Sterker Door Strijd
STADSTEKENAAR 010 . 2024
It all started with a feeling. “Sterker door Strijd”, Rotterdam’s official motto, reflects the sense of gaining strength through adversity. This feeling, and the work that it inspired, is deeply rooted in the traumatic collective memory of Rotterdam’s destruction caused by the city’s bombardment during the Second World War. The impact of the war on the city is a poignant reminder of the resilience of its inhabitants.
“Sterker door strijd” is a sentiment frequently evoked in Rotterdam’s everyday life. The recent housing shortage and the growing gap between the inhabitants’ needs and the city hall’s vision for the city have once again brought this feeling to the forefront of discussion. Inhabitants are fighting for their right to the city, invoking the positive outlook that a destructive event left on their collective memories.
These illustrations were exhibited at the Kunsthal Rotterdam from 18 October 2024 to 16 February 2025 and are now part of the permanent collection “Rotterdam” at the Stadsarchief Rotterdam (City Archives).
Available only as a postcard bundle (10 postcards) and individual gliceé fine art prints (printed on demand).
