The Blijdorp Zoo, part 2

Last Tuesday I wrote about the history of the park, but with about 1.6 million visitors a year the park is still thriving. Today we’ll see what you can do in the park!

From 1988 onwards the park has a ‘master plan’ in which they decided to reconstruct the park, and divide it into continents. By doing this they can place all the animals per continent where they originate from and make the residences as realistic as possible. Until today they’re building an adding to the park.

Oceanium

The Oceanium opened in 2001 and added 11 hectares to the whole park. The enormous aquarium offers a wide selection of different sea creatures. You can walk through a tunnel surrounded by water and sea life. No need of beautiful weather to visit the zoo anymore! With this large range of sea life you can stay indoors all day!

Extra fun for the kids!

The park put in extra effort in the playground (the Oewanja Kidsjungle). The parents can sit next to the playground enjoying a drink, while still keeping an eye on their little ones. This is not the only thing that the park has to offer to kids! They can play in the public lab, climb through the belly  of a whale, jump over floes, climb into a giant egg and much much more!

Birds, birds, birds!

The park has a huge amount of different birds. There are multiple aviaries. There is one for meadow and migration birds, of which is one part dedicated to the birds that also live in the Netherlands, and the other part is dedicated to the south-European birds. Next to that there is also a aviary with different types of vultures.

To make it even better, there is a daily show called the “free flight performance”, they trained more than 20 different species for this.

Amazonica

The last development of the park is the gigantic butterfly house, the Amazonica, which opened in 2013 (back then the largest butterfly house of Europe). As visitor you can walk freely between the beautiful plants while the most beautiful butterflies fly around you. In the middle of the butterfly house they built a basin where they house different types of reptiles and fish that also originate from the amazon.

So who’s visiting the zoo this weekend?

Would you like to live in Blijdorp Rotterdam? Take a look at our website, DomicaRotterdam, for more information.

 

The Blijdorp Zoo

A trip to the zoo is one of the nicest things to do with the whole family and The Blijdorp Zoo makes it an extra special day! The zoo is one of the first Dutch zoos, and thus, has an elaborate history.

The very beginning of the zoo can be traced back to 1855, when a garden for water birds and pheasants located at the Kruiskade opened. Due to its success it expanded into a zoo, the Rotterdamsche Zoo opened in 1857. Back in the day it was open for members of the association ‘Vereniging Rotterdamsche Diergaarde’, which were only the richer citizens.

Unfortunately there were some financial problems in the beginning in the 20^th century. That’s why the zoo decided to move, and for 1 gilder they bought 13 acers of land in the district Blijdorp in 1938. With the help of the Associantion Vokskracht they were able to build the new zoo and it opened for everybody.

In 1940 the zoo got hit by bombardments, two days before the large bombardment of the city. A few animals were killed, and a few were able to escape. According to popular stories a zebra escaped into the shopping streets and a couple of sea lions were swimming in the canals of the city.

The new zoo is designed by Sybold van Ravesteyn, he designed it in such manner that he used canals and walls instead of fences. The heated indoor spaces and the large outdoor spaces were phenomenal back then, and so was Blijdorp one of the first zoo’s using this system. Blijdorp Zoo is also one of the few zoo’s that are designed by one architect. It’s because of that that the zoo is proclaimed as national monument in 2004.

On the 9^th of December 1940 the zoo opened its new doors for the public.

Would you like to know what the zoo offers nowadays? Check our blog coming Thursday!

Would you like to live in Blijdorp Rotterdam? You can! Check Domica Rotterdam for more details!

Museumpark, part 3!

It's unbelievable how much the Museumpark has to offer us! Today we’ll describe the last two museums at the park!

De Kunsthal

Since 1992 the Kunsthal opened it’s door for the public. Since then there had many interesting expositions of different genres. They had old masters, forgotten cultures, fascinating pictures, innovative design and contemporary art. The interesting thing about this museum is that they have 3300m2 on exposition space, this gives them the opportunity to, at the same time, show different art movements. This is also the reason the Kunsthal attracts su

ch a wide public.

So what are the current expositions in the Kunsthal?

