The first bomds explode around 13.20 that afternoon. The bombing lasted only 10 minuts but caused 900 death thousends off causeltys and the complete inner city (so called triangle) was wipped out.

The city wich was regard as one off the netherlands most beautifull was nomore.
Fore may years there where no buildings in the heart off rotterdam after the war the rebuilding started and just a view years ago was completed. As a child (i'm 35) i remember that there where places wich where not rebuild specialy around het Hofplein and Weena (central station) and de nieuw Haven.

Not many buildings have surfived there are a view City Hall, Head Post office, HBU building, Luxor theater, Hotel central, Whitte House (one time highest building off Europe) and the new Beurs.

Today they are a living reminder off that grand city off before 1940. Wich my dath alway told story's about.

2 pictures after the bombing.

Ben.

[ 05-17-2005: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

quote:

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Originally posted by NAL:
Ben, unfortunately the two photos would not
download for me. I read with interest the story
of this painful day in history.Thanks, Ben.

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NAL send you the pictures by mail.

EDIT: Here's a picture from last Thursday.
http://img201.echo.cx/img201/6343/img04926wl.jpg

According to the tourist brochure, the church (Grote of Sint Laurenskerk) suffered heavy damage in the May 14, 1940 bombing and took unitil 1968 before the church was reopened.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Dave

[ 05-16-2005: Message edited by: DCM ]

My sister married a Dutchman and lives in the Rotterdam Plaswijc nieghborhood and I have been to the city 5 times. My favorite hotels are the Hotel New York and the Hotel Bazar.

Indeed a sad day when Rotterdam was bombed, being too young (obviously) I only know the “before” city from pictures and it looked fantastic. Luckily Rotterdam found a new image in culture and architecture which gave the city her current looks. Often cities that are rebuild only remind of what has been gone and lost forever, Rotterdam pulled it’s self up in a great way.

Onno

Eindhoven, my home city, was also bombed in 1944.

quote:

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Originally posted by Onno:
Hi Ben,

Indeed a sad day when Rotterdam was bombed, being too young (obviously) I only know the “before” city from pictures and it looked fantastic. Luckily Rotterdam found a new image in culture and architecture which gave the city her current looks. Often cities that are rebuild only remind of what has been gone and lost forever, Rotterdam pulled it’s self up in a great way.

Onno

Eindhoven, my home city, was also bombed in 1944.

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Yes Onno thats whene city's became a focal point through there industry. Inn the Eindhoven case the Philips factory's there even movies shot whene the Alied airforce bombing the city and the factory's.

It's strange to see this movie nowing that many lives are lost during the bombing.
Horrible.

Dave what do you think about Rotterdam?
I hope you enjoy youre stay in my homecity.

Desirod7

quote:

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My great grandfather came from Rotterdam and moved to England about 1870.

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So David you are a Dutchman. I wonder why you have some off that typical Dutch liberal views (specially on the cas off discrimination on sexual prevances) Plaswijck where your sisters family life is a beautifull neighborhood here inn Rotterdam.

Groetjes Ben.

[ 05-17-2005: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Maasdam:


Dave what do you think about Rotterdam?
I hope you enjoy youre stay in my homecity.

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Rotterdam is beautiful. I enjoyed both the original and modern architecture.

quote:

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Originally posted by DCM:
Wow, what a coincidence! I was inside the church in the bottom picture (left side) last Thursday, May 12 while in port on the Star Princess.

According to the tourist brochure, the church (Grote of Sint Laurenskerk) suffered heavy damage in the May 14, 1940 bombing and took unitil 1968 before the church was reopened.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Dave

[ 05-16-2005: Message edited by: DCM ]

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Restauration of the Sint Laurens church started on 19 May 1952 by Queen Juliana.
At the foot of one of the pillars she laid a memorial stone.

I do remember that day as all schoolchildren had to go to the churchsquare to sing for the Queen.

The big stones laying around the church were great to play on. These stones were of the demolished Delftsche Poort. All stones were marked as there were still plans to rebuild the gate.