Royal Tapestry Project

On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb received a very special gift: the Royal Tapestry, a unique woven artwork created in appreciation of his years of dedication to the city of Rotterdam.
The gift was presented by the partners of the Rotterdam. Make It Happen. alliance, together with Voor Goed Agency and Fair Fabrics.

The Royal Tapestry is made from recycled city decorations that were used over ten years of King’s Day celebrations in Rotterdam. It was woven by Moroccan craftswomen in the Atlas Mountains, using the traditional ‘boucharouite’ technique, and features a pattern of zeros and tens — a reference to Rotterdam’s city code (010).
The initiative for this remarkable project came from Karin Kandt-Reinders and her social enterprise Fair Fabrics. The tapestry is part of the broader project “Oranje Voorgoed” (Orange Forever), which celebrates ten years of King’s Day in Rotterdam and aims to promote legacy and sustainability.

A Symbol of Unity and Connection
The tapestry is not only a tribute to Mayor Aboutaleb but also a symbol of solidarity, connection, and collaboration the very values that Rotterdam embodies. Although the Royal Tapestry was presented as a personal gift to the mayor, it will soon be given a permanent place in Rotterdam City Hall or another public building, allowing all Rotterdammers to enjoy it. In that way, it will always remain Aboutaleb’s tapestry — but at the same time, it belongs to the entire city.