“Rules Rotterdam the Netherlands”

Walking around Rotterdam is like being in a living DrSpock book on parenting. Do people still talk to each other in this city? The public realm is filled with texts and icons of what to do, what not to do, advice and guidelines. Is this effective or does it encourage the opposite? Are these ways for the authorities to avoid liability? Some citizens adopt the rules of the authorities by posting their own commandments in their windows. Some people express themselves by adding serious or satirical comments to the signs. There are social workers with T.O.S. (Thuis op Straat = at home in the street) on their sweatshirts, carrying bags full of sports equipment to entertain schoolchildren in one of the many playgrounds run by volunteers. Rotterdam is a city of workers. The effort is what counts. Rotterdam is always cleaning up. The ‘opzoomeren’ initiative (named after Opzoomerstraat, thestreet that initiated the project) encourages local competition: each of the1800 participating streets can earn a star for keeping the environment clean, safe and welcoming. 

Walk the Dog

Rotterdam -  Rule one: no obligation to clear out the shit Rule two: Keep the dogs on the string. The little logo on the left around the dogshit says 'legally deposited'…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

Trying to control

Rotterdam -  many efforts have been made to get the situation under control in the Tarwewijk. In this street the government has put up signs saying: NO DOPE SMOKING  due to…
Lino Hellings – Migrationpapa

TOS

Rotterdam -  TOS  (at) Home On the Street (HOS in English). TOS takes care of the social climate in the public space in several Dutch cities. By organising activities for inhabitants…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

OK

Rotterdam -  Whatare we to make of a circular illuminated sign with the text: ‘OK, safe point,report violence’? Is this a safe point because the sign is here or is this…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

City De-velopment/De-molition

Rotterdam -  The yellow temporary sign indicates the street on the right has become a dead-end street. Because of building activities. The little poster says: Hurray! Social destruction! It is a pun…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

Safety at the butcher

Rotterdam -  In many shop windows in Dordtselaan, like this Islamic Surinam butcher, a poster on violence and safety is displayed. It suggests that we all should act when witnessing violence.According…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

No hanging around

Rotterdam -  No hanging aroundAt the storeThe PoliceEvery where in the city there are signs telling you what you should (but mostly shouldn’t) do. Some of them are placed by the local…
Maurice Bogaert – Rotterdam Lab

Chewing gum free style

Rotterdam -  This is where you can deposit your chewing gum as well. On the paradise-like billboards full of promises of what the city will look like in a couple of years…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

Please be brave

Rotterdam -  At the hairdresser in Dordtselaan a poster is displayed. It says: ‘ I will act when I witness a violent situation in the street.'The poster was published by the…
Nies Medema – Migrationpapa

I like living here

Rotterdam -  These protest posters “I like living here!’ against the reconstruction of Crooswijk were handed out by the Socialist Part more than four years ago. The red tomato logo of…
Robin van 't Haar – Rotterdam Lab

Chewing gum

Rotterdam -  ‘Sick and tired of chewing gum in the city. Rotterdam MUST be clean, intact and safe! WHY? BECAUSE!’ says the text on the rubbish bin. The little white dots…
Lino Hellings – Rotterdam Lab

Opzoomeren

Rotterdam -  Good premenitions: 1 We great each other as good neighbors. 2 We welcome new neighbors 3 We organize activities to meet 4 We keep our courtyard, clean, intact and…
Erika Blikman – Rotterdam Lab

Etiquettes/car not for sale

Rotterdam -  It is prohibited to deal in used cars in this street, 
Article so-and-so of Rotterdam’s local regulations. This sign made me think of a lecture I once took in art…
Maurice Bogaert – Rotterdam Lab

cannabis real estate

Rotterdam -  This sign says that the city of Rotterdam has recently dismantled an illegal cannabis plantation in this apartment. (a profitable way for people with a low income to make extra…
Robin van 't Haar – Rotterdam Lab