Rudolf Steiner, Alchemy of the Everyday

For the first time in The Netherlands, the Kunsthal presents an overview of the broad, encompassing work of Rudolf Steiner(1861-1925). Steiner was one of the 20th century's most significant and influential reformers, and his legacy is as relevant today as ever. Steiner served as a source of inspiration for some artistic giants including Piet Mondriaan, Wassily Kandinsky and Josef Beuys, and still does so for many contemporary artists and designers, such as Olafur Eliasson and Konstantin Grcic. The exhibition presents a rich and extensive collection of furniture, models and blackboard drawings, offering a fascinating insight into his life, work and sweeping intellectual legacy.

Design Art 115 years VIVID

15 years ago the gallery VIVID opened its doors, one of the first galleries on the border between design and art. The Kunsthal shows 15 Dutch (Rotterdam) and international artists and designers that have previously been sold in the gallery. Over the years the gallery has become much more than only that, it built a national and international meeting point and a platform for lively discussions about the border between design and art.

Definitely worth a visit!

Love & Marriage, Paul Breuker

As part of the national picture week with the theme ‘look my happiness’, the Kunsthal presents Love and Marriage by Paul Breuker. Paul has been a wedding photographer for the last twenty five years, and presents the most special moments of before and during the wedding ceremony. The exposition gives an overview of heartwarming pictures.

Natural historic Museum Rotterdam

The Natural historic Museum Rotterdam is the only of its kind in the region. Because of its special attention on nature and the history of nature of the region, but also the rest of the world, it’s especially fun to visit with the whole family! The museum is different from the rest of its kind because they have a dynamic collection, an active research department, and a different view on the every surprising nature.

Next to a the large standard collection, there are also changing expositions. Currently, till the 7^th of December 2014, there is the exposition Window victims. This expositions, of photographer Andre van Soest, shows multiple birds who fell victim of flying against windows. Part of this is also a picture of the famous ‘Trauma gull’. This gull flew against a trauma helicopter in October 2011, unfortunately the bird passed away, but the trauma helicopter as well had to make an emergency landing.

What has your favorite museum been so far?

Would you like to live in Rotterdam? Take a look at our website Domica Rotterdam!  

Museumpark, part 2

Last time I already wrote something about the museumpark and about the museum Boijmans van Beuningen, but what do all the other museums at this park have to offer?

Het Nederlands Architectuurinstituut

Het Nederlands Architectuurinstituut (the dutch architecture institute, also known as NAi) is not only a museum. It’s also an archive, a library and a cultural stage. Important archives and collections of Dutch architects after 1800 are saved and is open for public. The NAi is a part of het nieuwe instituut (the new institute).

This is a fun place to meet and the perfect place to have discussions. Next to that the institute offers fun an playful workshops for all ages. There have been workshops where kids could learn to build miniature houseboats, and workshops where they could learn to produce their own advertising in the digital play-ground and much more!

The Chabot Museum

The white villa is where the Chabot Museum is located in. This villa is designed in 1938 by the architect G.W. Baas, an employee of the architect office Brinkman en van der Vught, a name that is connected with some of the most well-known buildings in Rotterdam. Such as: the van Nelle-fabriek, the Feijenoord stadium and the other museum park villa’s Sonneveld and Bouvé.

The museum itself is located in the villa from 1993 onwards. The collection consists of multiple works of Hendrik Chabot, but also has changing expositions next to the standard works. From 12 October on is the museum opened again with a whole new exposition! Ultramodern works – New sounds from the city. This will be the first time that some of the paintings will be available for the public eye. The exposition will be about the De Branding (1917 – 1926), a Rotterdam artists federation.

Villa Sonneveld

The second museum house Villa Sonneveld is one of the best preserved houses in the style of het Nieuwe Bouwen. The villa is designed in the 1930’s commissioned by Albertus Sonneveld, one of the three directors of the Van Nelle factory. Instead of moving their old furniture with them, they had all their new furniture designed to fit the new modern way of living.

All of this used to be super modern in 1933, and can still be seen today. To change it up a bit the artworks change every now and then to complement the interior, so it’s different with every visit!

Would you like to where you can live in Rotterdam? Take a look at our website Domica Rotterdam for more information!

Curious to the other museums at the park? Check our blog next Thursday for part 3!

Museumpark, part 1

For the real art lovers museumpark is really the place to be! The park is located between the museum Boijmans van Beunigen, the Westersingel, the Westzeedijk and the Erasmus MC building. In the 19^th century this plot belonged to the family Hoboken, their former villa is still open to public, but is currently turned into a Natural historic museum.

