A daily dose of Rotterdam since august 2019
Sundays walk are the best! No hurry, nice weather and everybody seems to be more friendly. So I did a nice stroll through the city to the river and walking onto the Willemsplein I noted the museum streetcars or trams. These trams, line number 15, make a tour through the center of Rotterdam with of course an explanation of all the interesting things to see along the way. Nice cars, nice people, recommended!
More info here: https://www.stichtingromeo.nl/en/
A few days back I visited the Trompenburg Arboretum gardens near the citycenter of Rotterdam. I took many pictures, some color, but most of them in black and white. Difficult to choose, but this one shows the ambiance, a quiet corner with a make shift seat and nature taking the ground. Maybe tomorrow another one of the visit here but in color! And when you’re in Rotterdam I recommend a visit!
More info: https://trompenburg.nl/plan-your-visit/
Fancy a walk on a Sunday? Many people visit the Lijnbaan! The Lijnbaan was the first shopping promenade in the Netherlands, and the first car-free shopping promenade in the world! Named after the rope-making factory that was located here between 1667 and 1845. Construction started in 1949. A special pedestrian zone in the middle of the city was a novelty and attracted a lot of international attention at the time of the opening on October 9, 1953. There are many shops of large and well-known brands, as well as small businesses with their own specialties. The Lijnbaan is one of the architectural icons of the reconstruction. The shops of the Lijnbaan are included on the list of national monuments. Worth a visit!
Source details: Wikipedia
Taken on a stroll and visit to the Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photomuseum). Wilhelminakade.
Today, after a short drive, I planned a lunch stop in the Kralingse Bos. A park with a number of windmills. Mill De Lelie is the smallest and the oldest mill. This dates from 1777. Mill De Ster is first mentioned in 1830. The Star burned down in 1865 and 1962 and was completely rebuilt both times. The mills used to grind spices and tobacco. You can find these windmills at the Plaszoom. Worth a visit!
P.S. I tried to take a not too touristy photo!
Back in 2011 I visited the S.S. Rotterdam, see this picture also. On the bridge these phones took care of the important communication to the rest of the ship! Only local, not long distance…
A few years ago I visit the former flagship of the Holland America Line, 228 meters long, 28 meters wide, 51 meters high, the ss Rotterdam. Commissioned in 1958 by Queen Juliana she had her maiden trip in 1959. Here is a Youtube link with some footage of this maiden voyage at 3 september 1959. Worth a visit!
This tuesday I went on a quick trip to India, Africa, Antartica, Asia and many more places! Just a short walk from my home… the Blijdorp Zoo! And one of the most beautiful animals we saw was this tiger! I was glad that there was a thick glass wall between us! When you’re in Rotterdam then the Blijdorp zoo is more than worth a visit! You can find the zoo at the Blijdorplaan in Rotterdam, more info on their website >>
Photographed at the same day as the streetscape, the Hofbogen Park, build on the platforms of a former railway station, the Hofplein Line. Designed as a public park: the Hofbogen Park. It is open to everyone daily from 10 a.m. to sunset. A unique place to picnic or walk with a magnificent urban view. In collaboration with the DakAkker, an orchard with 150 fruit and nut trees is also managed which is called “the Dakgaard“. The fruit trees are framed by heme vegetation. Part of the Hofbogen Park consists of an event area. Worth a visit!
P.S. Some more picts of the Hofbogen Park, entrance/exit, the former platform.
Dark, cold but I took this picture just for you! A tiger on the square in front of the station! Why? Because the whole of Rotterdam is devoted to film for twelve days during the largest film festival of the year. There are 500 films to choose from, but also all kinds of parties, talks, Q & As, exhibitions and concerts, something for everyone. When? From Wed Jan 22 2020 – Sun 2 Feb. 2020. More info: iffr.com
This morning again was one of those mornings with beautifull light! And walking throug the Maritime District in the centre of the city, passing the Oude Haven I stopped to shoot this picture at the old port Wijnhaven (translated Wine Port :-). The Wijnhaven was dug in 1613 as part of the construction of the Waterstad, the part of Rotterdam between Schielands Hoge Zeedijk and the Nieuwe Maas. I like the light and the contrast of new modern buildings and the old port and sailing ships. Enjoy the saturday as I do and I hope to welcome you again at the Sunday blog post!
Here’s a view of the Euromast. At 185 meters, it is the highest tower in the Netherlands that is open to the public! The tower was built in 1960 by architect Huig Maaskant and contractor J.P. van Eesteren placed in Het Park, close to the entrance of the Maas tunnel. Visitors can use the Euroscoop, a lift that is glazed all around, from the Euroscoopdek at 112 meters height to the highest point at 180 meters, the Space Tower! The elevator revolves slowly so that visitors can look down on all sides. Worth a visit! Not the best picture I have made, the weather was to grey etc. but you get the picture 🙂
A few facts: Made of reinforced concrete it has a diameter of 9 meters and walls of 30 centimeters thick. The foundation consists of a block of 1,900,000 kg of concrete. The crow’s nest, made of steel, hangs 96 meters above the ground and weighs 240,000 kg. It was built at the bottom of the tower and then lifted up in five days.
Its themeday again and traditional january 1st the best picture of the previous year is shown. For 2019 is this my choice. It shows Museum Rotterdam, museum of the city! Not only do I have fond memories of visiting this museum but also the museum asked for permission to use the picture themselves! Shown on their instagram account did it make me proud of myself 🙂 Happy New Year everyone!
Check here all the other “year photos” throughout the world >>
Hotel New York. Not the city but the memories are there! A former head office of the Holland Amerika Line and in 1993 transformed to a four star hotel! Some say that the hotel is worth a travel to, forget the journey!
And finally a touristy picture, maybe you already recognized them, the Cube houses (in Dutch; Kubus woningen). Designed by architect Piet Blom and based on the concept of “living as an urban roof”. Build between 1982 – 1984. Blom tilted the cube of a conventional house 45 degrees, and rested it upon a hexagon-shaped pylon. Located on Overblaak Street, right above the Blaak metro station. There are 38 small cubes and two so called ‘super-cubes’, all attached to each other. There is a “show cube” open for visitors so you can experience the feel of living in a cube. Worth a visit! Its friday and a have a few days off ahead, I wish you a great weekend too!
Every city should have a museum about the city, here in Rotterdam we have a museum about the city, the Museum Rotterdam! Its right in the center of the city with everything about the history of the city and they have temporary exhibitions such as “ALL ROTTERDAMMERS, Migrant workers through the lens of photographer Robert de Hartogh” etc. You can find the museum at the Meent, and their website here (in english).
This cow seems to be surprised by my camera and her picture taken! She belongs to the cheese shop in the background. Located just down the street at the Oude Binnenweg for over 25 years they moved to this location that had a rebirth after a thorough renovation. If you ever visit Rotterdam, the Oude Binnenweg is more than worth a visit!
P.S. Its a film photograph again, technical notes: camera: Praktica CX-1. Film: Kodak Portra 400, developed and scanned by the local lab.