The 5 most inspirational quotes on buildings in Rotterdam

‘If everybody comes from somewhere else, nobody is a stranger’, is a line by the poet Rien Vroegindeweij (1944) who captures the culture and people of Rotterdam in his articles, poems and plays. In 2006, he was given an Erasmus pin by the municipality, to honour his contributions to the city.

These five words by Lucebert form one of the most cited poetry lines in the Netherlands. It means, ‘Everything of worth is defenceless’. Lucebert (1924-1994) was an influential artist, connected to the Cobra movement as a painter, and to the literary movement the Vijftigers as a poet.

Philosopher and humanist Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (1466-1536) lived in Rotterdam for only a few years, but apparently felt such a connection with the city that he added it to his name. References to Erasmus can be found all over Rotterdam. On the sidewall of the central library you find this quote: ‘The whole world is my homeland.’

Gerrit Kouwenaar (1923-2014) was a much lauded poet, author, journalist, resistance fighter and translator. He was also a contemporary of Lucebert and part of the Vijftigers literary movement, known for its spontaneous and experimental poetry. In later years his poems became more thoughtful. This line on the library wall says: ‘Who wants to know more, must eat words.’

Poet, performance artist and jazz lover Jules A. Deelder (1944-2019) was one of Rotterdam’s most characteristic inhabitants. His straightforward and honest poems can be found in several places across the city. This one, written in blue neon, says ‘The surroundings of man are his fellow men’. A little further on, at the crossing of Nieuwe Binnenweg and Mathenesserlaan, a life-size statue honours the former ‘night mayor’.