In 1997, in honor of the 300th anniversary of the Great Embassy, a monument to Peter I was unveiled on the banks of the Maas River in Rotterdam. The Russian tsar visited this city twice and was a great admirer of Holland. The bronze statue of the first Russian emperor was created by Leonid Baranov. The monument was a gift from Russia to Holland.

Peter the First had business relations with this European country. Holland became a source of knowledge and skills in maritime affairs for him, which he brought back to his homeland. Therefore, the monument to the tsar in the Dutch city seems quite appropriate. Interestingly, the idea to install the monument in Rotterdam did not come from the Dutch, but from representatives of the Russian elite. The light and swift Peter the First in the sculpture resembles the famous work of Shemyakin in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. Although this raises some debates, the artistic merit of the sculpture is beyond doubt. The bronze Peter looks calmly and joyfully at Rotterdam, clearly feeling at home here.

Many tourists from Russia, looking at the bronze image of the tsar, notice its resemblance to the monument in the Peter and Paul Fortress in St. Petersburg. Some even reproach the sculptor for borrowing the idea. Nevertheless, the monument to Peter I in Rotterdam has become one of the favorite photo spots for Russian guests.