Rotterdam, 1930. In the center is the newly opened De Bijenkorf department store, designed by Willem Dudok. Almost every building shown was destroyed when German forces bombarded the city in May 1940.
Due to the extent of damage from the bombardment and resulting fire, an almost immediate decision was taken to demolish the entire city centre with the exception of the Laurenskerk, the Beurs (trade centre), the Postkantoor (Post Office) and the town hall.
I’ve been working on re-creating the old Rotterdam in Cities Skylines. I’ve spent many hours looking at old photos and street maps. Recreating it in a game truly is a wonderful way of getting to know this lost city. It’s an eternal shame that so much beauty has been lost, especially since it didn’t really serve any purpose at all.
Twirlingbarbiesays
An empty Coolsingel alone is weird
Zozorrrsays
Zooming in on that dept. store it was way ahead of its time. It’s difficult to conceive it was built just 12 years after WWI when people were flying biplanes made of canvas and wood and horses will still a huge thing in transport.
nickgt1969says
That store is awesome, there has been some great department store architecture through the years, it’s a shame they are starting to fall out of use now
raff_riffsays
I spent a week in Rotterdam for work last year. I’d never met the Dutch before but what stood out to me was how many of them still talked about the war, as if it’s as fresh on their minds as 9/11 is for us Americans.
One guy I met said the city is sometimes called the “city without a heart” because the war flattened most of the city, eliminating any hint of a “historic district” and the post-war rebuilding efforts which left it without a distinctive city center.
I’d passed through Amsterdam prior to Rotterdam, which was mostly untouched by the Germans. The comparison between the two is startling.
Remseey2907says
Nazi forces is what I prefer to say.
Germany now is not Germany back then.
And I am a Dutchie.
vaskemasksays
Nice architecture. There is a department store in Bergen, Norway with a similar look from 1938:
archineering says
A closer view of de Bijenkorf
After the bombing, during the 25+ year reconstruction process
Due to the extent of damage from the bombardment and resulting fire, an almost immediate decision was taken to demolish the entire city centre with the exception of the Laurenskerk, the Beurs (trade centre), the Postkantoor (Post Office) and the town hall.
Other structures destroyed include:
The buildings around the Great Market Square
This ceremonial archway near the port
rakethund says
so sad to see
DutchMitchell says
I’ve been working on re-creating the old Rotterdam in Cities Skylines. I’ve spent many hours looking at old photos and street maps. Recreating it in a game truly is a wonderful way of getting to know this lost city. It’s an eternal shame that so much beauty has been lost, especially since it didn’t really serve any purpose at all.
Twirlingbarbie says
An empty Coolsingel alone is weird
Zozorrr says
Zooming in on that dept. store it was way ahead of its time. It’s difficult to conceive it was built just 12 years after WWI when people were flying biplanes made of canvas and wood and horses will still a huge thing in transport.
nickgt1969 says
That store is awesome, there has been some great department store architecture through the years, it’s a shame they are starting to fall out of use now
raff_riff says
I spent a week in Rotterdam for work last year. I’d never met the Dutch before but what stood out to me was how many of them still talked about the war, as if it’s as fresh on their minds as 9/11 is for us Americans.
One guy I met said the city is sometimes called the “city without a heart” because the war flattened most of the city, eliminating any hint of a “historic district” and the post-war rebuilding efforts which left it without a distinctive city center.
I’d passed through Amsterdam prior to Rotterdam, which was mostly untouched by the Germans. The comparison between the two is startling.
Remseey2907 says
Nazi forces is what I prefer to say.
Germany now is not Germany back then.
And I am a Dutchie.
vaskemask says
Nice architecture. There is a department store in Bergen, Norway with a similar look from 1938:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/GriegSundt.jpg