January 2020 – Rotterdam Daily Photo

A friday vibe

This photo was posted by me but was not made by me! This beautiful photo was sent to me by my daughter, Sarah. It nicely reflects the Friday atmosphere, a nice calm day, the prelude to the weekend! Picture taken in the Kralingse Bos. The Kralingse Bos was designed in 1921 by the architect Marinus Jan Granpré Molière. The planting of oaks, specially grown in North Brabant, started in 1928. A large proportion of these trees are burned in the stove during the very cold winter of 1944/1945. The many debris from the center of the bombed city is dumped in the southern corner of the Plas. This creates a group of small islands, which are connected to a series of small bridges for walkers. The Kralingse Bos was finally officially opened in 1953.

Just a street in Rotterdam

Not much to say about this picture. I liked the view of the old houses with at the end the new buildings and the blue sky… Its the Jacobusstraat, a side street of the Oude Binnenweg, a nice old shopping street in the city center.

The Binnenweg already existed in 1454 and was the connection between Rotterdam and Schoonderloo and Delfshaven. The Oude Binnenweg between the Karel Doormanstraat and the Mauritsweg was hardly affected by the bombing of Rotterdam and is the only pre-war shopping street in the center of Rotterdam.

Here was the fire, May 1940

Its so long ago but here in Rotterdam we still remember the fires of the bombardment in may 1940. This is a table stone, a monument, with a map of the city center and the spots where the bombs of German airplanes hit the city and set it on fire. You can see the line/border to where the fire came, the “brandgrens”. In the streets you can find a lamp in the sidewalk with the symbol of a flame that indicates where the flames came … You can find this stone/monument at Pompenburg – Admiraal de Ruyterweg.

P.S. Here’s a detail of the stone (click here), difficult to photograph due to the mirror surface, but then you have at least an idea of what there is to see…

Evening traffic

I’m a bit quiet the last days and have to keep it up with images and some txt! Sorry for this but sometimes live has priority. But here’s a image of Rotterdam city center, Hofplein, with evening traffic caught through the lens from the “Luchtsingel” on my way home from work. I like the lights and colors, hope you do too!

A revisit of the warm handshake

Maybe you remember this photo? I often walk past this place and especially in the evening with the hanging lights and the benches around the trees it is a nice place to see and photograph! Its the shopping center De Groene Passage, at the corner of Goudsesingel / Mariniersweg. No repetition but just a nice place to see, so therefore again but differently 🙂

A football castle

Working late I had a stop just outside the stadium of the football club Sparta. Their stadium is nicknamed “Het Kasteel” (‘The Castle’)! you can see for yourself why that is the case 🙂 Founded in 1888, Sparta is the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands. Since 1916, the club has had its stadium in Rotterdam’s Spangen district.

No Crew Required?

The last few months photographing for the blog ensures that you look differently at your surroundings, pay more attention to photo moments and no longer walk through your city so quickly. This afternoon I spotted this rowing boat at the Delftsevaart. You don’t see that often and the crew was not visible either. I found it to be a photo moment and so you can see it for yourself here! The building at the right is a district heating substation. Parts of it dating back to 1925. The building, carried out by the Hollandsche Beton Maatschappij, was based on a concrete floor slab of 1.35 meters thick and the rest of the construction is made of concrete. In 1949 almost the whole building was finished. You can find the building on the corner of Delftsevaart and Grotekerkplein.

An evening in the Middle East and North Africa

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!

A tiger at the station, International Film Festival Rotterdam

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

Misty Tram Stop

The lights of the footballstadium of Excelsior, a real Rotterdam football club, are soften by the mist that softens the evening everywhere in the city. I’ve taken this photo at the terminus of tram line 7 at the Erasmus University.

Blue Monday skylight

I was not able to take a fresh picture this monday so one out of the archives. A original film photo taken near my home in the Agniesebuurt. A blue wall with this old light box. Is it art? A blue sky for blue monday fits this day perfect in any case!

A monastery as a unique example of modern eclecticism

The sun came up and shone its light on this
unique part of Rotterdam. I took the picture.

On May 14, 1940, the Germans bombed Rotterdam. The entire city center was destroyed, including the church on Hoogstraat. After the war, plans were made for rebuilding. On May 14, 1960, exactly twenty years after the bombing, the church and monastery were inaugurated. The mosaics on either side of the entrance are made by Theo Mols, the reliefs on the tower and in the roof frame were made by Pim van Moorsel. Because of the location of the church and monastery on the Steigersgracht, it is better known as the Steigerkerk, Steigersekerk, Citykerk Het Steiger or simply Het Steiger.

Het Steiger (The Scaffolding) is included in the Protection Program for Reconstruction 1959-1965. The church was recognized as a national monument in June 2016.

Light shows a contrast

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!

Europoint or Lee Towers?

At the same evening photographed as the Schiedamseweg but this the Marconiplein (Marconi square). And these are the Lee Towers or Europoint Towers or nicknamed The Point. Built 90 meters high in 1971-1975. Rotterdam Municipal Works was located in the Europoint complex. In November 2016, it was announced that at least one of the two towers that are vacant after the relocation of Public Works will be converted into an apartment complex. On November 13, 2019, Lee Towers a famous Dutch singer opened the residential towers in Rotterdam named after him, cutting a ribbon.

A busy evening

Near the end of the day I was en route at the Schiedamseweg, corner Spanjaardstraat. The Schiedamseweg was built from 1910 and forms the connection from Delfshaven to Schiedam. The Schiedamseweg was laid out as a broad boulevard and central axis of the Bospolder / Tussendijken district. The construction of the Schiedamseweg was completed at the end of the 1920s. Historic Delfshaven is close by, one of the highlights in history of Delfshaven; 1620: The Pilgrim Fathers are accommodated for a short time in the Sint Anthonis Capel, from where they start the crossing to America.

