Rotterdam Daily Photo

Not far from his home

I took this photo not far from where he was born, reading his book, executed in bronze, Erasmus. The oldest statue in the Netherlands was on the Grotemarkt before 1940. Unscathed from the bombing and hidden until May 1945, its then was placed on the Coolsingel. When the metro was built in 1963, it was relocated to the Grotekerkplein. The Erasmus statue is in a straight line to his birth house.

Notes:

1. In Brooklyn on the square of the Erasmus Hall High School is a life-size copy of this statue by Simon Miedema.
2. “For a few centuries it is actually the only public statue in the Netherlands that has not belonged to a warrior, prince or statesman, nor to a poet, but to a scholar, one who still had quite neglected that homeland.” Quote by Johan Huizinga, Dutch Historian

May 1st, 2020, theme day “Shopping”

I admit it, I completely forgot that it was a theme day … So here is a “shopping photo” from the archive … A closed barber shop. Appropriately I think “Who’s next”!

P.S. I shot this picture in 2007, location Hillesluis.

Throwback thursday, a cruiseship named Rotterdam

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!

Rotterdam by bicycle in one photo

When you walk through the Delftsestraat you will certainly come across this artwork! There are conveniently placed supports so you can sit on the bike and then take a nice photo of a speed bike ride in Rotterdam!

The end of the line

I was on my way to an appointment by bicycle and in the pouring rain when I passed this building located at the Rosestraat. This is the entrance to the former station of the RTM Steam tram services. The starting point at the Rosestraat near the Rotterdam Maas bridges on South Rotterdam, now called Kop van Zuid. The head office of the RTM was also located at Rosestraat. The RTM ran on the following lines: IJsselmonde, Hoeksche Waard, Voorne-Putten, Goeree-Overflakkee, Schouwen-Duiveland and Sint Philipsland… From 1905 the RTM operated the lines to the South Holland Islands and Zeeland. The last tram ran on February 14, 1966.

Now and before

Not so long ago I took this picture, lights, people and fun. Now this same square is empty. Its spring and the sun is there. Maybe in the near future there will be lights, people and fun again!

A walk in the sun, everything seems to be in shipshape

A nice walk brought us back to the Oude Haven with its slipway for historic ships.

A monument where this humanist was born

When you come to visit Rotterdam you will often come across the name Erasmus. He was a Dutch priest, Augustinian canon, theologian, philosopher, writer and humanist. Born in Rotterdam around 1466 and known for books such as “Lof der Zotheid (Praise of Folly)” and the bilingual edition of the New Testament and his edition of the letters of the church father Hiëronymus. Two motives determine Erasmus’s philosophy: freedom of people and peace. In Rotterdam you can find schools, a hospital and streets named after him. The picture you see here is of a monument on the spot of where the birthplace of Erasmus was. Near the Laurenskerk in the centre of Rotterdam.

Public transport is still running remotely for any distance …

The tram still runs, but really only for really necessary travel. On the door on the right you will see a sticker saying “keep 1.5 meters away!”. Spring has never been so beautiful and strange.

Confinement, Throwback Thursday

This thursday a picture from the past! Taken in August 2007, with a Blackberry phone. The city center and the biggest market of Rotterdam. Those were the times…

Confinement, the zoo, who is locked up now?

A nice walk in the morning and I passed the zoo. No one there, the entrances closed, who is actually locked up?

Confinement, the destroyed city

This statue is called “De Verwoeste Stad” (the destroyed city), an statue that Ossip Zadkine made in response to the bombing of Rotterdam. It was unveiled on May 15, 1953 and is located on Plein 1940, on the Leuvehaven, next to the Maritime Museum in Rotterdam. The statue is a national monument. Zadkine got the inspiration for this statue while traveling by train. When the train passed through Rotterdam he saw the destroyed and empty center of the city. The statue is made of bronze and represents a human figure without a heart, symbolizing the heart of Rotterdam that was lost during the bombardment in May 1940.

