COLUMN
“ GIVE ME BACK A DEER PARK”
EDUARD VOORN
Once upon a time, deer frolicked on the stretch between Rotterdam Central Station and De Doelen. Deer? Yes, deer. Smack in the centre of Rotterdam was an honest-to-goodness deer park. These days, you’ve got to head to the Kralingse Bos to spot any of those. But in the 1970s and 80s, the expansively broad Weena heading towards Hofplein had space aplenty for a whole herd of adorable Bambis, as well as for a park on the Weena – colloquially christened Worstbos in honour of alderman Jan Worst – which was developed after construction of the country’s first
R C D
metro line, to Rotterdam-Zuid. But that’s not all we had once that’s lost now. Besides green, there
25
was blue. Water. Small fountains where neighbours could congregate and dip their toes in summer. I used to stroll my daughter Robin over to Schouwburgplein, which had charming fountains splashing clean water. She had floaties to paddle around in while I sat on the side and chatted with neighbours. Back then, the city centre was still green and some more blue than it does now, but in the decades since every planted patch has been carpeted with shiny high-rises. The result of this building frenzy is that now it’s too hot in summer and the centre has insufficient drainage capacity to cope with heavy downpours. But there’s something else that’s odd. Because aren’t there any children living in RotEduard Voorn is a freelance
terdam Central District anymore? Apart from the odd hipster family, RCD has far
journalist with a focus on
too few couples with kids. Then again, where could you take kids to safely splash
economics, and first and foremost a Rotterdammer. He
or play outside these days? There’s only the playground at the far end of Weena.
lives in the Little Volendam area on the outskirts of Rotterdam Centre District, has breakfast
Luckily though, we’ve got young landscape architect Linde Elsinga of Echo Urban
at Op Het Dak, eats his pizza at
Design, based in the Groothandelsgebouw, who’s on the RCD Climate Team and has
Bird, raises a pint at Biergarten,
taken up the gauntlet to reintroduce plants and water to create a pleasant living
gets his caffeine fix at Lebkov
environment. She’s certainly got her work cut out for her, but she’s got my support.
and catches the latest flicks in Pathé Schouwburgplein. His kids
After all, with all the residential buildings slated to go up in and around RCD, ‘tree
were born in the now-famous
alderman’ Bert Wijbenga’s (VVD party) plans to green Hofplein and the creation
Mecanoo architectural firm’s first
of Hofbogenpark won’t be enough. Besides the chirping of birds and the rustling
project on Kruisplein.
of trees, a green/blue urban centre also needs to ring with the sounds of children playing. I say, give them a deer park!
M A G A Z I N E
