The Peter the Great Statue in Rotterdam was a gift from the Russian government in 1997 to mark the 300th anniversary of his visit to Rotterdam. It depicts the Tsar in simple clothes, reflecting his habit of traveling "incognito" as a common carpenter named Peter Mikhailov. During his visit in October 1697, he spent time observing the bustling maritime activity of the Rotterdam port, which at the time was already a critical hub for the Dutch Republic.