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* ” I 1 ■ V ~ In 2001 wants to show Europe how a new city as candidate for the title Cultural Capital of Europe in the year 2001. can be created in fifty years. That is the unique thing about the cultural capital of Following the reconstruction of the city, interest in culture has increased quite Rotterdam. What happens when a city has to redesign itself in the twentieth cen- considerably in Rotterdam over the past few years. The number of facilities and tury? What kind of architecture emerges if you decide not to just rebuild the old? activities has expanded rapidly. When it comes to culture, Rotterdam has become Sometimes we are amazed at how it has been possible to create such a new city in mature and unique. such a short space of time. We want to reveal that process, which is unique in In this ‘bid book’ we take you through Rotterdam. Its rich and turbulent histoiy Europe, to as many people as possible. has given rise to a whole spectrum of cultures. This cultural heritage from days Art and culture are ideal ways for a new society to express itself. Rotterdam, a new past forms the basis for a new start. In this context, there is a dual challenge. city in the physical sense, also has a new social and cultural ‘fabric’. For this reas- ‘Rotterdam 2001’ will also have to present the highlights of the past hundred years. on, it is the designers from the cultural sector in particular who are providing new Not a nostalgic retrospective, but a conscious balance in an eventful century in answers to the challenges facing Rotterdam on its path towards the next century. which Rotterdam created a new future. After all; culture is a broad concept, in which the whole of society can be reflected. With this as its stake, Rotterdam has been put forward by the Dutch government Hans Kombrink, Alderman Jor Urban Planning and Culture

Colophon 2001 Ron Rijghard, Eugène van Rijn, Paans, Maarten van der Voorde Publiohep: ‘2001’ is published by Helene de Bruin Ppoduction: Tponslation: Translingua t.t.i. the Municipality of Rotterdam on the BIKKER Communicatie Rotterdam Rotterdam Ppinteps Drukkerij occasion of the candidacy of Design and loyouti Proforma, van de Rhee, Rotterdam Rotterdam for Cultural Capital of designers and consultants, Rotterdam Editopial addpess: Municipality Europe in 2001 as a special issue of Phofcogpophy: Tom Croes, Bas of Rotterdam, Department of Cultural Ai Rotterdam, the magazine of the Czerwinski, archives Dienst Stedebouw Affairs, Postbus 70012, 3000 KP Rotterdam City Development en Volkshuisvesting (dS-tV), Hans Rotterdam The Netherlands Corporation (ontwikkelingsbedrijf Gerritsen, archives Netherlands Rotterdam, OBR). Editop-in-chief: Architecture Institute, archives Nether- Kees Weeda Editopiol ■toff: Kees lands Photo Institute, Marco de Nood, Weeda, Monique Vogelzang, Mark Hans Pattist, Jan van der Ploeg, Huib Harbers, Jeroen Maters, Marc Mijer, Rutten, Daria Scagliola, Pan Sok, Erik

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1 S A day out in R’dam 7 Cultural Capital to crown reconstruction 16 R’dam’a Theatrea io Showcase of modern deveiopment SO Muaeuma

SS Muaic and □ance 14 Party with up-to-date themes SG R’dam feativala 17 Experiencing scuipture on the streets SB Film and pop S3 World-renowned architecture 31 Partner citiea 3S To the Slat century 30 Investing in cuiture ■■

Rotterdom 2001, Rotterdam is always willing to give The city of RoUepdam Cultural organisations financially in cultural activities a boost and that is and activities arden why it decided to spend the extra in the context of the Cultural Capital. The second city of the Netherlands. Theatres: 19 theatres, including For the programme of activities in One year as ‘cultural capital’ also has The metropolis Rotterdam has a pop- the Doelen concert and conference 2001, the municipality of Rotterdam an economic spin-off. Experience in ulation of 1.2 million, comprising centre, the Luxor Theatre, the Rotter- has a sum of over 50 million guilders other cities shows indirect returns, many different nationalities. dam Schouwburg and Nighttown. available. This budget is almost fully through improvements to the city’s Facilities: Rotterdam Airport; Theatre campanies: 8 compa- covered. Naturally, these costs do not image, but also direct economic 299 educational institutes, including nies, including RO Theatre, Onafhan- include the extra investments which improvements through the generation the Erasmus University Rotterdam; kelijk Toneel and Bonheur. Music: are still to be made in the infrastructu- of employment: 8,000 jobs (some 512 sports and recreation facilities, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, re. In 2001, Rotterdam will benefit temporary) in Glasgow, the cultural including Blijdorp Zoological conducted by Valery Gergiev, and from, for instance, the new Luxor capital in 1990, and extra spending by Gardens; 18 shopping malls, inclu- approximately 100 professional and Theatre and ±e expansion of the tourists, who also bring tax revenues ding the Beurstraverse and the amateur choral/musical societies. Doelen concert and conference centre. with them. Glasgow (quite compara- Lijnbaan; 3 football stadiums; Ballet: 6 dance companies, inclu- But work is also progressing on ble with Rotterdam) attracted 3.5 mil- 42 hotels with 4,720 beds. Extensive ding Scapino Ballet and the Rotter- improvements to the tram and metro lion tourists, yielding economic network of public transport: bus, damse Dansgroep. Museums: 34 network, the roads in and around returns of 150 million pounds. tram, metro, water taxi and train; museums, including Boijmans Van Rotterdam and urban renewal. 639 bridges, including the famous Beuningen, the Maritime Museum and The budget of 50 million guilders is Erasmus Bridge and the Hef; Ring of the Ethnology Museum; 42 galleries/ purely for activities in the context of motorways with links to all surroun- exhibition halls, including Witte de the Cultural Capital of Europe and is ding areas. With, centre for contemporary art. in addition to the existing budgets for Cinemas: 25 studios in 6 com- the arts. For your information: the plexes. Library: i Rotterdam municipality spends 165 million guil- Municipal Library with 22 branches ders a year on art and culture. and 2 mobile libraries, i Central Disc Library. Events: 43 a year, inclu- ding the R-Festival, Summer , , Dunya Festival, Metropolis and the Gergiev Festival. 2001 Rotterdam 2001 / pa^e 5 City in motion

