The Lijnbaan is a popular pedestrian shopping street in the center of Rotterdam that houses a unique attraction. The Coolsingelpoort is a literal piece of history associated with the area that allows audiences to experience something connected to the city and entire nation of the Netherlands in a way that resonates across eras.
The Memory of Coolsingel Hospital
The Coolsingel Hospital in Rotterdam was built in the 1840s. Over the decades, it developed a reputation as one of the most modern hospitals in Europe, allowing it to pull in visitors from across the continent. It continued to grow in size and reputation throughout the 21st century until the building was mostly destroyed during the bombing of Rotterdam in May 1940 in World War II. The northwestern part of the hospital was still in use until 1960, before it was finally demolished in 1963.
In 1949, the construction of the Lijnbaan started, which ran along the still-standing back gate of Coolsingel Hospital. The pedestrian street was opened in 1953, becoming the first shopping promenade in the Netherlands and the first car-free shopping promenade in the world. Mentioned as an architectural icon of the reconstruction of Rotterdam, the Lijnbaan incorporated the still-standing gate that ambulances drove in and out through, becoming known as the Coolsingelpoort. As part of this development, the Coolsingelpoort was restored to showcase the ornate architecture that once defined the entire building.
In 2006 there were plans to donate the gate to the Erasmus Medical Center but the Roterodamum Historical Society managed to keep the gate in it’s current location, allowing audiences of all eras to interact with this essential piece of history while also creating serving as a unique attraction for the Lijnbaan.
A Living Legacy
The Coolsingelpoort is reminder of the history associated with the area and of Rotterdam’s role in World War II. By embracing this history rather than discarding or removing it, audiences of all eras will be able to continue to experience and engage with it in a way that attracts attention on every level.
