A waterway close to Rotterdam port, Europe's biggest, is partially blocked after a ship hit a bridge over the Nieuwe Maas river and lost six containers, police said.

"Shipping traffic is limited but can still pass via the south side of the river instead of both sides. They also have to go slower," a Rotterdam police spokeswoman said.

The partial blockage was between the Willems bridge, which was not damaged after the ship's collision, and the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam centre, east of the port's main operations.

The disruption did not affect access to the port from the sea to the west of Rotterdam. The port is a major transit point for commodities and manufactured goods. (Reuters)