A poem of a width of 25 metres, on the lower side of a bridge? Well, this is simply what we do in Rotterdam. For some time now, anyone having to wait for Mathenesser Bridge to open, can enjoy reading a poem by Daniël Dee. And Rotterdam’s Bridge Poets still have a lot of work in store, for a further ten bridges are due to be embellished with poetry from Rotterdam.
Nobody likes to wait in front of an open bridge. However, reading a poem can make the inevitable waiting much more fun! Since early May, the lower side of the Mathenesser Bridge in Delfshaven has been jazzed up with a life-size poem written for his two daughters by the former city poet Daniël Dee. The design is signed by Bart Oppenheimer. You can read the poem by the former city poet Daniël Dee
here. You will also find further information on the design and designer.
More poetry along the banks of the Schie
If it’s up to the Zoek naar Schittering foundation to decide (In Search of Glitter), the project won’t stop with just one poem on the Mathenesser Bridge. The foundation is keen to create a genuine bridge poem trail by embellishing ten bridges spanning the Delfshavense Schie with poetry originating from Rotterdam. The poems by Rotterdam-based poets will be displayed under, on or near the bridges, and will be available for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists to read.
Parkhaven Bridge will be next
The next poem will be featured on the Parkhaven Bridge. The design has already been created, and the poem written by Ester Naomi Perquin, former Rotterdam city poet (2011-2012) and Dutch Poet Laureate (2017-2018). Monice Janson is the designer who will offer the poem its visual impact on the bridge. Both the poem and its design will remain secret until the work’s installation. All efforts are being made to ensure that this second mega poem will have pride of place on the bridge by the spring of 2020.
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The poem by Daniël Dee on the Mathenesserbrug in Delfshaven. Photo: Paul van der Blom[/caption]
Poetry route
Within the context of the
open/closed bridge poems initiative, the Zoek naar Schittering foundation has also devised a route featuring intriguing and surprising poems that can be found along the banks of the Delfshavense Schie, and including the (future) bridge poems. The quays along the Delfshavense Schie, from Parkhaven to Overschie, are ideally suited for an interesting city walk or city bike tour.
Check out the Poetry Route here. The foundation is also looking to stimulate other initiators, residents and entrepreneurs to contribute poems or lines of poetry to this poetry route. Thus, more passers-by, children, adults and teachers alike will be offered the opportunity to use the route and the
activity pages on this website on their way to work, or simply for their love of poetry.
In need of support!
The first bridge poem on the Mathenesser Bridge was initiated thanks to a subsidy from the Municipality of Rotterdam through
CityLab010. Other funders include: Job Durafonds, CBK Rotterdam, STOER and the Delfshaven area committee. The Parkhaven Bridge will also shortly be embellished with a giant poem. The BPD Cultuurfonds and Erasmus Stichting Rotterdam are already contributing towards forthcoming bridge poems. However, the
Zoek naar Schittering foundation is still looking for other funders. Do you want to contribute towards this initiative? Or do you have any questions? Please send an e-mail to
info@bruggedichten.nl
Follow the developments on
Bruggedichten.nl or
Facebook Bruggedichten
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The bottom of the Mathenesser Bridge in Delfshaven has been embellished since the beginning of May with a life-size poem by former city poet Daniël Dee. Photo: Municipality of Rotterdam[/caption]
