A daily dose of Rotterdam since august 2019
I had dinner at the Bazar, a restaurant that is established since December 1997 in a monumental building at Witte de Withstraat in the center of Rotterdam. Most of the dishes on the menu are from the Middle East and North Africa. There’s also a small hotel. We had a very pleasant evening and I almost forgot to take another photo for you! Enjoy the weekend!
This morning the sun was rising and illuminated the other bank of the river Maas, the south of Rotterdam with the three towers of the building Rotterdam at the left. I stood on the Willemsplein while taking this picture and I’m happy with it!
First of the month again and themeday again! Theme is “brown” so the last days I was scanning for a photo op with a brownish je ne sais quoi… And the photo op occurred when I traveled by train to another beautiful town here in the Netherlands – Maastricht… Our brown travelbags on the brown bench in the great hall of Rotterdam Centraal, the mainhub for trains to all directions of the Netherlands! I was on my way to horizons and the picture to the world by means of my blog!
Taken near my house I liked the colors of the trees and the light of october. Last days and the coming days much rain so for me much photo opportunities!
Apparently about 150 years ago we started eating baked potatoes or fries! And every dutch civilian eat 18 kilos of fries (in dutch you say “patat”) a year! Here in Rotterdam where there is a market there is a chip truck, easily recognizable by the blue checkered appearance. And here’s one of the several lists of where to find the best fries but you have to check that yourself! Took this picture at today’s market at the Binnenrotte and no I didn’t buy fries (this time)…
Maintenance of a building can be boring and when working with a lift that is on the sidewalk with a wooden fence around it for safety you can just as easy “lift” the fence to a work of art! I saw this near the subway this morning on my way to work. Its not a piece of art Sotheby will put on auction but makes life cheerful!
At home we have a dog but not as old and locally famous as this dog “Fikkie”. In 1963 “Fikkie” was donated to the city of Rotterdam by the Rotterdamsche Studenten Corps. After wandering through the city for a few years and even was stolen he finally found his permanent place (in 1992) at the Oude Binnenweg. Adopted in 1999 by the socalled XVIIe Lustrumcommissie Fikkie is assured of good and permanent care! And with this positive item I wish you a good weekend!
Tonight I passed this shop, full of cigars! Inside there’s a lounge where a few gentlemen smoked a cigar together with some small talk. I liked the smell and yes I know that it is not fashionable these days to smoke but…
When I saw this on the Erasmus bridge I had to photograph it for this blog. Starting this blog and hoping to reach people over the world as they do with their blog is the goal, so this message is for you!
And its the first of the month, themeday for CDP! And the october theme is orange. And while walking the dog nearby our house I spotted this delivery boy of “Thuisbezorgd” the local delivery service for food delivery ordered online with one of the many participating restaurants. And is it orange or not! 😉
In Rotterdam we use for a great number of houses district heating or “stadsverwarming”. The houses get their warm water and heating from different sources, for instance via power plants (water that was used for cooling the plants), warmth produced through waste incineration and industry. Nowadays district heating is gaining popularity due to climate changes and less use of fossil fuels. This cover is one of the many used for maintenance of the network.
There are about 80 pharmacies in Rotterdam and this one is where I got my medicines. In 2016 a Rotterdam pharmacy was chosen out of 950 pharmacies to be the best of the Netherlands. Located in the Afrikaanderwijk and a real city pharmacy. The team speaks 12 languages, has short waiting times and takes the patient serious with time to advice.
Everytime I pass this restaurant Due Tonino, located at the Goudsesingel, I think to myself “I have to go there and taste the Italian life”. To this day its has not happened but this evening I took this picture to keep the flame of desire alive. And you can be sure that I’ll you know when I’ve been there!
Remember this picture? Today I was in front of the top! Not in a helicopter but in front of a model that is in the hall of the church entrance 🙂 Next time I climb the stairs of the tower of the Grote of Sint-Laurens church to show you the view of Rotterdam!
