how the difference feels on the ground. Rotterdam's post-war reconstruction created broader roads and a more open modern centre, while Amsterdam's historic canal districts concentrate more people and buildings into a smaller space.

What about metropolitan areas?

Comparing metropolitan populations is more complicated because there is no single universally used boundary for an “Amsterdam metropolitan area” or “Rotterdam metropolitan area”.

Statistics may refer to urban regions, commuting areas, transport authorities or administrative partnerships. In Rotterdam's case, regional figures frequently combine Rotterdam with The Hague and surrounding municipalities, which makes them unsuitable for a simple city-to-city comparison with Amsterdam.

Municipal population and municipal surface therefore give the clearest like-for-like answer.

So, which city is bigger?

Amsterdam is bigger by population. Rotterdam is bigger by area.

Amsterdam had 941,927 residents on 1 January 2026, compared with 673,804 in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam, meanwhile, covers substantially more municipal territory. Using a consistent total-area measure, it covers about 324 km² compared with roughly 244 km² for Amsterdam.

And if density is what you mean by “bigger”, Amsterdam is considerably more tightly packed. The answer really does depend on the ruler you choose.