One of my favorite restaurants - De Prins van Terbregge
Last Sunday was the turn to an old friend, De Prins van Terbregge. I know this restaurant thanks to the Restaurant Week and since I first set foot in it, I like to go back every now and then. This is really such a restaurant that you want to share with friends. To keep it to your self would simply be criminal. So, when our table mates called us to cancel because one of them was ill, we had absolutely no trouble finding friends who wanted to accompany us to this nice restaurant at the bank of the Rotte.
Upon entry, everyone is welcomed personally by the owner of De Prins, Simon Wijers. I like this personal touch.
For the wine lover, De Prins van Terbregge is definitely a must. Look on the website www.deprinsvanterbregge.nl under the heading Wijnkaart. Take your time to do so, because you’ll find up to 175 wines! The wines are both available by the glass and by bottle.
The food lovers will not be disappointed, but enough of this, because just the memory makes me craving! It needs no further explanation that The Hotstepper wholeheartedly recommends De Prins van Terbregge!
SMAAK - Restaurant Week
During the Restaurant week I went to restaurant SMAAK in the Westelijk Handelsterrein on Saturday. The main reason for choosing this restaurant was that it still had a table for four available. This is not the best reason for choosing a restaurant, but ultimately it proved that it was not a bad choice.
The atmosphere in the restaurant was good, the food was ok and the service was, in contrast to those reviews that I read just before I left for the restaurant, also quite sound.
Especially the wine selection in the restaurant deserves to be mentioned here. They had really made an effort to select fine wines that fit well with the various dishes. Successively we drank two white wines from Savoie (France) and Rueda (Spain) and two red wines, including a very nice Spanish wine of Monastrell grapes and a surprising dessert wine whose origin I unfortunately do not remember…
The Shadow by Onno Poiesz
The sculpture “The Shadow” is set to the forecourt of the Oorlogsverzetsmuseum (War & Resistance Museum) to give the location of the museum a clear landmark. (This is not an unnecessary luxury, as the museum is somewhat hidden under the Peter the Hoochbrug) The sculpture also serves in memory of the bombing of Rotterdam that was conducted by German Heinkel HE-111 bombers on May 14, 1940.
The work of art is made with solid concrete. The plane is upright with the nose up and resting on the tail. It is about five meters high and four meters wide. It was created by Onno Poiesz who lives and works in Rotterdam.
Because the plane is made of concrete, it symbolizes both the destruction and reconstruction of the city. The material gives the sculpture a rough appearance. When the sun shines it casts a shadow on the ground, just like the planes in 1940 did.
The bombing ripped the heart out of the city of Rotterdam. Therefore, the monument is controversial. It gives older residents of the city mixed feelings.
More information about this and other war monuments can be found on www.4en5mei.nl/oorlogsmonumenten The site is Dutch only.
Motel Mozaïque 2010, April 8 through April 11
After writing about the Bevrijdingsfestival (http://wp.me/punIp-q3) I realized that I had forgotten another festival that really deserves attention: Motel Mozaïque.
Motel Mozaïque is THE Music, Art & Performance festival in Rotterdam, since 2001. Besides good concerts and a very relaxed atmosphere it offers guided tours through Rotterdam (free) and a sleeping project. (sleeping in art or on special locations in Rotterdam)
This year Motel Mozaïque will kick off on Thursday April 8 and it will last till Sunday April 11. Thursday and Sunday consist of free program, tickets are required for Friday and/or Saturday.
The festival is held at various music, theatre and art venues in the city centre of Rotterdam: Rotterdamse Schouwburg, WATT, Lantaren/Venster, Rotown, CBK ao. All venues are nearby Central Station and can be reached within a couple of minutes by foot.
At this moment it is not possible to name all the acts that will perform on the festival. Here are some names among others that are confirmed: Thursday April 8 TV Buddhas (free); Friday April 9 Mumford & Sons, Fuck Buttons, Admiral Freebee, Fool’s Gold, Isbells, The Strange Boys; Saturday April 10 Angus & Julia Stone, Band of Horses, Noah and the Whale, Everything Everything, Fink, Hudson Mohawke, Crystal Antlers
Tickets are still available. At the festival you have to exchange your tickets for a wristband which gives you entrance to all festival venues. However, MotMoz is a festival and therefore not all visitors can fit in just one venue, so if you definitely don’t want to miss a specific show, make sure to be there on time!
