The Oude Haven has every
right to call its self the oldest dock of Rotterdam.
In 1351 the first jetty was built here. In the
centuries that followed the area developped and many
warehouses and merchant homes were built along the
Gelderse kade. In 1940 the area was completely leveled
by German bombs. The redevelopment of the area was
awarded to architect Piet Blom in 1977. The area is
part of Waterstad, the first expansion of the little
town that Rotterdam was in the early 16th
century. These days it is a lively place with an
emphasis on nightlife. The dock itself now serves as
an open air museum for historic ships. On the southern
end a historic (working) ship yard has been
reconstructed.
The Oude Haven is connected to the Haringvliet.
This dock was created between 1575 and 1592 during
another expansion of the city. It derives its name
from the hering fleet that used to have its base here.
On its south bank are a number of student housing
block and a couple of old merchant homes.
The Spanjaardbrug (Spaniards
Bridge) connects the Spaansekade with the Oude
Hoofd square. The first bridge was built in 1597. The
bridge got its present name in 1608 when the spanish
general Spinola and his entourage visited Rotterdam.
He was on his way to the Hague for negotiations on the
12 year cease fire during the Eighty Year War
(1588-1648) with Spain. The present bridge dates back
to 1890. Pay also attention to the advertising pillar
of 1894. An innovation in outdoor advertising of which
Rotterdam erected 16 at the time.
The White House is een eye
catcher too. It was built in 1898 by Molenhoek and
with its 45 metres height it was the tallest building
in continental Europe. The outside is adorned with Art
Nouveau decorations. Watch out for the six pictures in
its facade depicting Labour, Progress, Industry,
Trade, Agriculture and Navigation.
The house next
to it are special too. The "Wijnhaven houses"
would have been demolished in 1987 in connection with
the construction of the railway tunnel. Although the
buildings were not exceptional, there was a lot of
resistance against the plans. So much had already been
torn down in the name of progress. The houses belonged
to the few merchant homes left in the area after the
bombings in 1940. The protesters succeeded in saving
the houses. The houses were taken apart stone by stone
and put together again after the completion of the
tunnel. Number 7 dates from 1718, Number 9 from
1628. Number 11 is "new" from 1903 replacing an older
one from 1717. Number 13 is a national monument, built
in 1616-20. In 1742 it housed a soap factory. Now its
the Royal Marines Museum. Also number 15 is a national
monument. It has a early 19th century facade. Nr
21 is classicis. In the water of the Wijnhaven dock is
the old bridge house of the demolished Willemsbrug of
1878, which has also been rebuilt after the completion
of the railway tunnel.
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