In this publication, we present a portrait of Rotterdam. Perhaps a surprising portrait for many who associate Rotterdam with the largest port in the world, with econo- mic activity, with trade and shipping. But Rotterdam has more than this to offer and is very eager to show this to Europe. Rotterdam is perhaps on the eve of what could be one of the most important events in its post-war cultural history: Cultural Capital of Europe in the year 2001. After the destruction of the city in 1940, a whole new society had to be created. Just like during the Industrial Revolution, there was evidence of a frontier mentality. Just as in the beginning of the century, a new city was - and had to be - built at top speed; there was no choice. This mentality is important in determining the cultural identity of Rotterdam and explains why the city is always able to renew itself. I am convinced that the largest and most important port in the world forms a unique stage for a cultural capital. Not only in the literal sense, as will also be the case, but mainly in terms of the cultural significance of that phenomenon. The port as symbol of change, renewal, as backdrop for the ‘city in motion’. The port on the Rhine Delta, the gateway to a hinterland of some hundreds of millions of Europeans, where the whole world meets; a pivot for trade and industry. Parallel to the development of the port of Rotterdam into a centre for the international economy, the city has also deve- loped its orientation towards culture, thereby illustrating a much more large-scale global process which causes econo- mic and cultural centres to converge (as was the case in the Middle Ages when religious and cultural centres coincided). As far as the geographic dimension of the events associated with Rotterdam Cultural Capital is concerned, contact has been sought with partner cities in Europe with which Rotterdam has close ties. Talks are being held with St. Petersburg, Gdansk, Cologne, Budapest and Bilbao and we hope and expect that they will result in fruitful cooperation. Rotterdam 2001 will mainly be a manifestation of the new European city in a new century. A city which continues to innovate, which simply must be open to changes in its built-up environment and in its social and cultural fabric. Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001: a year focussing on a city that can possibly show better than anywhere else in Europe how a city arose from its ashes, how a new city was built, both physically and socially, and how art and culture have been given a place in a city with the largest port in the world.

Dr. Bram Peper Mayor of Rotterdam Witte de With- attracted art bookstores and other art- Youth and training are of fundamental which is contradictory, heterogenous straat: cultural related shops to the street. Even the importance for participation in art and and volatile’, as V2 itself puts it. route in the police has gone with the flow! In the culture. V2 has been around since 1981; after city centre police station in this street a special In the Hofplein Youth Theatre, young its relocation to Rotterdam in 1994, area has been reserved for exhibitions, people have their own stage. The pro- the emphasis has shifted more and usually devoted to themes relating to gramme offered by this theatre combi- more to electronic networks, Internet The Witte de Withstraat in the old law and safety. nes a low threshold with high artistic and the World Wide Web. Research is centre of Rotterdam is fast becoming The Witte de Withstraat can rightfully quality. The various house produc- carried out into the relation between one of the cultural centres of the city. call itself a cultural route! That is vAy tions, made with students from the art, technology, the media and society. Located close to the Museumpark - plans have been developed to mark Youth Drama School, form the most For this purpose, an extensive network where the Boijmans Van Beuningen this by the laying of red paving stones. important part of the programme. In of artists, social groups, researchers Museum, the Nature Museum and the In this way the Witte de Withstraat can addition, a number of productions and commercial enterprises has been are to be found, for instance put out the red carpet for every art involving professional actors are pre- built up. In the Netherlands, the cent- - the Witte de Withstraat is a bustling lover who visits the street: for a visit to sented in this theatre every year. re is considered an authority when it area with all kinds of cultural and one of the galleries or on the way to The Youth Drama School has about comes to multi-media technology. entertainment facilities. In addition to the museum triangle. 1000 students ranging in age from Everyone is free to visit V2 by surfing many large and small galleries, promi- approximately six to twenty. The stu- to the website (www.v2.ni). This is nent art institutions also have their dents are taught drama, dance, sin- the information point covering V2’s premises there. The Witte de With art Free hand for ging and the necessary auxiliary sub- activities and it also has hyperlinks gallery is among Europe's ten to fif- the yaung jects. In the Youth Theatre, a number with the artists, institutions and pro- teen most important institutions in of festivals are held every year, such as jects presented. Various artists make the field of contemporary art. the National Youth Theatre Festival. use of the site as a place to experi- After two years of preparation, the ‘The hand that rocks the cradle rules ment; their work can be followed Netherlands Photo Institute was ope- the world’. Rotterdam involves young direcdy and Internet users can partici- ned in March 1994. Together with the people in cultural activities at an early V2, authoritative pate via their own connection. Netherlands Photo Archives, this insti- age. Via the Rotterdam Institute for institute for Every year V2 organises the DEAF tute is housed in the former premises Arts Education (SKVR), many thou- unstable media (Dutch Electronic Art Festival) in of the ‘Dagbladunie’. The institute has sands of children attend courses in Rotterdam. For an increasing number important photographic collections music, dance and photography and of interested people, ±is represents a and is an international meeting place take part in theatrical activities. The V2, the institute for unstable media, first introduction to contemporary art. for photographers, clients and the SKVR is the largest training institute in focusses on art which makes use of It is therefore one of the most impor- public. the Netherlands. With a number of electronic and digital media. The word tant European events in this field. In a side street, the RO Theatre has its branches in the city, this ‘art school’ ‘unstable’ implies an emphasis on the own, new auditorium. The presence of has long been a very important factor fluid character of this media. so many cultural institutions has in the municipality’s cultural policy. ‘Unstable media convey us to a world RutLeidam auui / pu^e y

The bombing qfRotterdam during the Second World War not only destroyed buildings and roads. It also had a devastating effect on the social and cultural life of the city. After the war, the people of Rotterdam rolled up their sleeves and got to work on rebuilding the city. With incredible energy they started to create an open metropolis luhich mould ojf^er the inhabitants of the city light and air. A city focused on thejiiture. In thejirst decades the port, roads and factories were tackled. Then offices, shops, homes and cultural facilities. And once the Joundations had been laid for new economic prosperity, there mas time to think ojnem social and cultural relations. > « New generations will be the coming century »

Cul1:ural rebirth In the nineties, Rotterdam reached an important point in its cul- tural ‘renaissance’. With its infrastructure and level of activities, the city can offer very admirable cultural facilities: museums, theatres, pop sta- ges, an orchestra, cinemas, facilities of international significance. But also a broad amateur sector with festivals and events. Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 must serve to crown the many years of cultural reconstruc- tion into which so many people put both their heart and soul.