For more information it’s best to check the site: http://www.motelmozaique.nl
Bevrijdingsfestival Rotterdam, May 5, 2010
Although it is only February and Winter is still among us, Spring glimmers again. When I think of Spring, I think amongst others of May 5 and the Bevrijdingsfestivals (Liberation Festivals). Although there are thirteen official festivals, (in all twelve provinces, plus one in Amsterdam) but to The Hotstepper there is of course only one that in particular matters: the Bevrijdingsfestival in Rotterdam.
The celebration on the Day of Freedom is not complete without music. Freedom is something, as is music, that we create and enjoy together. Music fraternizes people. On May 5 at 13:00, the Freedom Fire is lit. On the thirteen festivals the fire burns in specially designed torches.
Especially for the Bevrijdingsfestivals Boris and The Wicked Jazz Sounds Band will collaborate. The two bands play together as Boris & The Wicked Jazz Experience on the Bevrijdingsfestival of Rotterdam. On what time however is not yet clear. As soon as the program for 2010 is official, The Hotstepper will let you know more. Or you can check for yourself at http://www.bevrijdingsfestivalzh.nl
Lock of Love by BLISS
Today I received a response to the Lock of Love blog (http://wp.me/punIp-oZ) by BLISS. In a way I had not noticed that the monument was designed by the creative trio. I am pleased with their comment, because now I can correct it immediately. Especially since BLISS organizes so much more fun things in Rotterdam. I can recommend anyone both residents and visitors of Rotterdam, to visit the website www.aworldofbliss.com and if an opportunity arises, to attend a performance by this fascinating company. They have been active in for example Boem Boem de Parfum (see flyer above, which I downloaded from their site) and De Wereld van Witte de With. (see pictures below, which I took on sep 9, 2006)
The Lock of Love in Delfshaven – A love seat
I have already blogged about this subject (http://wp.me/punIp-87) on August 5 last year, but on February 14, how appropriate, it was official. The Lock of Love, a special place for lovers, was opened on Valentine’s Day in Rotterdam. I wrote last year “I can not seem to figure out if this piece of art is shoddy or not …”, now I have visited the artwork at the Havenstraat (near the Lage Erfbrug) in Delfshaven, I must admit that it looks very nice.
For those who do not know the concept: There is a tradition going on all over the world, a ritual, to seal your love together in a special way. People in love hang a padlock on bridges, fences and lampposts and throw the key into the water. The legend says that as long as the lock is not removed or opened, they will remain happy together.
Names and dates are engraved on the locks and they are decorated with ribbons, stickers, beads etc …. There are similar places in Italy, Hungary, Korea, Latvia, Russia, China and America. In Nevada, people marry at the spot where they hang the lock. Newly weds in Hungary hang their locks on their wedding day. What will be the tradition in the Netherlands?
The design ensures a long and beautiful tradition. Actually, the giant heart is nothing but a big chair, where you and your loved one can have a sit. Next to the seat is a little table or column. Just big enough for two rings … Like the object itself, this is romantic red and of course also in the form of a heart! The view over the water with the Euromast in the distance makes the site a wonderful place for a wedding ceremony.
But let’s not get carried away! Even love birds that do not immediately want to get married and don’t bring a photographer with them can perpetuate themselves at the monument. I inquired at initiator Renata Rakolcai of Magic Happens (www.magichappens.nl) what the use for the column is. She told me that the column is intended to rest your camera and use the timer to make a photo of yourself and your loved one. (a sign with instructions will be posted shortly) I think this is a brilliant idea – a combination of art and practical ingenuity that in my view may be applied more often! Well done!
Ik en mijn familie - Persoonsdam
After the succes of the Monsters out door exhibition, another outdoor exhibition has seen the light at the Persoonsdam in Rotterdam Feijenoord: Ik en mijn familie. The Monsters exhibition was part of the project Droom en Daad by Villa Zebra. The project was commissioned by Woonstad Rotterdam. The goal of the project is that children reflect on the exterior in the area around the Persoonsdam. Children from the neighbourhood have devised plans (dreams) that can be implemented (deed) in short term. (see also http://wp.me/punIp-8i)
Between the pictures is also room for messages of public interest.
I guess this new exhibition is also part of the project Droom en Daad. I cannot find information about it on the internet and in local newspapers… I wouldn’t be the first time that The Hotstepper beats the regular news, but this blog is not about me, but about the beautiful paintings that give the area around the Persoondam a colourful impulse again.
