Arrival in Rotterdam

Leiden, the Netherlands

Before arriving in Rotterdam, I was skeptical about the city's architecture and my reaction to it. After staying in Amsterdam for a week, I have grown fond of the old style architecture and its history. I was certain that Rotterdam's buildings would be reminiscent of those of Los Angeles. However, I was surprised once I saw the city.

Despite its modern aesthetic, I found Rotterdam to be a more historical city than Amsterdam. In an odd twist of irony, I now believe Amsterdam, the more aesthetically historical of the two, to be more modern due to the commercialization of the city. In contrast, I found Rotterdam, despite its modern architecture, to possess a greater sense of history due to the ever-present story of the city's involvement in World War II imbedded in the new buildings. I believe this ties in again to Humphrey Delacroix's definition of identity as possessing a collective history. The reconstruction of the city after the bombing of World War II required the collaborative effort of the Dutch people. This effort remains evident in the modern reconstruction of St. Lawrence's Church.

St. Lawrence's Church, Rotterdam

As Meriel explained during our tour of the city, the rebuilding of this church was made possible only after members of the city contributed 3,000 stones a piece. The church, which stands today, beautiful as ever, remains a monument not only of a historical style of architecture, and the sole remnant of the city's medieval history, but as an embodiment of the unification and solidarity of a society that chose to work together after the horror of war reached their country.

St. Lawrence Church, Rotterdam, side view

I was particularly struck by the architecture of this particular church as it reminded me of the current city hall building in Leiden. Like St. Lawrence's Church in Rotterdam, the city hall building had to be rebuilt, though due to different circumstances involving a fire in 1929 that destroyed most of its Renaissance facade. Entering from the front, the building appears to be an average building without any notable archictural aspects or details. However once inside, up the Art Deco stairs, and finally out the back doors, the building transforms. The heavy wooden door should have marked a difference in style and era, but nonetheless, once outside I felt as though I had stepped into the past.

Due to the effort of architect Lieven de Key, the Renaissance made its way into the present day. The amalgamation of styles present on the facade of this one building, I find, serves as a wonderful metaphor for the unification of differences. Old and new, Renaissance and Art Deco, simple and elaborate, all of these dichotomies exist in harmony within the architecture of the town hall, a representative of the people, politically and metaphorically.

City Hall Building, Leiden, The Netherlands

In this desire to restore and rebuild, there is a sense that the Dutch wanted to hold on to their past, as it provides a beautiful reminder of collective history and community. However, in choosing to rebuild in a modern aesthetic, I believe the Dutch were ready to move forward, to create a new history together. Embracing difference, oftentimes combining these differences to make a grand architectural masterpiece, the Dutch show how they remained a unified society through the worst, gathered up the pieces and pushed forward together.

 

 

Sophia