The city, a atage The first big step in Rotterdam’s cultural ‘renaissance’ became visible in ig88 when the city celebrated the opening of a new theatre and a new museum all in one year. ‘The city, a stage’ was the title of a major event by means of which the city wished to express the fact that, following economic reconstruction, the cultural counterpart was now in full swing. That was visible in the buildings created after that year, noticeable in the many programmes and activities organised by the increasing number of cultural institutions. It looked as if the expectations of half a century of intense preparation were being fulfilled in one decade. Whilst art budgets in other cities were often under pressure, the city coun- cil of Rotterdam was convinced that investments should also, or perhaps particularly, be made in art and culture in times of economic stagnation. With the conviction that investment in culture means investment in the reinforcement of social and economic ties within society.

Cultural capital of Europe The latter becomes explicitly necessary if we look at the changed composition of many cities in the Western world. No longer does the Christian-humanist cultural tradition form the sole basis for our West- European cultural development: other points of reference have emerged. Artists who have grown up in the ‘new’ culture of the West articulate the synthesis between Western and non-Western cultural traditions. And new generations will be shaping culture in the coming century. Against this background, we have sought those specific features which could make Rotterdam a unique ‘culmral capital of Europe’. We have characterised Rotterdam by its orientation towards the new, often inter- nationally determined developments, which lead to a future-oriented urban society, ‘with its sights set on tomorrow’.

Largest port; in the world as backdrop The largest and most important port in the world will form a unique backdrop for a cultural capital. Not only literally, but more impor- tantly in terms of the cultural significance of that phenomenon. The port as a symbol of change, innovation, as backdrop for the ‘city in motion’. The conurbation of Rotterdam, supported by approximately 1.2 million inhabitants, will form the basis for the Cultural Capital. The ‘city’ will be redefined and the year as cultural capital offers an excellent opportunity for finding a new identity for a new era. «

Rotterdam is seen as the showcase of modem architecture and urban development in the Netherlands. Almost immediately after the bombiny in 1940, Ir. W.G. Witteueen mas commissioned to literally build Rotterdam anew. After all, not only the entire city cent- re mas demolished by the bombardment, but also all maps and records on the technical situation in the city centre ment up infla- mes. This brought the challenge of designing the city according to a new planning vision. This resulted in the ‘Basic Plan ig46’ mhich planners and architects still consider revolutionary. Rotterdam kept its sightsjirmly set on modern architecture during the whole period of reconstruction, mithoutjoryettiny the main objective - to provide housing/or residents, businesses and port.

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tain types of ships had started to take on enormous pro- portions. The Europoort area became industrialised at such a pace that Rotterdam developed into the largest port in the world. In the early seventies, following the renewal and expan- sion of Rotterdam's world port, the renewal of the city itself was given top priority. In the centre of the city buil- dings went up at quite a pace. Offices, shops, homes and cultural facilities gave the inner city a new face. Inter- nationally renowned architects worked on this, making Rotterdam famous as a city of new architecture. In the old neighbourhoods around the centre, the reno- vation of homes and business premises was tackled with urgency. Since 1974, new construction and the renova- tion of 70,000 houses has meant the renewal of half of these old neighbourhoods and improvements have been made to 120,000 m' of business space. Dozens of new schools, community centres and other social centres were added. Education was given an extra impulse with the founding of the Erasmus University in the early seventies.

Permanent: process of renewal Rotterdam is in a permanent state of renewal. At the moment, huge investments are being made in the The reconstruction started straight after the city centre metamorphosis of the old port area on the left bank of was completely obliterated on May 14th 1940. 260 hecta- the river, opposite the centre. On this so-called Kop van res were reduced to ashes. The city lost 24,700 houses, Zuid, over 5,000 houses and a large area of office and 6,100 business premises, 1,450 bars and restaurants, 62 business premises (mainly high-rise) and recreational schools, 25 public buildings, 13 hospitals, 24 churches and cultural facilities will have been created within ten and 14 cinemas and theatres. It took almost 20,000 wor- years. The Kop van Zuid, with the new court buildings, kers months to clear away the rubble. the new Luxor Theatre for musical productions and its In the same period Ir. W.G. Witteveen, director of the own metro station, is linked with the city centre by means Urban Development Department, set up in 1931, was of the impressive Erasmus Bridge. devising a reconstruction plan. It was on the drawing In the city centre too renewal continues. The Museum boards of the Urban Development Department that a new Quarter, including the Kunsthal designed by Rem city emerged. Rotterdam was finished with the past: they Koolhaas, the Netherlands Architecture Institute wanted to build a completely new, ultra-modern city cent- designed by Jo Coenen and the Boijmans Van Beuningen re which would meet the needs of the future for a long Museum, attracts a growing number of culture-loving time to come. visitors from both within and beyond Rotterdam. The new Schouwburgplein and surrounding area attract a lot Priority for the port of attention, from local residents and tourists. It has The port of Rotterdam, which had been an become a place where new forms of culture and enter- important economic motor not only for the city but for tainment facilities predominate. The square itself is a the whole country, was also put out of action by the spectacular ‘watch, do and play’ area where young and destruction. It was not strange, therefore, that the recon- old can spend time either actively or passively. The invest- struction of destroyed quaysides and warehouses had ments by the municipality and the enthusiasm of plan- absolute priority during the reconstruction. The restora- makers and politicians have also resulted, for instance, in tion of the destroyed sections of the port took five years the opening of the largest cinema in the Netherlands and of hard work. Only then - and we are now talking about the decision to expand . 1950 - did reconstruction of the city really get under way. The continuing urge to innovate has given Rotterdam There was a true reconstruction boom which lasted up to and its inhabitants the image of not wanting to settle for the seventies. Every day the air of Rotterdam was filled things as they are. For Rotterdam, working on the city with the thunder of pile drivers and, in the meantime, the and the economy is an ongoing thing and the efforts port was also undertaking large expansion projects along which have had to be made since May 1940 are simply the Nieuwe Waterweg. This was necessary because cer- intensified proof of this. == •-J

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Just a few steps away from the modern city centre; the ‘Oude Haven’ (Old Harbor) is where mainport Rotterdam has its roots. Numerous cafes and restaurants now use the quays. ay Rotterdam 2001 / pa^e 15 In contrast to many other European cities, the population of Rotterdam is becoming younger Rotterdam 2001 / page 15

