A daily dose of Rotterdam since august 2019
Finally a update of the blog! During the morningwalk I came across this. A wall poem located in the neighbourhood Oude Noorden…
How we hang on to the pasts that only exist in dreams
How we can be craving for a time to come
Today was yesterday tomorrow
Tomorrow is yesterday today
What we know
Is called the present
All the rest
Is a question that remains
It took a while but it seems that I can pick up my evening strolls! An short walk took me passing the Markthal with the neon tiger, the symbol of the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Don’t be afraid, just watch!
Just walking for a photo, just passing this mural, just clicking, just posting.
Near the brouwerij (brewery) Noord. This has not affected my photography…
On the corner of Coolsingel – Aert van Nesstraat, the luxury hotel Atlanta is located above the shops there. The hotel was built between 1929 and 1931 to a design by the Hague architect Frans van der Togt in the Art Deco style and officially opened its doors on May 2, 1931. When it was completed in 1931, the hotel contained a double-height café-restaurant. on the ground floor where the shops are now. During the bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940, Hotel Atlanta passed through almost unscathed. My grandfather lived in the streets behind the building before WWII. In the summer when the windows and doors were open because of the heat he could here the music of the orchestra in the restaurant/club. It has been a municipal monument since 1998.
Finally a new picture on the blog! One of the new streetlights on the Coolsingel. This mainstreet had a total makeover. A car lane has been removed and there is much more space for cyclists and pedestrians. In addition, these new street lamps have been installed. A bit 1930s style and of course energy efficient 🙂
A few days back. Looking up at the corner of the Meent – Coolsingel at the buildings and trafficlights etc. A sort of NY vibe. Its friday, its weekend, enjoy!
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/
And here as promised another picture from the citygarden Trompenburg Arboretum, now in color! This tree and the lighting around it did scream King Arthur, although for me… Maybe not the woods where he did his evening stroll but just as beautiful.
More info on the garden: https://trompenburg.nl/plan-your-visit/
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/
Cleaning up the drawers and a few boxes with camera’s resulted in a bunch of films, some almost completed, some just a few shots. Here one of the results from a Leica C1 filmcamera, taken in 2019 I think… I have to develope and scan some B&W film’s, soon to follow!
Image taken at the Binnenrotte, near the Markthal.
This one I took a while ago in april, so a somewhat old pic from a somewhat modern building. This building dates from the seventies, had a makeover but still looks a bit faded. But I liked the “Rotterdam building”. Its in black and white, thats my mood the last few months…
I passed this travel agency so many times in the last decades and now I stopped and took this picture. Its closed now, due to the restrictions on travel because of Covid but it looks anyway if time stood still for this spot!
If you want to travel and buy your tickets here, you will find this travel agency at the Kruiskade.
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
And now again a photo in color, this shop in beautiful red! Black Widow was the clothing store for many young people for 39 years. A place for fans of gothic, punk, metal, wave and other underground genres. The store was located on the Nieuwe Binnenweg. Now they are closed to the chagrin of former employees and customers. The owner states that it has nothing to do with the corona crisis; “Sometimes you suddenly have to do other things.”
Pictures of former employees of the past years now hang on the doors.
Not so long ago I captured this image during a photowalk. That springtime feeling, sun, blossom, light! In black and white, vintage photography look, I like it!
Corona time. Shops closed. But walking is allowed. Unfortunately not somewhere to rest, then everyone could sit together with all the risks that entails! That is why these plants were placed on the benches of the Binnenwegplein, a kind of forbidden forest …
It has been a while since I posted a picture on the blog. January is a good time to get back on track! A few weeks ago during a walk I passed this classic, a Dutch manufacturer, world famous, the DAF! With its stepless automatic gearbox, just as fast forward as reverse! And now yourself, cool appearance in this rally version … I spotted the DAF at the Hofdijk.
The last weeks we walked in the neighborhood again with the film camera and took some pictures. Here one from this series, more to come! Next to the former Hofplein train line, Agniesebuurt.
Recently I have seen the address numbers on many buildings very large on the door or on the wall, a new trend and quite fun! With this number nine I start the series of “house numbers” …
On my way to work over the Luchtsingel (Sky bridge). Autumn is in full swing and we are on our way to winter. Tomorrow, Sunday, it seems to be getting colder towards 4 degrees Celsius!
The metro entrance at Rotterdam Central around rush hour. Still not really busy … working from home is the norm for the coming period!
Just a simple picture of the trees in autumn cover and the already cold light of the setting sun. Autumn and winter are already moving towards each other! Tomorrow the start of a new week, the monday, stay safe and have fun!
Last night at the train station Rotterdam Central, a boost in terms of atmosphere with the thousands of lights in the windows that twinkled … Enjoy your Saturday!
A photo from the old entry gate Delftse Poort dates from a while back >>. There this lion stands / rests. Quote on the statue: “This lion, which flanked Rotterdam’s coat of arms on the north side of the Delftse Poort, has been lost for years and was found in Blaricum by members of the Nieuwskelder. after which it was located in the facade of building no. 65 A on the Coolsingel in Rotterdam for years. ” Now it has his place besides the model of the Delftse Poort.
It is now Friday, almost weekend, and the lion is sleeping this weekend … Have a great weekend everyone!
This mural is almost hidden in a narrow passage from the street to a courtyard. If you walk a little too fast or you look at your phone for too long, you have missed a nice piece of art! Location: Bredestraathof…
A late update but here its is! This afternoon I passed this cafe-restaurant on the Goudsesingel. It seemed full of guests but it turned out to be a still life that was only good for take away orders …
According to the sticker, men do not understand how to operate the button (for the green traffic light)! Is this only in Rotterdam or in more places in the world? Push this button at Couwenburg…
Saw this sticker on the way to the station. What do you think? Is it happening?
I photographed this storefront while traveling by tram. Located on Schiedamseweg, close to Delfshaven, you will still find an old facade of the De Gruyter retail chain here. Founded in 1818 (!) And overtaken by time and new trends in 1971. Other retail chains tried to save it but it was to late … Tomorrow is Monday again, a new week with new photo opportunities! Have fun!
Photographed at the south bank of Rotterdam near the Erasmus bridge. And previously you were shown the right way to the fun things in Rotterdam, but now there is also a sign for the right way to keep your health! Or is it a tourist trap?
Walking in the fall is walking through the fallen leaves! And to bad they missed the green bin!
On my way home a view on the station, evening blue sky and the blue buildings “Delftse Poort”. A view with the blues…
The Groothandels building located at Stationsplein, a major reconstruction project just after the second world war. But what really matters in this photo is brasserie Engels, at the bottom right of the photo. Opened in 1884 and at its current location since 1952. The name is still brightly shining but it silently closed during the first Corona lockdown so as not to open anymore …
Walking home, end of shift, looking at the fountain and roundabout Hofplein. I liked the light, so click!
Spotted this corner with a table for two just beside the train tracks. Maybe for a romantic diner to get your relationship back on track?
These books (Wie, wat, waar – Who, what, where) contain a whole lot of info about events, shops, people and companies in Rotterdam. So in one shot a whole lot of Rotterdam!
Looks like fall is coming.
Taken on a stroll and visit to the Nederlands Fotomuseum (Dutch Photomuseum). Wilhelminakade.
Waiting for the ferry to Rozenburg. Not directly the city of Rotterdam but added to the municipality of Rotterdam for a number of years, so technically Rotterdam after all …
The train literally stopped here. Now a beautiful green roof park and small event area, the old Hofplein station.