A hospital from behind the Iron Curtain

For this picture I visited the old Dijkzigt ziekenhuis (hospital). Located at ‘s Gravendijkwal – Westzeedijk. Don’t worry, I’m not sick, this building is disused now, there is a whole new building (a photo another day) that is supermodern, superbig and hopefully a super hospital! This old building was opened in 1961 and reminded me of a DDR or Sovjet building, due to the concrete and styling…

Visit a Space Tower while in Rotterdam!

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.

The Red Guard

Not the Red Guard of Moscow but a red police alarm column from the 1950s. The style of the column is at least similar to that of the 50s. Its located at the exit of the Maas tunnel, a important connection between the North and the South of Rotterdam. The Maas tunnel is the oldest submerged tunnel in the Netherlands. The tunnel comprises four tubes: two for cars, one for cyclists and one for pedestrians. Construction started in 1937 and was completed in the WWII, 1942. I was happy that there was no emergency today but just a nice picture!

Sunday Toko

Today a peaceful Sunday, just like yours I hope! Although the weather is grey I managed to take this picture full of color! I took this picture at the Bergweg, a busy street with traffic, the trams, shops and houses. There are a few Toko’s there, small tropical supermarkets. Not too many people so a quiet walk and good to recharge your nerves for a new week!

Saturday sunrise

I had a very nice walk in Rotterdam this morning and was suprised by this beautiful morning’s sunrise! Yesterday’s weather was grey and rainy and today everything looks different, better! And unfortunately tomorrow it will be grey and rainy again…

Friday lookin’ forward to the weekend

Its almost weekend and as you can see, I’m looking forward! Forward to visit the city, take some pictures, stroll around and (hope so) enjoying the weather. But today still have to workbut after that… About the view, looking south direction Hofplein and the Coolsingel, a main thoroughfare but for the last two years adapted and changed towards a car-free boulevard. This summer we hope to sit on a terrace on the spot where the cars first drove! Enjoy your weekend too!

Trackmania

Crossing the yellow bridge “luchtsingel” you will see these tracks. Direction Rotterdam Central station or the south of the Netherlands. And don’t let the empty tracks fool you, this part is normally one of the busiest parts with trains in this city 🙂

Morning walk

Not much to say about this picture, early morning walk, passing the traffic direction city center. The building on the right is the first “skyscraper” of Rotterdam… Location, Pompenburg.

Hudson’s bye

I photographed this empty store/building at the Korte Hoogstraat. A few days ago this was a Hudson Bay department store (in Dutch warenhuis). Exactly two years after Hudson’s Bay the first Dutch store opened, the Canadian department store started to leave the Netherlands. All fifteen branches and the web store are closed on 31 December 2020. Hudson’s Bay opened ten stores in the Netherlands in September 2017. Five more branches followed later. From the outset, the Dutch branches had to contend with disappointing sales figures. Exactly how the stores performed, the chain never disclosed. Reportedly, last year it involved a loss of 80 million euros!

In this store/building another department store chain had to close, Vroom & Dreesmann. Almost same story but this chain opened in 1887 and closed in 2015. More and more socalled “brick shops” are closing their doors, blaming the internet etc. I don’t know if that is the only reason or one of the reasons but it is not nice to see how shopping streets show empty stores or become one-sided in terms of choice.

Swan stone

If you walk at the Beneden Oostzeedijk you will pass a large complex of houses and shops arose between 1946 and 1949. The architects were E.H. and H. M. Kraaijvanger. Each of the apartment buildings has an inserted ceramic tile panel in the end façade. You can see that in the photo above, just above a shop door. This is a swan, there’s also a fish, a bee and a horse.

Flood defense, status blue

Early sunday evening. Passing by the “Gemaal Schilthuis”, a pumping station. Status purple as the lighting indicate 🙂

Text from Wikipedia: Until the Second World War, Oostplein was part of Schielands Hoge Zeedijk, Holland’s primary flood defense. The Maasboulevard became the primary flood defense during post-war reconstruction. The Gemaal mr. U.G. Schilthuis is on Oostplein. Schilthuis of the water board of Schieland and Krimpenerwaard, a pumping station pumping water from the Rotte two to three meters to the Boerengat and the Nieuwe Maas.

The metro line B (Hoek van Holland – Nesselande) crosses the water pipe below. Through the windows you can see the actual pumps. And so flows the weekend away and we find each other again on monday!

Lonely saturday

I had to work saturday evening and part of the night. The streets were silent en lonely after december, the month of festivities… I took this picture at the Westblaak. I think it shows the feeling of the evening…

Safe harbour

During the same photowalk from yesterday I shot one of the other bridges over the river Maas, the Erasmusbrug. I like the tugboat in front of it all and the word “Rotterdam” on the lightpanel of the KPN building at the left. The Erasmusbrug was opened in 1996, is 284 meters long and 139 meters high. Because of the shape the nickname is “the Swan”. Its late now and nothing more to say then enjoy your weekend!

View from a bridge

Tonight I went on a photowalk along the river Maas. The Maas split Rotterdam in two and there are a few bridges to cross the river from north to south and vice versa! This picture was taken from the Koninginnebrug (build in 1929) to show you the Hef bridge, a former railway bridge build in 1927 and decommisioned in 1993. The railway line Breda – Rotterdam used this bridge but nowadays the line is underground and comes above near Rotterdam Central station. I liked the mood and lighting in this picture hope you like it too!

January 1st, 2020, theme day “Photo of the year”

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 >>

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