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For Rotterdam, bearing the title Rotterdam believes that the title Cultural Capital 2001 warrants a thematic approach. i of European Cultural Capital 2001 Performances, exhibitions and commissions can and must be organised and presented in a coor- p dinated way. Educational bodies and institutions for the arts will be offered handles for organi- means a lot more than the city sing their programmes in such a way as to reflect the year as Cultural Capital. In order to be able temporarily receiuiny an interesting label. to involve the whole population in celebrating such a large-scale and long-lasting cultural party, there will have to be a central theme running through all cultural events taking place in For the city council, this title Rotterdam in 2001. represents a superb opportunity In order to achieve this objective, Rotterdam will link four themes with the title of Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001. Themes which can all be traced back to the ongoing development which I to launch a huge cultural the city is experiencing. The first theme will be the cultural heritage which is at the basis of urban happening, aimed in the Jirst instance renewal. Secondly, Rotterdam will highlight the innovative social culture which results from the migration and integration of many different nationalities. The third theme covers the revitalisa- at allominy creation, in all senses tion of the city through young people and their refreshing culture. The fourth theme which will of the word, tojlourish. be highlighted during Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 is the international cooperation with ! other European cities. Urban renewal It is impossible not to look back during Rotterdam Cultural Capital. Anyone who looks towards the future is unable to ignore ±e past. But 2001 will not be a nostalgic retrospective. During this year as cultural capital stock will be taken, in a very conscious way, of the turbulent century in which Rotterdam built on a new future. The continual movements and changes which Rotterdam experienced, and is still experiencing, form the challenge and motive behind the Cultural Capital year.

New social culture Rotterdam is literally a city in motion. Throughout the ages large groups have been coming to or leaving the city. Rotterdam is still in motion. The current inhabitants of the harbour city originate from many different countries. Within this multicultural society, it seems that the concept ‘Western culture’ needs redefining. A new culture has emerged as Rotterdam’s artists come from very divergent backgrounds. Their creations no longer have only Christian-humanistic concepts of Western civilisation as their points of reference. Artists who have grown up in the new culmre articulate the synthesis of Western and non-Western cultural traditions. The emergence of a new social culture, influenced by the many different nationalities, will be a central theme during the year as cultural capital.

Youth and youth culture In contrast to many other European cities, the population of Rotterdam is becoming younger. This means that young people and youth culture almost automatically play a more pro- minent role. Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 must offer new generations the opportunity to try to make their, perhaps as yet unexpressed, desires and dreams come true. Both in the run-up to and during the Cultural Capital year, Rotterdam will be looking for ways of linking young and old, established and innovative, conventional and free-thinking.

lnt:ernat:ional cooperat;ion Rotterdam has always done its utmost to secure an important role for cities and urban conurbations in Europe, and to establish international cooperation. That is why Rotterdam Cultural Capital also wants the European (sister) cities with which it has close links to play an important role during the year as Cultural Capital. Discussions are currently being held with cities such as St. Petersburg, Budapest, Cologne, Bilbao and Gdansk on the important impulse behind one of the priorities in the arts policy: a link-up with the internationalisation of our city and region. The link between city and art, between national and international, between native population and ethnic minorities, between young and old, between past and future; using the themes which Rotterdam wants to target during Rotterdam Cultural Capital, our harbour city can become a uni- que cultural capital for Europe. » Rotterdam has a very large and varied selection of theatres. The most mell-knoion are

the Rotterdam Schouwburg, the Doelen

(concert and conjerence centre) and the Luxor Theatre. That the importance of Rotterdam as a city of theatres continues to grow can be seen Jrom the ambitious expansion plans Jor some ojthese locations.

□e Doelen also houses the cabaret festival ‘Cameretten’. The Luxor Theatre has made a The concert and conference centre De Doelen can be found in the great contribution towards the current, favourable musical climate in the centre of Rotterdam. The building is renowned for the high quality of the Netherlands. With 77 percent of all seats sold, the Luxor is more or less sold concerts given there. The emphasis within the wide range offered is on clas- out all year. In order to be able to stage even more and larger musicals and sical music. The resident orchestra in the Doelen is the Rotterdam spectacular opera productions the city of Rotterdam is building a new Luxor, Philharmonic. In addition to concerts, many large non-cultural events are to seat 1,500. The new theatre, with a fantastic position along the river, will held in the Doelen, such as (international) conferences, meetings and busi- be completed in 2001. ness presentations. Since it was opened in ig66, the Doelen has been attrac- ting increasingly large audiences. Every year some 650,000 people attend The Ro1:t:erdam Schouwburg over 550 concerts and 1,500 other events. In order to make the Doelen even The Rotterdam Schouwburg is a vital element in Rotterdam’s cul- more attractive to its users, it will be expanded between now and 1998. tural life. In the Large and Small Auditoria there are programmes of drama, Among the additions will be a modern conference hall for over 700 partici- dance, opera and musical theatre. The theatre plays a leading role when it pants, an exhibition area and a number of foyers. Alongside the new Doelen comes to modern drama. The city’s resident company RO Theatre presents a a new five-star hotel will be built. large number of productions. In addition, both national and international theatre and dance companies tread the theatre’s boards. When it comes to The Luxor Theatre foreign performers, the Rotterdam Schouwburg has a well-established rela- The seventy-five year old Luxor Theatre is the location for large- tionship with, for example, Jan Fabre, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, Opera scale light entertainment in Rotterdam. The Luxor presents shows of the North and the Royal Shakespeare Company. The Rotterdam Schouwburg is musical, cabaret, music hall, revue and concert genre. Every year the theatre also a popular parmer in the international circuit of producing theatres. = Organisers of exhibitions both at home and abroad ojten call on the ‘Rotterdam Collection’. And not mithout reason. The city has an internationally renowned collection o/sculptures representing all styles and trends,from the oldest bronze ‘civilian’ statue in Europe - that o/Erasmus - to modern sculptures by Philip King and Pablo Picasso. > cc The city is proud of Erasmus and pays tribute to him in one of the oldest bronze statues in Europe made of a civilian Rotterdam 2001 / page 19