Confinement, this entrance to the town hall is behind bars

A stroll in the evening took me past the town hall. I liked the carved stone coat of arms and so you can enjoy it too! You can find this entrance at the Doelwater…

Confinement, the sunny stairs of the street

This day just a sunny picture of the stairs connecting the Schiedamsedijk to the Schiedamse Vest. You can just see the cranes at the quays of Leuvehaven.

Confinement, narrow street with heavenly view

A silent street, modern buildings, a just post-war office building at the right… And at the end of this narrow canyon like street, the middle ages with the big Laurenskerk. A heavenly view…

Confinement, a traditional Russian Orthodox church in Rotterdam

Is this also Rotterdam or a small village in Russia? This is the Kerk van de Heilige rechtgelovige grootvorst Alexander Nevski (Church of the Holy Believing Grand Duchess Alexander Nevsky). A Russian Orthodox church building at the Schiedamsesingel in Rotterdam. The church is the first traditional Russian Orthodox church in the Netherlands. The building seems to have been there for years with the authentic appearance but is not that old at all! On September 19, 2002, the first stake was driven into the ground and the church was inaugurated on June 20, 2004…

Confinement, a bridge between old and new

A sunny morning. A moment to reflect. A bridge between old and new, the Regentessebrug. Location; the Wijnhaven.

P.S. The bridge is also known as the Vierleeuwenbrug (four lions bridge). This is in response to the four seated lions carved from natural stone who “guard” the corners of the bridge.

Confinement, a monument to a sailor

Not many people on the street but I met this person, Karel Willem Frederik Marie Doorman. He was a Dutch rear admiral in WWII. The English name for his rank is Rear Admiral. Known to the Allies as Admiral Doorman. Doorman died during the Battle of the Java Sea aboard the light cruiser De Ruyter. To commemorate him the Dutch Royal Navy, named a ship after him, four times, in 1946, 1948, 1991 and 2015.

Note: K. Doorman, Utrecht, April 23, 1889 – Javazee, February 28, 1942.

Confinement, cinema landscape

I took this picture a few days ago while on a (photo)walk. This square houses a big cinema (the tall white building), a theatre and a few appartment buildings, its the Schouwburgplein. I liked the lines of the buildings and the red (moving) arm of a spotlight, one of three of these spotlights. For now, the square is empty just as the cinema and theatre…

Confinement, Monument to all fallen 1940-1945

I photographed this square before and from a different angle. These days its empty but now I could take a picture of this monument; It commemorates all Rotterdam men and women who gave their lives in World War II in the struggle for liberation of the Netherlands. The monument of Mari Andriessen was unveiled on May 4, 1957 by Princess Wilhelmina on the Stadhuisplein. The bronze artwork consists of four persons: a woman looking back, a child and a man looking at each other and a man with a spade looking forward. The figures symbolize the connection between past and future: the suffering from the past and confidence in the future.

May 4, it will be 75 years since the Netherlands was liberated. This year it is celebrated (too) quietly and commemorated due to circumstances. But we should never forget it …

Source details monument: Wikipedia

Confinement, all roads lead to Rotterdam

You can find this signpost on the Coolsingel. And as you can see, all roads lead to Rotterdam …

Confinement, springtime and Easter

A springtime picture, taken in the Kralingse Bos. Take care and enjoy as much as you can the Easter days (Paasdagen). Stay safe!

Confinement, the Groothandelsgebouw

Its was after the war, Rotterdam was bombed, many buildings gone and Rotterdam had to build themselves up from the ashes. This building, the Groothandelsgebouw (building for wholesale) was realised between 1947 – 1953. The building was officially opened on 3 June 1953 by Queen Juliana. At the opening, this was the largest building in Europe and the largest multi-company building in the Netherlands. In 2020, the Groot Handelsgebouw is home to more than 400 companies and 2 innovative office concepts (Retail and Cambridge Innovation Center).

Confinement, sunny safe harbour

Same day taken as the lighthouse, the Leuvehaven, the Maritime Museum quays. Just a nice picture…

Confinement, mirror walk

Walking to my work, I noticed this nice mirror picture. Of course I shot the picture, completely with you in mind… Location: Delftsestraat.

