The Laurens
The Great or St-Laurens Church, popularly called simply the Church of Laurens or Laurens, is traditionally the “cathedral” of Rotterdam. (the real cathedral is located on the Mathenesserlaan) Built between approximately 1449 and 1525, the Laurens Church is the only remaining building from the late Gothic medieval origin of Rotterdam.
To many, the Laurens Church symbolizes Rotterdam’s history. One could buy his Citizenship in the medieval city of Rotterdam by buying 3000 bricks to help build the tower. The images of the devastated and charred church in the Second World War and its subsequent reconstruction were the symbol for resurrection of the city. Even now the Laurens Church remains an imposing presence in the midst of all architectural buildings in the contemporary “Manhattan aan de Maas“.
Tour/Opening hours
A visit to the Great or St. Lawrence Church is in many ways a walk through ancient times. Both church, art and music history can be experienced in the rich times of yore of this monument.
Tuesday
10.00 – 14.00
Wednesday to Saturday
14.00 – 16.00
Cost per person € 2.50 / € 2.00 per person in groups. Rates 2010: € 3.50 pp / € 3 per person in groups.
From June 1, 2009 to October 2010 climbing the tower of the Laurens is not possible due to restoration.
For more information, please check http://www.laurenskerkrotterdam.nl
Great big white world
Today the world is white, and drained of it’s colours. Authorities warned us not to leave the safety of our homes if not necessary. I therefor shot this photo from my doorstep…
The first line of this blog was borrowed from Marilyn Manson… Here’s some more of the lyrics of Great big white world:
Because it’s a great big white world and we are drained of our colors
We used to love ourselves, we used to love another
All my stiches itch
My prescription’s low, I wish you were queen just for today
In a world so white what else could I say?
In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes
Bright blue neon in an empty Witte de Withstraat. Where are the people? Too busy becoming famous somewhere else I guess. I took the opportunity to take a photo without someone on it. This way no one will become famous through my blog. Below you can read what Wikipedia has to say about the quote.
The expression is a paraphrase of Andy Warhol’s 1968 statement: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” In 1979 Warhol reiterated his claim: “…my prediction from the Sixties finally came true: In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Becoming bored with continually being asked about this particular statement, Warhol attempted to confuse interviewers by changing the statement variously to “In the future 15 people will be famous” and “In 15 minutes everybody will be famous.”
Warhol’s comment and the insight it expressed emerged from his own fascination with fame and celebrities. His view of the media was that they could enable any person to become famous. Warhol’s own shifting entourage of otherwise undistinguished hangers-on in the ’60s and ’70s, whom he dubbed his “Superstars,” exemplified his idea of ephemeral, disposable celebrity.
The age of reality television has seen the comment wryly updated as: “In the future, everyone will be obscure for 15 minutes.”
The British artist Banksy has made a sculpture of a TV that has, written on its screen, “In the future, everyone will be anonymous for 15 minutes.”
A more recent adaptation of Warhol’s quip, possibly prompted by the rise of online social networking, blogging, and similar online phenomena, is the claim that “In the future, everyone will be famous to fifteen people” (or, in some renditions, “On the Web, everyone will be famous to fifteen people”). This quote, though attributed to David Weinberger, was said to have originated with the Scottish artist Momus.
Most people are other people
Most people are other people (Dutch: de meeste mensen zijn andere mensen) is a quotation of De Profundis by Oscar Wilde. This book was published posthumously in 1905 by Oscar Wilde’s friend Robert Ross. De Profundis (1905) is a long letter written while the author was in prison on trial on charges of having illicit relations with his friend Alfred Douglas. Addressed to Douglas, the letter describes the events that led to Wilde’s arrest and punishment and recounts the steps of his downfall. The letter also tells of the resentments and sufferings of his life in prison and provides profound insight into his emotional state.
The complete text is: Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation.
The quote is affixed to the facade of the former Heineken building in Rotterdam Crooswijk which now houses Pameijer. This organisation find that people with intellectual disabilities or psychiatric problems belong in society, just like everyone else. By simply being present in the society they are able to develop relationships in a normal, natural way with other people. With neighbors, colleagues at work, or with children in ordinary schools. Daily over 2,000 employees and 500 volunteers support more than 4,000 clients in all areas of life: living, working, leisure and social contacts.
Queen Victoria in Rotterdam (again)
One of my first blogs on WordPress was about a visit of Queen Victoria to Rotterdam on May 4, this year. (http://wp.me/punIp-2G) Today I was driving home, when I noticed the skyline had changed again. Queen Victoria was back. I noticed her first visit in 2009 and I noticed her last visit this year. Check the itenary in my blog of May 5 if you don’t believe me. Although these ships pay regular visits to Rotterdam, I still feel wonder-struck and a sense of pride every time I see these floating condominiums parked on the Maas in front of the Erasmus bridge.
