A nice walk in the morning and I passed the zoo. No one there, the entrances closed, who is actually locked up?
Confinement, the zoo, who is locked up now?
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?
April 1st, 2020, theme day “School”
Themeday again! This month the theme chosen was “School”! The picture I took is of my old school, the Grafisch Lyceum Rotterdam located at the Heer Bokelweg, in my days De Grafische School. I’ve learned to operate a printing press, graphic design, newspaper layout and assemble and many more things. This was in the late 70s. Today the school is more about visuel design as video and photo productions, web media, software developer (apps) etc. I know, I’m getting old…
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?
The bird has flown
March 4, 2018, snow! And bird tracks everywhere!
Its a wrap!
Because of Corona and continuous duty at work I couldn’t and can’t easily take a daily photo, hence the occasional “golden old man” …
March 28, 2007, Its the year of the architecture in Rotterdam. Chosen buildings are wrapped in purple to let them jump out in the surroundings and as a festive wrapping! Location, the Overblaak, the Kubus appartments!
Location throwback
Waiting for a traffic light on March 8, 2007 I saw this beautiful light, much changed at this location, Wilhelminaplein towards the Erasmus Bridge …
Blue evening
Just a nice evening sky, taken through the windshield of the tram … not the best picture ever but still quite successful! Hofplein with the Weena, center of Rotterdam!
No queue
Due to social distance measures, no no long queue at the stops.
Silent hospital
A early evening, a silent hospital. Erasmus MC hospital. Strange days…
ZOHO, urban landscape
I promised to show the urban landscape in that neighborhood and here it is. This part of the neighborhood doubles as a rainreservoir, it collect rainwater.
The tech behind the ZOHO logo:
The ZOHO Rain Letters placed in the garden contribute to the solution for flooding. The ZOHO Rain Letters, designed and developed by Studio Bas Sala, are rainwater buffer and area icon in one. The rainwater is directed to the ZOHO Regenletters (rain letters) and therefore does not enter the sewer. A built-in ‘smart’ solar-powered system monitors the weather forecast via the internet. When a heavy shower approaches, the system releases the water and creates buffer space for the coming rain shower. During long periods of drought, the water is retained properly to provide the surrounding greenery with water. Smart!!
Source: Hofbogen.nl
ZOHO, Urban development; slow urbanism
Near where I live you can find this building and area;
“ZOHO is a living and working area on the edge of the center, a 5-minute walk from Central Station. For and by makers in design, art, culture, media, tech, food, architecture and urban planning. All pioneers who want to use their craftsmanship to strengthen themselves, ZOHO and the city in an innovative way. Sandwiched between Heer Bokelweg, Hofbogen, Teilingerstraat and Noordsingel, also known as the Zomerhofkwartier, this former industrial area was struggling with vacant space. In 2013, it was decided that the area will be developed for 10 years through a gradual form of urban development; slow urbanism.”
I do like it, in a next post I will show the urban landscape in that neighborhood!
Everything in Rotterdam
My (photographers) eye immediately fell on this shop window, it says “Van alles in Rotterdam” is translated “Everything in Rotterdam”. And I dare to say (with pride), that’s right! 🙂
Black and white throwback, sunny tracks
Taken in March 2018. View from the drivers seat of the tram, line number 7, at Willemsplein.