Confinement, the starting point to steer safely into Rotterdam

This lighthouse used to steer ships safely into the port of Rotterdam, but today it is the striking starting point for a visit to the Maritime Museum Harbor, right in the heart of the port city. The name of the lighthouse is: “Het Lage Licht” (The Low Light). Build as one of the first lighthouses of Hoek van Holland, the “low” light, was placed during the construction of the Nieuwe Waterweg (1866-1886). The Low Light goes out in 1967 and moves to the head of the Leuvehaven in Rotterdam about ten years later. In 1990 the lighthouse is moved to where it now stands, near the Maritime Museum.

Confinement: this used to be a slaughterhouse

A few days back I photographed this nice house. You would not think of this as part of a slaughterhouse! But until early 1981, this house was part of the Rotterdam Public Slaughterhouse on the Crooswijkse Boezemstraat. This slaughterhouse was opened on May 1, 1883. Nowadays there are blocks of houses on the site and the former offices have been converted into houses and a restaurant!

Small photowalk, a public school 2nd class

I took advantage of the nice weather to take a short walk around the neighborhood. And of course I kept to the rules, keep 1.5 meter distance! It was quiet on the street and I was able to photograph the public school 2nd class at my leisure. Located at the 3e Pijnackerstraat. The oldest neighbourhood library in the Netherlands was also located in the same building. I can’t find much info and I’am trying to add this in the future. Apparently the building will be converted in the near future into retail space with homes above it. The facade is then preserved.

Confinement, don’t judge a library by his cover

Maybe you remember this post about this library. I took this picture back in 2007, from another angle, can you understand the Centre Pompidou vibe?

Confinement, one from the past

I was unable to take a photo today. Therefore, one from the archive made in April 2010. Why a photo of a wall? This wall on Stieltjesstraat is part of Loods (shed) 24, located during WWII on Entrepotstraat. Loods 24 was used as a gathering place for the deportation of Jews during the Second World War by the German occupying forces and was located on a closed area of the Municipal Port Institutions in South Rotterdam.
Between July 30, 1942 and April 22, 1943, 6,536 people were deported via Loods 24. The vast majority of the Jews, who were transported through Loods 24, were murdered in Sobibór and Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Confinement, the lost tapes

I missed playing tapes in my car while driving through Rotterdam or the country. So I bought a new old stock radio cassette original to my car dating from 1997 and replace the radio CD player. What can I say, maybe I’m stuck in the past, maybe its the memories. But I’m planning to drive a lot when everything returns to normal. These are a few cassette tapes I still got at home, how big is your collection?

Confinement, shore leave withdrawn

While waiting for a traffic light we spotted this ship – or a shipbuilding – home of a fish shop. You don’t see this everyday while driving! Location: Spaanse polder.

Confinement, dark days

This photo was taken by the shop assistant of the flowershop who created this flower arrangement. Made for Theo, my father in law. Unfortunately, he no longer had the strength to overcome the latest crisis. Hero.

Confinement glimpse

Walking the dog in the early morning near home. Silent streets, loud birds, nice light, beautiful water that reflects the morning.

The flipside of three of the oldest houses in the city

I photographed the front of the houses a few weeks ago, now its time for the flipside…

Confinement flowers

This picture is taken at our home. Because of certain measures we got to stay home as much as possible. The flowers add some color to sometimes grey days.

Important post

This time I had to go to the post office to have two large bags of important mail sent away before 4.30 pm, I was on time but the postman happened to have left fifteen minutes earlier! Quickly to another post office and everything turned out fine! After walking back at ease and being able to photograph this beautiful picture, the Noordsingel at the height of the Zomerhof bridge …

Spot Batman

Somewhere in this image flies a lonely bat, can you spot him? Taken from the window of my house. Every evening around sunset a few small bats fly by looking for diner! Bats love Rotterdam! Its one of the largest bat reserves in the Netherlands! Why so much in the city and not in the forest? There are 22 species of bats and 10 of them live in Rotterdam. A big, stony city like Rotterdam makes it easy for bats to stay. There are also many in the parks in the city. Good for insect control! From March they fly off and on again!

Springtime!

While shopping I saw spring right in front of me! Click! Are you also a bit happy with this image?

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