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Erasmus is Rotterdam’s most famous son. He was born A special place is allocated to ‘The devastated city’ by Ossip Zadkine. This, there in the fifteenth century and even when the humanist had developed more than any other sculpture, symbolises devastated Rotterdam, the city into one of the first true Europeans, he still referred to himself as ‘Erasmus which lost its heart during the Second World War. Many older inhabitants Roterodamus’. The city is proud of him and pays tribute to him in one of of the city use this sculpture to tell the young generation what happened the oldest bronze statues in Europe made of a civilian. and what may never be allowed to happen again. And in this sense 'The Rotterdam continued, and continues, to build up its international collec- devastated city' has also become a symbol of the Rotterdam which arose tion of sculptures. One of the high points is undoubtedly ‘L’homme qui from its ashes. marche’ by Auguste Rodin dating from 1905. Of all the works of art on the streets, two texts on buildings perhaps best The sculpture which Carl Nesjar made to a design by his friend Pablo typify the city of port barons and dock workers. A quote from the writer Picasso is worth special notice. It enjoys a prominent position close to the Multatuli, written alongside a portrait of him by the Rotterdam artist Central Station. Mathieu Ficheroux, relativises the difference in status: ‘Seen from the In the ‘seated woman’ by Willem de Kooning one can still see the battle the moon, we are all the same size.’ The other is a line of poetry by the poet artist had with his material. Rotterdam bought the sculpture in 1984 as a Lucebert, executed in neon lighting and fixed to the top of an insurance tribute to the artist who was born in Rotterdam. company building: ‘Everything of value is defenceless’. = The tiüenty or more museums in Rotterdam Jorm a mirror of the city’s soul. The international element, for instance, is r^ected in Boijmans Van Beuninyen Museum, the Kunsthal and the Ethno- logy Museum. The Prins Hendrik Maritime Museum, on the other hand, stands Jor the links mith the port, mater and sea. One of the world’s largest and most important collections of drawings can be found in Rotterdam. Numerous schools, from the Middle Ages to the present Boijmans Van Beuningen day, are represented in the collection. Amongst the classics, there is work by, ‘Varied and of a very high quality’ is how one would describe the for example, Durer, Rembrandt, Rubens and Da Vinci. More recent are the collection of the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum. The collection consists drawings by Cezanne, Picasso and Toulouse Lautrec. of several hundred thousand works of art from the period stretching from the Finally, Boijmans Van Beuningen is famous for its collection of applied art Middle Ages to the present day. The collection of Dutch and Flemish masters and design. One of the high points in the collection is the ‘Nautilusbeker’ from the Golden Age enjoys international renown. from 1590, but there is also glasswork, chairs and tools. The prestigious Anyone passing through the exhibition areas will find himself eye To eye with reputation which the museum enjoys means that it can organise top interna- Rembrandt’s ‘Portrait of Titus’, the ‘Tower of Babel’ by Breughel, ‘The tional exhibitions. A couple of years ago, it was unthinkable that art treasures Prodigal Son’ by Hieronymus Bosch or works by Van Eyck, Rubens, Titian or from the Forbidden City in Beijing would ever leave their familiar surroun- Saenredam. Modern art also has a place in ‘Boijmans’. The surrealists dings, but they were to be seen for the first time outside of China in Magritte and Dali are there to be admired, as well as impressionists such as Rotterdam. Boijmans Van Beuningen also managed to lure the Treasures of Monet and Signac and the expressionists Kokoschka and Kandinsky. the Tsar away from the Kremlin for a while. The collection also includes: Van Gogh, Mondriaan and Picasso. Boijmans Van Beuningen was actually the first art gallery to include a Van Gogh in its Kunsthal collection. In 1992 the Kunsthal was added to Rotterdam’s already wide range Modern art is also to be found: works by Warhol, Serra and Francis Bacon, of museums. The three large halls of 650, 1000 and 1250 square metres just to mention a few. Over the past few years paintings and sculptures by respectively offer space for large exhibitions which cannot be housed elsew- Judd, Liipertz and Kiefer have been purchased. here. As the gallery also has three smaller halls, it can easily cope with five or Rotterdam 2001 / page 21

six simultaneous exhibitions. Due to the specific design, by Rem Koolhaas, city’, ‘In search of the Roots’ and ‘Meeting of culmres’. the hall forms a true exhibition machine, where change is the constant ele- Recent exhibitions had as theme Arabic calligraphy, Islamic art and the cul- ment. It does not have its own collection, so more attention can be paid to mre of bathing in East and West. There was also a focus on modern photo- exhibitions from both at home and abroad, with about 25 every year. The graphy from all over the world and the museum exhibited the most impor- Kunsthal supplements the other art galleries and museums in the city: they tant items in the African collection. can display parts of their collection which the public would otherwise be pre- vented from seeing. Prins Hendrik Maritime Museum Dutch shipping and shipbuilding both today and in the past form Ethnology Museum the main theme of the Prins Hendrik Maritime Museum. The striking The Ethnology Museum allows the people of Rotterdam to become modern building which houses the museum, built in 1986, accommodates acquainted with distant cultures. That has actually been the case for over a one of the world’s most important maritime collections. Prins Hendrik, son cenmry now. The collection consists of 200,000 items, mainly from the late of King William II and the Grand Duchess of Russia Anna Paulovna, founded 19th and early 20th cenmry. Important sections are the Melanesian collection, the museum. During his career, Hendrik (1820 - 1874) was admiral of the the collection of fabrics from Indonesia, the collection from Islamic culmres Dutch fleet. Nowadays, the collection includes 1400 model ships, 300 pain- and the varied collection from Africa. The Equator Theatre is also part of the tings, 5000 drawings, 80,000 photos, 2000 maps and 300 atlasses. Special museum. The performing arts displayed there play an important role in the items among the atlasses are, for instance, Gastaldi's world map dating from exchange between Rotterdam's indigenous population and its ethnic minori- 1546, the Spanish edition of‘Theatrum Orbis Terrarum’ (1588) by Ortelius ties. It is partly as a result of this role that the museum pays special attention and atlases by Blaeu and Mercator. A high point of the open-air section is the to the Islamic world and South Africa. In the coming years, eight million guil- museum ship ‘De Buffel’. De Buffel is a turret ship belonging to the Royal ders have been earmarked to provide the museum with the oppormnity of Dutch Navy and was huilt in 1868. = developing into a centre specialising in the themes ‘Rotterdam (e)migration The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra managed to secure him as its chi^conductor. Valery Geryieu, the artistic director of the Kirou Opera in St. Petersburg decided to come to Rotterdam in 1996. His choice served to endorse the continually increasing international status of this excellent orchestra.

‘The Rotterdam Philharmonic is one of Europe’s best kept secrets’, reported a surprised English newspaper not yet in the know. Gergiev is going to reveal that secret, from the beautiful tones of the strings to the sonority of the wind sec- tion. A powerful vehicle for achieving this is the ten-day ‘Rotterdam Philharmonic Philips Gergiev Festival’, which was received with great enthusiasm by last year’s audience, when it was held for the first time. The company, which was founded almost eighty years ago, has played in all major concert halls of Europe and makes extensive tours throughout the United States and Asia. In its varied programme, this top orchestra regularly navigates unchartered waters, whilst not neglecting the classics. Lots of attention is paid to the Romantic period and the early twentieth century. Worthy of praise is the unique education- al programme for the young which proves that the orche- stra's sights are set on the future.

