Rotterdam: City of Statues

This coming Sunday, 25th of March, it will be a year since we arrived in Rotterdam after our epic travels through Europe. How did that happen?! A whole year since our travels and a year of being Rotterdamers. To celebrate here is the second in the series of Life in Rotterdam, Rotterdam: City of Statues.

Walking around Rotterdam you cannot miss seeing a statue or art of some form. There are statues everywhere! They vary in shape, size, material and subject. There are many dedicated to the Second World War but also many other simply random ones.

Today dawned bright and clear, a wonderful opportunity to head out into the city and snap some pics. It may be sunny, but it was still pretty cold! I took pics of all the statues I saw in about two hours, I am sure there are many I missed. We hope you enjoy a walk around our city with us =)

In other news we booked our flights to the States in September last week! Woohoo! NYC here we come =) We are flying with Iceland air and decided to have a stop-over in Reykjavik for a few days. Looking forward to soaking in the hot springs! Then we fly to Boston and return three weeks later. We still need to finalise our arrangements but plans include staying with Justin’s aunt in Boston, then moving on to New York City, Washington, staying with Justin’s uncle in Maryland, and hopefully there will be time to squeeze in Chicago before heading back to Boston. Let the visa applications begin!

And this Sunday is also the switch to Daylight Saving Time, woohoo! Officially Spring time  =) We are looking forward to cycling through tulip fields soon =) Spring time plans include a visit from our dear Chilean friends, Joan and Mayira, in early-May and a trip to Venice mid-May.

But tonight we are off to see Bryan Adams live! Yay! We are real children of the 80s =)

Have a good week!

x

'Fikkie'

One of our favourite statues is this one of Fikkie the dog. One day Justin saw a little puppy barking at this statue dog! Too cute. 

The above three statues are in a row on the Coolsingel (the main road through the main shopping area of the city). 

Musician on Meent Street

Father Christmas at Eendrachtsplein

A random one that looks like overflowing paint jars and also Bart Simpson heads

Figure on the side of a building

Regulatory dudes with lace collars outside the Stadhuis (City Hall).

Keeping watch at the World Trade Center, right next to the Occupy tents, lol.

Untitled outside de Bijenkorf (the beehive, think Stuttafords type shop) on the Coolsingel. 

De Verwoeste Stad (The Devastated City)

Remembering the bombings that flattened the city during the Second World War 

Triomf (Triumph) 

Celebrating 50 years since the rebuilding of the city of Rotterdam, a new favourite of mine

Ongebroken Verzet (Unbroken Resistance)

This is my favourite statue in Rotterdam. It is near central station and we pass it everyday on the tram. I like it because he always looks happy and peaceful, it doesn't matter if it is raining or if the sun is shining. It helps to remind me that my troubles are not as big or troublesome as I think they are. 

Sterker door Strijd (Stronger through struggle)

Remembering the War and rebuilding the city

Monument to the seamen and sea going merchants of the Netherlands during the Second World War situated on the Maas River near the Erasmus Bridge. There is another WWII memorial along the water but I couldn't find it this morning. 

View of the Erasmus Bridge along the River Maas

Rotterdam's own Walk of Fame.

The only two I recognised! lol. 

Some random untitled ones on Weena Street

I suspect this is another WWII memorial although I couldn't find a plaque with a name or description on. At first it looks a bit random...