Today started with rain, around noon it was still raining and when I was almost ready with work it started pouring with rain! I took this photo at Blaak station. An hub where train meets metro, metro meets the tram and vice versa 🙂 I like the mood/colors. And can you spot a rather famous architecture design? Yes, you see a glimpse of the kubus (cube) appartments in which no wall is straight!
Today I met a friend at the Westerpaviljoen, corner Mathenesserlaan and Nieuwe Binnenweg, and while waiting I shot this rather Parisian photo. And so there is proof that Rotterdam really counts internationally 🙂
Walking home from work it started to rain. Autumn is really here! Up in the attic and looking through the window I saw this rainy evening view over the neighbourhood roofs with some of the city centre buildings. I like the mood of this picture and being home, dry, warm and knowing that tomorrow is a day off!
Today a picture I took at the same day as this one. You can see this now in more cities beside Paris. This is the Rijnhavenbrug between Kop van Zuid and Katendrecht. And why the title of this post “Locked inside”? Because I’m sick at home and can’t get out for a fresh picture…
Its a sunday so a little peace and quiet is almost obligated! Almost every day is being built here in the city, homes, shops, offices etc. but today with maybe the last real warm day for the autumn gets started everyone enjoys the peace and quiet of the weekend!
Feel like a pro cycler when taking the route from the prologue Tour de France 2010! In juli 2010 de Tour started in Rotterdam and three weeks later (where else 🙂 ended in Paris! On the cycle paths along the old prologue route are still the logos visible to remind us of these sporting days. This one can be found near Metro station Rijnhaven. Its a sunny day here in Rotterdam so enjoy just like me this saturday!
The harbour was and is always in the middle of the city. Ships passing by, bridges open and close and a lot of people live and work along the river quays. And every thursday cruiseships park for some of the skyscrapers so when you get up in the morning and open the curtains a few of the decks are right in front of your window! I photographed this cruiseship between the buildings at the Kop van Zuid. A area worth the visit!
Today a photographed this sunset just around the corner where I live. The old railroad track with the renovated spaces, the trees and all in a somewhat autumn mood. I played with the settings of my camera and I like the results very much!
Walking home this evening I walked past this mural De lijst (the frame), named after the restaurant De lijst and made by artist Cor Kraat in 1980. It was placed nearby on a other building above restaurant De lijst, demolition of the restaurant meant it had to move in 1988 to another building and again it had to move in 2002 to the current location at the Oostzeedijk Beneden. Restored in 2019 in all his glory. I like the frames inside the frame…
This sticker was put on the pole of a traffic light. Its a poem of a sort. I try to translate it to English:
Missed
I miss him. I miss him. I miss him.
I miss him. I miss him. I miss him.
Now I have to wait fifteen minutes for the next one.
As a employee of the public transport in Rotterdam I like the humor of it. Written by Doris Schakenbos who writes many of them, you find more here>>
Picture of the poem taken by Sarah Richter and kindly send to me!
Its a monday and a grey sky. For this days motivation I chose this picture. I came across this mural during a evening walk a few days ago. Its on the wall of a former railroad track. It says “Thuisvoelen” or translated “Feel at home”. Thats how I feel about living here in Rotterdam, feeling at home!
Its sunday and I found it appropriate to show the Grote of Sint-Laurens church. She’s the only survivor of the cities middle ages centre. Building started in 1449 with the tower and in about 1500 the church was completed. During WWII the church was heavily damaged but rebuild and in 1968 again completed. Visit the church and climb the tower for a nice view of the surrounding city! Nice weather today so enjoy a quiet sunday just like I do!
Yesterday evening we walked along the old railroad line Rotterdam – Den Haag en passed a old shop being renovated. The sunsets beautiful light through the shopwindows did show a shadow of the shops name; City of Rotterdam! How a coincidence was that! Nothing special about this picture but I like it! Have a great saturday!