In 1924 the ownership of the land was given back to the city. They placed different buildings such as the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen, the Unilever building (currently the Hoge School Rotterdam) and the Erasmiaans Gymnasium. The large plot of land stayed empty for the rest. With the arrival of the Kunsthal (1992) and the Dutch Architectural Institute (1993) the museum function of the park became a fact.

The current museums in this area are:

- The Dutch Architecture Institute

- Museum Boijmans van Beuningen

- The Chabot Museum

- The Kunsthal

- Villa Sonneveld

- The nature historical museum Rotterdam 

Not only the large amount of museums takes part in the cultural strength of the area, but also the large amount of sculptures that make the park almost an open-air museum. Next to that there are multiple cultural activities during the summer months, such as the popular Parade.

Museum Boijmans van Beuningen

Museum Boijmans van Beuningen is one of the oldest museums of the Netherlands. In 1849 the lawyer Boijmans left his art collection to the city of Rotterdam. This started the museum Boijmans, which used to be located in the historical Schielandhuis. In 1935 they moved to the current building, located at the park. In 1958 the collection expanded by the large collection of van Beuningen, which gave the museum its complete name.

The museum has masterpieces of the 16^th century till masterpieces of contemporary artists. Something for everybody! Next to that they also have changing expositions of every time high standing quality!

For more information you can visit their website www.boijmans.nl

Would you like to live near museumpark in Rotterdam? Check our website Domica Rotterdam for more information!

 

A home that has it all!

Sometimes we come across houses that we just want to keep to ourselves. Today I took photo's of one of those houses. Through dense fog I drove up to Rotterdam, the address emailed to me was the Jos Colerstraat. The first thing I noticed was the rural-like feel this residential had. All the houses are located at the water and have their own deck. Immediately I felt as if I were on holiday, if only I could stay!  With much effort I walked away from the pedalo in the water, away from the playground with picnic table and got to work!

When I entered the house I thought to myself: Yes, I could see myself living in a place like this!

The kitchen is placed a little higher than the sitting area. There is a modern fireplace covering the whole length of the sitting area.

The kitchen is provided with all the modern equipment.

Via the open staircase in I entered the upstairs hallway that has a double door. Behind these doors there is a bedroom that is best described as ‘the dream of every woman.’

The bedroom extends to the whole width of the house. Left is the sleeping area, and behind that is a luxurious bathroom including bubble bath! To the right there is a spacious walk-in closet.

I was already fantasizing about a beautiful dressing table in the walk-in closet so you can get ready, fully relaxed, every day.

  

Finally, this house has two more bedrooms on the top floor, with a separate bathroom. This can definitely be called a dream house. Would you like more information? On our website Domica Rotterdam you can find more information.  

De Meent

De Meent is an upcoming trendy street in the center of Rotterdam. The street offers you a wide range of entertainment and shopping facilities adjustable to your demands. If you enter the street from the Coolsingel you will see the old post office building to your left. Here there are various special events, such as the Da Vinci exposition last winter.

Shopping

De Meent houses a range of the more luxurious shops of the city. With shops for both men and women, such as: Profuomo, Prego, SuperTrash and many more. The big market is just a little further down the street, where every Tuesday and Saturday you can buy fabrics, fruits and vegetables, cheese, fish and much more.

Restaurants and Bars

Would you like to take a break from all the shopping? No Problem! There are multiple populair bars at de Meent! Do you love a good wine? Then you will love the wine bar 1nul8. Settled in the neutral vintage decorated bar you feel right at home. Would you rather sit outside? Try one of the terraces on the market square! The two bars Pol or van Zanten are both located in the midst of the sunny market square.

In search for some food as well? There are tons of restaurants with different types of food on offer. Such as Brasserie Dudok, probably the most well-known restaurant of de Meent. With their patisserie they’re notorious for their apple pie! Next to all the sweets, it’s also a lovely place to dine in the setting of a Bauhaus-style restaurant.

Lifestyle

Looking for more than clothes? There are plenty lifestyle stores available for you to visit! At the beginning of the street you can find the edgy street art gallery melikepainting, or across the street the gallery Art Collection, where they have a large collection of Art Prints of Rotterdam. If you walk further down the street and take a right, to the Pannekoekstraat, you can find multiple design stores.

De Meent has a lot to offer! Would you like to live nearby de Meent? You can! Check Domica Rotterdam for more information.