Scapino Ballet; Dutch dance and ballet enjoy a very good reputa- tion abroad. The Rotterdam Scapino Ballet can be referred to in the same breath as such top companies as the ‘Nederlands Danstheater’ and the ‘Nationale Ballet’. Top dancers from all over the world dream of belonging to these famous companies, so they all have a tableau de la troupe with an international flavour. The Scapino Ballet is Rotterdam’s city ballet. It has develo- ped into a trendsetting company in Europe. Since 1992, cho- reographer Ed Wubbe has been in charge of the dance group. He creates most of the modern repertoire, which consists further of work by Itzik Galili, Richard Wherlock, Anthony Rizzi and the young and very promising duo Voortman/De Jonge. In 1996 Wubbe created a new version of Igor Stravinsky’s ‘Le Sacre du Printemps’ and in 1997 ‘Nico’, a full evening’s programme about the life of the legendary singer from the Velvet Underground, to music by her former partner John Gale. Apart from the hundred or so performances per year in the Netherlands, the Scapino Ballet also performs in Spain, Brazil, Germany, Finland, France, Canada and Italy. In the United States the group made its debut in 1993 with a week in the Joyce Theatre, to which it returned in 1994. = Architecture and Rotterdam are often referred to in the some breath. Buildings mhich spring up in the city are regularly acclaimed Jar beyond the country’s borders, due to their yreat orchitectural value. >

Rotterdam 2001 / page 25 cc The NHi is housed in a paragon of modern orchiteciure »

In the decades following the Second World War, during which the heart of the city A city with so much architectural allure is naturally the home port for the national was totally destroyed, Rotterdam tackled its reconstruction with the energy and institute for urban development and architecture, the Netherlands Architecture drive so typical of the city. The new city and the modern age were given concrete Institute (NAi). It is housed in a paragon of modern architecture, with modern art shape with the aid of modern architecture; from the Wholesale Trade Building by playing an integral part. The arcade, for instance, has a work of art incorporating architect Maaskant from the fifties to the most recent architectural highlights light by Peter Struycken and a piece of sculpture by Auke de Vries decorates the such as the Kunsthal designed by Rem Koolhaas and the Erasmus Bridge from pond next to the entrance. The building itself, designed by Jo Coenen, consists of Ben van Berkel. three clearly distinct sections. This expresses the versatile function of the institute.

The NAi is a cultural institution open to all It focuses on architecture, urban development and planning in various ways. With fifteen linear kilometres of drawings, sketches, scale models, photos, books and magazines, the NAi has one of the largest architectural collections in the world. Included are the records of architects such as Berlage and Dudok. The library contains 40,000 books and a wide range of international journals. Researchers, students and other interested persons have free access to this enor- mous source of information. The NAi has seven exhibition halls. Here, over twenty-five exhibitions are held annually. These provide an overview of both the history of and the current deve- lopments within architecture in a very attractive way. Special exhibitions on inter- nationally-renowned architects such as Renzo Piano and Daniel Liebeskind make their work accessible to a wide public. With lectures, symposia, study trips, special events, activities for schoolchildren and other programmes, the NAi stimulates the debate on architecture. The NAi Publishers Foundation does the same via many different publications. It publishes a large number of books, including the catalogues to accompany the exhibitions. Periodical NAi publications are the international journal ‘Archis’ and ‘De Architectuurkrant’. » In June, u;hen the temperature begins to rise, the last thing cultu- re in Rotterdam does is take a vacation. While most regular insti- tutions close their doors, the harbour city embarks on a long summer ojexciting events and attractive Jestivals. Young and old, black and mhite - there is something/or everyone. The variety offered by the dij/erent cultural disciplines is enormous. There is dance and there is music. The taste buds can take an adventurous culinary voyage o/discovery ivhilst the heart can enjoy poetry at Nobel Prize level. Here are just some of the things on ojferfrom Rotterdam Festival City. Rotterdam 2001 / page 27

