From time to time I divert from my usual garden chatter. This time I'll take you to my favourite place in the town of my birth Rotterdam. In particular: to Veerhaven.
This photo has many typical Rotterdam harbour elements: the River Nieuwe Maas, the Spido, the shiny Fenix Museum (designed by Chinese architect Ma Yansong), the pricey housing, but to me: the 'kinderkopjes' paving, the lantern and the 'moseiken' (Quercus cerris). Love it!
Is that all it has? No, of course not! I have to apologise for my photos, I use an ancient Samsung Galaxy, sorry. But what can you spot when you squint and look right to the distance in the middle of this pic? Right! The iconic bridge of Rotterdam: the Swan.
The yellow brick building in the middle distance is the old Royal Rowing and Sailing De Maas clubhouse. It is but one of the many 'rijksmonumenten' (important historical buildings), which were spared total destruction during the bombardment of Rotterdam in 1940. Walk around the Veerhaven and you will get an inkling of what this city looked like before WWII.
As a 2nd generation survivor of that war (my Mum never got over the trauma of the bombardment and passed it on), I love to walk around the Scheepvaartkwartier and admire the classy buildings.
De Maas
Not only did the river lend its name to the sailing club, but also to one of the most striking buildings around the Veerhaven. This Jugendstil (a style which I adore) building, again in yellow brick, is also called De Maas. Designed by Barend Hooijkaas jr. and Michiel Brinkman in 1908, it dominates the quay.
Not in yellow brick, but in sandstone another Jugendstil building along that same quay. The green-white-green flag is the Rotterdam flag. Ah...they knew how to build in those days!
And here we are: the one photo every visitor wants to take. Our beautiful Swan, and part of the skyline of 'de Kop van Zuid', the Southern shore of the Nieuwe Maas, seen from the Northern shore Veerhaven.
The river appears empty from traffic, but don't be fooled, it is an extremely busy river.
Veerhaven
The name means 'ferry harbour', and that is what it used to be: the place to take the ferry to Katendrecht on the other shore. There are documents proving it already existed in the 15th century. My Mum used to talk about taking the ferry from 'Noord' where she lived to her auntie in 'Zuid'. She could have crossed the Willemsbrug (from 1878), but preferred the ferry.
Ferry Offices
This floating office building is another interesting building. It used to be the station of the river police from 1895, how cool is that?! Nowadays it houses the Harbour Master. Yes, you can berth in this harbour, as long as your vessel is not deeper than 4.5 m. But beware, the tides in the Nieuwe Maas can differ 2.5 m and more.
Quite a few vessels are moored here (semi-)permanently. This querky one seems to be protected from financial misery.
I believe old Queen Beatrix's yacht 'De Groene Draeck' (a Frisian Lemsteraak) used to be moored here as well, but it has moved to Muiden. Those ships always remind me of the seafaring heritage of us Dutchies.
Not a great sailor myself, my blood heats up anyway when I take in views like this one. That sky also is much more realistic for our country than the freaky steel-blue skies we've been having this summer. 'Altijd een vessie mee' (always take your cardigan) my very Rotterdam grannie used to say.
Right. I do hope you have enjoyed my diversion from plants to Veerhaven. Since there is much less worth mentioning about my gardens during the winter months, I tend to divert.
Do follow if you like my blog, and do visit my website for more blogs, click click! Renée Grashoff Schrijft
Have a good weekend, wherever you are.
Renée Grashoff
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