Rotterdam (3)

Rotterdammers are champions when it comes to making up nicknames. The Erasmus Bridge, seen in the header, has about 20 different nicknames. “The Swan” is perhaps the most famous. Do you ask someone where the Beurstraverse is, you get raised eyebrows. Never heard of it, but even many from outside Rotterdam will be able to show you the way to “de Koopgoot”. “De Kuip” is known to all of the Dutch football players. A flat built in Blijdorp for single women was named “Hunkerbunker”. A name that has also often been used for the sister houses that were often built next to the hospitals. Not only bridges, roads and buildings are given a nickname. Also many works of art are better known by their nicknames than their original names. Often humorous names that say more than the title and are understandable to everyone.

Bank-Bil-Jet

When the work of art was placed on the façade of the Amsterdam Bank Debit Bank in 1953, many were disgraced. It couldn't be such a naked lady, even without a fig leaf in the middle of the street. Mothers with children walked around a street, to save their children the view of such a moreless image. The statue created by Piet Starreveld is officially called 'the Welvaart', but soon received the names “Bank-Bil-Jet” and “Nakie van het Blakie”. That last name is no longer really applicable because Jet moved from the Blaak to the Coolsingel and is currently on the ABN-AMRO building.

The Thing