□unya Festival The Dunya Festival opens the festival flood gates in Rotterdam. This For truly light-hearted entertainment, there is the Summer Carnival, the celebration of the multicultural society which characterises Rotterdam covers the largest open-air event in Rotterdam. Over half a million visitors a year watch en- art forms world music, story-telling and poetry. The average 150,000 visitors (for thraled as the parade of magnificent floats, hundreds of people in costumes and one day and one evening) prove the low threshold and high quality of the free pro- dozens of brass bands pass by. The most beautiful carnival queens alluringly and gramme. The majority of the artists come from Afirica, the Caribbean and the cheerfully display their sumptuous trains and finery. Finally the ultimate beaty is countries around the Mediterranean, some but not all residents of the Nether- chosen: the Summer Carnival Queen. The swinging Summer Carnival has the lands. The various cultures and nationalities which Rotterdam accommodates are impact of the Brazilian carnival. For one day of the year, Rotterdam is transformed really given the opportunity to get to know and appreciate each other during the into a bubbling Rio de Janiero. This colourful spectacle is a true popular festival. Dunya Festival. Some three hundred artists on thirteen stages, in six special ‘villa- There is something of interest to everyone and they all join in the dancing. The ges’ and a large children’s area make this possible. People can not only enjoy one Summer Carnival is now, after thirteen years, one of the major events in the another’s stories and music, but also sample each other’s food and drinks. After Netherlands. This Rotterdam festival also serves an urban, social function due to all, the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, as the Dutch also say. Dunya its multi-cultural character and the way it draws attention to the non-Western arts. (meaning ‘earth’) is almost as famous for the air pregnant with the aroma of herbs Culture, unadulterated pleasure and the interests of the community go hand-in- and spices as the sweeping rhythms and moving stories. An important element of hand here in an exuberant fashion. the festival is the Dunya Poetry Competition. This attempts to provide some insight into the potential of poets from different cultures resident in the Nether- Pop festivals lands. A concrete result was the publication of an anthology containing work by When it comes to pop music in the open air, the ideal product for sum- past years’ winners. mer consumption, Rotterdam can, since this year, boast two popular events. An established name in the pop circuit is the Metropolis Pop Festival. This year, it was Poetry International Featival held for the tenth time. As usual, the visitor was presented with a spectacular selec- A week after Dunya, the Poetry International Festival starts. This event, tion of progressive bands. There is an abundance of pop festivals in Europe, but the largest of its kind in Europe, attracts poets from every corner of the world. they are seldom as innovative and adventurous as Metropolis. The organisers can- Since 1970, this Mecca for poetry lovers has welcomed writers like Pablo Neruda, not be accused of either presenting safe popular acts or routinely attracting the Joseph Brodsky, Elisabeth Bishop, Wole Soyinka and Seamus Heany, to mention already established ‘better’ groups. It is young, refreshing talent, still enjoying just a few big names and (later) Nobel Prize winners. For just over a week, famous only limited fame, which is given the chance to perform here to a larger audience. poets and budding talents read their work. There are also discussions, interviews, The range of styles at Metropolis therefore runs from alternative rock to house and exhibitions and special projects. Poetry International encourages the professional hip-hop. For a number of bands which later became famous, such as Nirvana, this translation ofwork from and into Dutch. That is one of the reasons why it is a plat- was one of their first performances on the European mainland. form and meeting place, in all respects, for poets, public, media and publishers. Something new this year was the Dance Parade, modelled on the famous Berlin Love Parade and (for the time being) its little cousin. A trail of floats on which DJ’S displayed their talents for all to hear and professional dancers whipped the public into a state of ecstasy, ended (in true Rotterdam style) on the quayside, where the dance party continued. = At the end of January, the whole of Rotterdam comes under the spell Mega-cinema of the Film Festival. The location, in the heart of the shopping cent- This year brought a new location and a new record num- re and close to the station, makes it impossible for any visitor to ber of visitors (212,000 in the ten days of the festival) for the remain oblivious to the festivities. The International Film Festival Rotterdam Film Festival. The mainly young public responded ent- offers a comprehensive programme with feature films, but owes its husiastically to the opening of the new, modern Pathe Cinema. This aura and support equally to the fascinating fringe programmes. luxury mega-complex on the Schouwburgplein brought with it the The CineMart is highly esteemed by the international independent choice of seven auditoria with large screens and very comfortable cinema. During the festival, effective (co-)producers can be found seating. Experienced festival-visitors believe that Rotterdam now for all kinds of film projects. This year, the organisation recorded offers the most attractive location of all the different film festivals in 2500 agreements between film makers and financiers. Europe. Another fringe programme is the VPRO Tiger Awards competition, the main aim of which is to discover and support young, indepen- Film fund dent film makers. Concrete financial aid is offered to film makers in The presence of an eminent Film Festival in Rotterdam the Third World via the Hubert Bals Fund, named after the legenda- naturally creates a climate conducive to film making. In order to ry founder of the festival. promote this even more, the municipality established its own Film Fund in 1996. The availability of resources is an important impulse for financing film, video and TV productions. The former battery shed of a large power station has been converted into a film and TV studio. Rotterdam 2001 / page zg

One of the pillars of Rotterdam Cultural City is without a doubt the International Film Festival. It is praised by media from all over the world as an innovative and challenging festival with international allure and stature. Film makers, producers and the public are just as appreciative of the festival.

Pap spec1;acles in the Kuip, Rotterdam’s Nighttown is a prominent location on the club circuit. Ahoy and Nighttown Spearheads in the programming are reggae and R&B acts. In line The Film Festival means that Rotterdam operates in the with Nighttown’s image as dance club, there are an increasing num- international artistic front line. As far as pop music is concerned, ber of live performances by professional dancers. The combination the city has a good reputation due to its audience-friendly concert of dance club and concert podium makes Nighttown unique, and facilities. Almost every pop legend has appeared in the Kuip at some not only in the Netherlands. time. This is the stadium of the legendary football club Feyenoord, Recognition of the fact that Rotterdam counts as pop city is given by winner of the (then) European Cup i in 1970. In 1994 it underwent the music station MTV. At the beginning of November this youth thorough refurbishing, to meet today's requirements. The stadium station will be hosting a show in Ahoy to mark its annual, illustrious can accommodate some 60,000 pop fans. Superstars, from the ceremony for the MTV Europe Music Awards. » Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson to Tina Turner and U2 chose the Kuip for their mega-concerts, and not infrequently the launch of a European tour. In the summer, the fine fieur of R&B appeared a number of times in the Kuip. The appearance of all the big names of ‘new soul’, immensely popular among the young, never failed to produce an enormous spectacle. Other successful pop acts can be accommodated in the Ahoy sport complex, which can cope with an audience of over ten thousand. This auditorium is also the regular venue for Dutch stars. RoUerdam’s city council attaches great value lity is also making significant contributions to the expansion of the Doelen to art ond culture. The city is therefore continually investing to cre- concert and conference centre, the redesign of the Central Library and ate the conditions under which these sectors can best flourish. In the past improvements to the Hofplein Theatre intended particularly for children twenty years, the municipality of Rotterdam has invested many tens of mil- and young people. lions of guilders in expanding and refurbishing theatres, concert halls and There is lots of room for special initiatives. For instance, Rotterdam is libraries.. making three million guilders available for the realization of a combination In the special investment programme for the current period, 1995 - 2000, of studios and workplaces for individual artists. The municipality hopes the municipality has included a sum of 100 million guilders for the arts. that this will encourage Rotterdam artists who want to start shops close to Some of this will be used for the construction of a large new concert hall. each other to establish new forms of cooperation. It will allow the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum, whose collection inclu- The numerous (amateur) pop musicians in the city will be allowed to use a des hundreds of thousands of works of art representing Western civiliza- so-called ‘Pop depot’ with well-equiped studios and stages. tion from the Middle Ages to modern day, to significantly expand its exhi- These are just a few of the many initiatives in the arts field which help to bition and storage areas. The Ethnology Museum hopes to transform itself show that Rotterdam is investing in its cultural life. « into an art institution focussing on the multicultural society. The municipa- Rotterdam 2001 / page p