A couple of days ago I passed the rear (Rodezand) of the old Main Postoffice located at the Coolsingel. This was an entrance to the innercourt for the lorries with the mail and packages etc. Build between 1915 and 1923 in a classic style with some art deco elements. It survived the second world war but was closed in 2007 and out of use since but plans are to reuse it for appartments, a hotel and shops…
Today I was passing by these office buildings near Rotterdam Central station. I liked the sun on the faces of the buildings and how they reflect the light. This location has many sky scrapers with offices and appartments…
This morning at work I witness this beautiful sunrise over two of our cities most protruding landmarks and our river the Maas. First the Erasmusbrug, completed in 1996 and connecting north and south of Rotterdam. Second, the building Rotterdam (the three towers), completed in 2013 with offices, appartments and a hotel. And last but not least, the river Maas flowing from France to the North Sea.
Are you tired of walking trough Rotterdam? Then take a break while sitting on this garbage container chair! Last year the city ordered the use of old containers and uniforms for the making of these chairs. These chairs can be found at the Hofplein in the centre of the city.
P.S. Here’s a picture of a real garbage container for comparison
Yes its true! This McDonalds, located at the Coolsingel, won in 2016 a German Design Award given by the German Design Council. Apparently one of the most prestigious awards. I don’t know if the guests who visit this restaurant 24/7 do like the beauty or favorite the Big Mac…
I made this photo a while ago but it is a good one for a sunday, a quiet green spot in the centre of the city between the railroad tracks, busy streets and high buildings, the corner Couwenburg – Pompenburg. People grown their own vegetables in a edge of this small park. But plans are to build here and in a few years buildings will replace this green spot with concrete and cars…
When walking home today from the bookstore (bought a new dayplanner) it was raining and an autumn mood coloring the city. But these two people took care of a rainbow of colors and lighten the day! Happy saturday and enjoy this weekend!
Did you know that Rotterdam grabs number 7 of the 100 best cities in the world to ride a bicycle and about 12.000 people a day cycle over one of the city’s famous bridges, the Erasmus bridge? I use a bike often to travel quick and easy through the city. Rotterdam has plenty of cycle paths and is part of the cycle junction network. In the city are several free bicycle parking areas where you can also charge your electric bike. I took this picture at one of many bike rental company’s in the city…
I liked the look of this restaurant or actually two restaurants because one is where you can eat the Hot dishes and the other one the (every) Day dishes. I’ve not tried it myself yet but by the looks of it I think it will be tasty!
I took this colourful picture at the Coolsingel in the centre of our city. Its a shop window of the Bijenkorf, a big department store. 22-29 September 2019 is Rotterdam host to Rotterdam Pride, House of Colours. There’s plenty to see and attend. The 28th of september the streets of Rotterdam will light up with al the colours of the Rainbow with the Pride Walk. Many (Pride) shop windows will show their colours and many more events. More info here >>
About 300 of these stones – Stolpersteine or stumble stones, a project of the German artist Gunter Demnig – are placed in the pavement in front of the houses where the Jewish victims used to live in Rotterdam. Most of these victims were deported to camps as Auschwitz, Sobibor, Bergen-Belsen or Mauthausen. I photographed these stones in the pavement of the Goudsesingel, not far from where I live.
P.S. About 61.000 of these stones spread over 22 countries are placed. All bear the names of Jewish victims. Here you can find a list of the stones in Rotterdam >>
Between 1973 and 1976 this building was build. Architect Piet Zanstra designed it for the Shell Pensioenfonds whom rented it to the Shell Cooperation. 95 Meters high, 26 floors and a parking for 306 cars. After completion in 1976 criticism was fierce and the council decided a stop for building this kind of high buildings. Not for long though and Rotterdam is now renown for the (high) architecture, nickname ‘Manhattan aan de Maas’ (Manhattan along the river Maas).
Today is themeday for the City Daily Photo community and the theme of september is red. Red for dangerous driving! This car seems to crash trough the wall of this parking garage, so fit for theme day! But nothing serious though, its a ‘popart’ thing hanging on since 1987. Made by artgroup Kunst & Vaarwerk 1979-1992.