Boobies Magazine
Today The Hotstepper went to work, just like any other day. He nearly missed his connecting train and could just see the red tail lights get smaller in the morning mist when he made a discovery in one of the newspaper containers on the platform. A pile of white tabloids lay on top of a pile of Metro newspapers. Later that day he discovered he was not the only one to make this discovery and Rotterdam wasn’t the only city where these mysterious papers were dropped. On the websites of national newspapers as AD, Trouw and Volkskrant a text similar to the one below was published:
This morning at several railway stations a newspaper with pictures of topless women was distributed. The so-called Tietenblaadje (Boobs Magazine) was waiting for commuters in newspaper bins of Pers and Metro at the stations of Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Haarlem. It is unknown who has made the magazine and with what reason.
The free magazine in tabloid format, shows large pictures of women who pull up their T-shirt in front of the camera without showing their faces. On the cover of the blank magazine is only the text “The newspaper that nobody dared to ask for has actually arrived. We took the first step. Who is number 2? “
On their website www.tietenblaadje.nl the authors call the public - in English - to create other versions of the magazine and distribute it in their own city or country.
Isle of Brienenoord – a green oasis in the heart of Rotterdam
Brienenoord Island is a green oasis in the heart of Rotterdam. One can in an area of 21 ha enjoy a surprising number of plant and animal species. The tidal force of the Nieuwe Maas plays an important role. Large grazers (the famous Scottish Highlander) prevent massive afforestation and keep the island shaggy.
Thus it is said on the welcome sign at the entrance of the park. After one and a half hours walking, I unfortunately have not seen a Higlander. Yet I am enthusiastic about this area! So here’s some extra info.
In the nineteenth century some sand banks came to be at the place where now the Isle of Brienenoord is. They grew together and became overgrown with reeds, rush and willow. Early twentieth century the island that thus was created reduced the flow, so part of the sand bank was excavated. The sand from the excavation was used to increment the remaining part and the island of Brienenoord in its current form was born.
The island is over the time used for allotments, as a location for Youth Home and as an oil transshipment point of the NAM. The Island also did service as a dock to build parts for the subway tunnel, on behalf of the North-South metro connection. Early sixties, on the east side of the island, the Brienenoordbrug was built to establish another North-South connection.
Over time, the island is largely covered with forest. Some trees are so old that they fall over. The South Holland Landscape Foundation (Stichting Het Zuid-Hollands Landschap) , which is responsible for maintenance, let these trees to birds as the green woodpecker, wren and jay and many insect species.
Although the island has been used for cultural and industrial purposes and (part of) the island is still used by people for recreational purposes, it’s fair to say that the Brienenoord Island is of ecological value.
In 2003 a trench system was dug in the eastern part of the island that strengthened the tidal force in the region. Freshwater tidal nature is among the rarest types of nature in the Netherlands.
The Nieuwe Maas is a tidal river. Twice a day the water rises and falls up to 175 cm. Not all plants enjoy it to take a ducking with the regularity of the clock. Therefor specific plant species are to be found along the shore edges. One such rarity is the Spin Palustris. The spring flowering plant with yellow flowers is of international importance. At the interface of land and water grows Bulrush, also a typical tidal species.
Many freshwater fish prefer to mate in the shallow water in the gullies. The young fish have to share their ‘kingdom’ with different types of freshwater mussels. For them, the tidal area is perfect too.
The flow can be so strong that edges crumble and steep banks arise. These provide breeding grounds for the Sand Martin and the Kingfisher.
So much for the official text. What I like about the island is diversity. The abandoned docks where the machines were left to become rusty scrap fill me with a sense of melodrama. And the view at the city from this point is fantastic. I continued my walk east along the banks of the Nieuwe Maas, where one can hear the distant hum of the diesels of the barges. Here you can get a good sense of the shaginess of the landscape.
On the far end of the island, beyond the tidal gullies it is obvious that the park is not only a place for nature lovers. The pillars on which the Brienenoordbrug rests are a colourful display of various forms of graffiti. It’s either because of the drawings and tags, or because of the continuous murmur of cars passing us over our heads, that this part of the island is rather more urban than natural.
The difference is fascinating! Because I’m used to sound everywhere all the time, I kind of need the distant buzzing of the cars on the bridge to enjoy the silence even more.
