Discover Benelux | Event of the Month | The Netherlands
EVENT OF THE MONTH, THE NETHERLANDS
Rotterdam celebrates the city! This year, the city of Rotterdam presents its current, excellent state of being. As 2015 was a year of remembrance, now is the time to celebrate. TEXT: CATHY VAN KLAVEREN | PHOTOS: ROTTERDAM FESTIVALS
With buildings such as De Markthal, De Rotterdam, the Central Station, the iconic Bijenkorf building and many more, Rotterdam has built a completely new city from the ground up. In 2015, it was 75 years since the German bombs fell on Rotterdam and wiped almost everything clean. The city became unrecognisable. As the war had only just started, there was no telling when the city could be reconstructed. However, there was great resilience among the Rotterdammers, as only four days after the bombing, architect Willem Gerrit Witteveen received the assignment to draw a new city master plan, says Gabriël Oostvogel, manager of de Doelen. This day, 18 May, is known as the Wederopbouwdag. “Every year on this day, the people of the city would celebrate the 78 | Issue 25 | January 2016
fact that the reconstruction had renovated everything a bit more. Every year, it began to look more and more like a real city again,” Oostvogel says. Now Rotterdam is glowing with modern architecture, but the city will never forget her history. Rotterdam Festivals has been working hard to make 2016 a year full of events: Rotterdam celebrates the city! In March, the festivities will begin, with a three-kilometre stretch of dominoes ending at the Schouwburgplein, where De Nieuwe Rotterdammer will be revealed. Johan Moerman, of Rotterdam Festivals, says: “The Rotterdam citizen is young and open for innovation, and is always eager to learn.” However, it is the people more than the buildings who are important to show to the world. For example, during the festivities
75 people who are all connected to the Maasstad (another name for Rotterdam), were chosen to remember 75 years of reconstruction. For Head Lights, buildings will be adorned with faces with their accompanying stories. The Erasmus bridge will be decorated, talent shows will be held at the Boijmans Van Beuningen museum, the 50th anniversary of de Doelen will be marked (on that special day in May) and the renowned Rotterdam International Film Festival will be themed: This is where reconstruction starts. This year’s festivities will not be forgotten quickly. Everyone, inside and outside of Rotterdam, can enjoy the programme that will last till the end of July next year. www.rotterdamviertdestad.nl www.rotterdamcelebratesthecity.com