For Rotterdam as international (har- cipality and its institutions participate tion of over sixty European cities. The bour) city, international relations are in a range of exchange activities in link between the cultural sectors of very important. Rotterdam therefore many fields. International relations the major cities in this circuit will pro- has many contacts all over the world- also bear fruit in the area of culture vide an important impulse for The city’s first official foreign rela- and the arts. Large exhibitions in Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 and tions date back to the period just after Rotterdam museums, such as the further cooperation in the European the Second World War. They were Gold of the Thracians, the Treasures context. idealistic in origin: in Kingston-upon- of the Tsar and the Forbidden City Rotterdam wants to make the Cultural Hull, children from Rotterdam were were all made possible ±anks to these Capital year a truly ‘European’ year. welcomed most hospitably after the relations. Not by focussing exclusively on ‘hunger winter’ and Oslo started the By encouraging and maintaining Europe but by using its contacts to try annual tradition of presenting an international contacts, Rotterdam to involve other cultural spheres too. enormous Christmas tree, as a symbol wants to contribute towards the cre- For this reason, Rotterdam has sought of peace and freedom. ation of a united Europe. In the events contact with Cologne, Gdansk, The increased internationalisation has of Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001, St. Petersburg, Budapest and Bilbao in led to the necessity for maintaining an the European sister cities and the preparation for its candidacy. These international network in many areas. ‘second’ cities with which Rotterdam are all cities with which Rotterdam The exchange of knowledge, orienta- has close links, will therefore play an has maintained close links for years tion on developments elsewhere in the important role. Rotterdam has always and which have experienced interes- world, is a very important means of striven towards securing an important ting developments in the cultural reinforcing their own knowledge in- role for cities and urban conurbations field. Rotterdam wants to show how frastructure and keeping expertise up in Europe and establishing interna- dynamic and open the culture of its to date for many municipal bodies. A tional cooperation and was one of the European friends is during the year as consequence of this is that the muni- founders of‘Eurocities’, an associa- cultural capital. « R year as Cultural Capital calls far a few years of tharaugh preparation during which all kinds of things are set in motion

As Jar as Rotterdam is concerned, a cultural festival lasting just one Rotterdam Cultural Capital is more than a year of festivities and the presentation of unique productions. A year as Cultural Capital calls for a few years of tho- year is not enouyh. Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 must leave its rough preparation during which all kinds of things are set in motion. In the years mark far into the 21st century. In order to deepen, r^ne and broaden leading up to the year as Culmral Capital, productions are prepared, commis- sions are granted and both new and established audiences are involved in the the city’s urban and cultural life, as mell as make a leap forward, an preparations. But something which must be considered right from the start of extra impulse is required. The Cultural Capital year is such an impulse the preparations is how to work afterwards with whatever takes root. Rotterdam is setting itself three objectives for urban culmral life after 2001. The and it also serves as a new calibration point. The run-up to 2001 first one is to retain the close cooperation between various culmral instimtions in offers Rotterdam the opportunity to stop and think about ivhat has Rotterdam and the Rotterdam region. Secondly, Rotterdam aims to build a bridge between old and new culmres. The third objective for the fiimre is to rein- been achieved and ponder on the question as to hoiv the city and cul- force international cooperation in the culmral field. ture mill/are in the 21st century. The city which emerged in the twelfth cenmry as a fishing village has developed into a metropolis with a population of 1.2 million. During the Culmral Capital year, the whole physical area of the new metropolis will serve as a stage. In this way, Rotterdam will place the arts at the centre of the social processes involving the region. This will all create various links and there- fore result in a greater degree of participation by the various bodies. The resul- ting cooperation must form a basis for Rotterdam as culmral centre after 2001. Bridge between old and new Internationalisation of Rotterdam’! social cultures culture

Rotterdam wants to find an answer to the question of how the multiculmral Rotterdam has always been in favour of cities and urban conurbations playing an society has developed and continues to develop. There is a belief that an answer important role in Europe. International cooperation between cities is naturally to this question can only be found after great effort on the part of the culmral very important here. In order to give shape to this cooperation, Rotterdam was sectors. Rotterdam has set itself the aim of building a bridge between the old and one of the initiators of‘Eurocities’. This association has developed into an new social cultures. In this way, the multicultural harbour city hopes to create a important lobbying and cooperative organisation in which sixty European cities better understanding among the Western-oriented institutions for the back- participate. ground of large groups of the population whose roots lie in different countries. In addition, close relations have developed between a number of art institutions in Rotterdam and fellow institutions in, for instance, St. Petersburg, Lille, Antwerp, Cologne, Turin, Gdansk, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Milan and Lyon. Another of Rotterdam’s priorities after 2001 too is the link with the internationa- lisation of the city and region through strengthening relations and associations in the cultural field. As already stated, Rotterdam Cultural Capital 2001 must not only be seen as a large cultural happening which ‘only’ lasts a year. Rotterdam Cultural Capital must also be viewed as a means of helping the city and promoting its cultural life even further. In this way, the year serves as a bridge between city and region, between old and new culmres and between local and international artists and cultural institutions. A Cultural Capital year also functions as a bridge towards the future and offers the oppormnity to stop and ponder on what has been achie- ved and how Rotterdam and its culture is to enter the 21st century. = More information on Rotterdam?

For more on Art and Cultural Policy in Rotterdam: Department of Cultural Affairs Postbus 70012, 3000 KP Rotterdam telephone: (+31) 10 417 3719

For more on Municipal Administration in Rotterdam: Rotterdam Municipal Administration Office Postbus 70012, 3000 KP Rotterdam telephone: (+31) 10 417 2272

In/ormation on the Port of Rotterdam: Rotterdam Municipal Port Management Posthus 6622, 3002 AP Rotterdam telephone: (+31) 10 489 4172

Tourism, recreation, arts & culture in Rotterdam: Rotterdam Tourist and Entertainment Board . Coolsingel 67, 3012 AC Rotterdam telephone: (+31) 10 402 3200

In/ormation on urban deuelopments in the inner city: City Information Center Rotterdam Coolsingel 197, 3012 AG Rotterdam telephone. (+31) 10 413 4011 [climate in Rotterdam]

jan feta mrch april moy june july aug sept oct nov dec

avg. temp, in °C S,B 3,D 5,3 8,0 12,2 is,I 15,8 15,8 14,5 11,1 5,5 3,9 min. temp, in °C 0,5 0,l 1,9 3,3 7,2 10,2 12,4 12,2 10,0 7,1 3,8 2,1 mSK. temp, in °C 5,4 5,5 9,1 12,0 15,7 19,1 21,1 21,4 18,3 14,3 9,5 7,0 hours of sunlight 42 77 98 155 209 184 197 185 128 94 57 32 rain in mm 71 41 59 39 53 59 57 55 75 87 81 74 of a new society

and candidate for

Cultural Capital

of Europe in 2001

Rotterdam, mtroir d’unc societc' nouoelle ct candidate pour la Ville Europe'enne de la Culture 2001