Multiple great events happening in Rotterdam this weekend. Dag van de Bouw: dagvandebouw.nl. Recommendations: RottaNova, Boompjes Club House, Nieuw Kralingen. Heilige Huisjes: heiligehuisjesrotterdam.nl. Recommendation: Viking Fest at the Noorse Kerk. Rotterdam Architectuur Maand: rotterdamarchitectuurmaand.n…

Nieuwe Binnenweg in the early 20th century. Here the border between the growing city on the left and the pastures of the Land van Hoboken on the right is clear.

The Land van Hoboken in 1930 vs Today. The giant green patch in the original photo was a large estate (landgoed) belonging to the noble Hoboken family. Originally something of a country retreat, it came to be completely surrounded by the city as Rotterdam rapidly grew in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This created abrupt and odd contrasts where dense urban development bordered tranquil rural pastures. Eventually in 1924 the family sold the land to the city and under W.G. Witteveen a plan for developing the land was created (he would also later create Rotterdam’s first reconstruction plan after 1940). The plan called for new housing and offices in the northwest section, while preserving some of the southeast for a park and museums. Today the Museumpark makes up what was the core of the Land van Hoboken. To commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Rotterdam acquiring the land, Rotterdam Architectuur Maand is having their annual exhibition here all through June. There are displays on the history of the land, the unique architectural projects that arose here afterwards (e.g. Boijmans, Huis Sonneveld), and the future of building and upcoming projects across Rotterdam.