Rotterdam Rechter Maasoever , South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Helmersstraat

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 21, 2024

1. Helmersstraat Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Tot het bombardement van mei 1940
was hier de Helmersstraat genoemd
naar de Dichter-Koopman
Jan Frederik Helmers (1767-1813).
De Helmersstraat was het centrum van het vooroorlogse joodse leven.

Onthuld door de Heer Ir. H. Meijer, wethouder van Rotterdam op 30 jule 1996.

(English translation:)
Until the bombing of May 1940 this was the location of Helmersstraat (“Helmers Street”), named after the Poet-Merchant Jan Frederik Helmers (1767-1813). Helmersstraat was the center of pre-war Jewish life.

Unveiled by Mr. Ir. H. Meijer, councilor of Rotterdam on July 30, 1996.

Erected 1996.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1940.

Location. 51° 55.414′ N, 4° 28.514′ E. Marker is in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is in Rotterdam Rechter Maasoever. It is on Weena, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Weena 200 Toren, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3012 NH, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic

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Europe,

the Benelux Low Countries,

the Schengen Area,

Western Europe,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire

and specifically also the Holy Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: March 12, 1945 Hofplein Execution Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Verzetskruis Herdenkingsmonument / Resistance Cross Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Monument Voor Joodse Oorlogslachtoffers / Jewish War Victims Memorial (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Wijkpark / Neighborhood Park - de Reus van Rotterdam / the Giant of Rotterdam (approx. half a kilometer away); Diergaardesingel (approx. half a kilometer away); Gouvernestraat (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Batavierenstraat (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Anna Paulownastraat (Anna Pavlovna) (approx. 0.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rotterdam.

Also see . . . Helmersstraat (Joods Erfgoed Rotterdam, in Dutch). A short history of the street, by Rotterdam’s Jewish Heritage Association.

Excerpt (in translation): Until the bombing of May 14,
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 21, 2024

2. Helmersstraat Marker - wide view
The marker is visible here mounted to the “tower” with the black metal stairway. It’s easy to miss.
1940, Helmersstraat was an important street in the center of the Kruiskade and the Coolsingel. The street was built in 1883 and named after the poet-merchant Jan Frederik Helmers. This street, as well as the (nearby) Amman Street were populated by the Jewish proletariat of Rotterdam. Of the Rotterdam Jews, 90% belonged to this group…. After the bombardment of May 14, 1940, there appeared to be hardly anything left of the street. The redevelopment plans provided for a different Rotterdam, there was no longer room for this one street and it was therefore not rebuilt. Helmersstraat has existed again since 1993, however, but is now on the Kop van Zuid (about 1.5 km. to the south). Here, near the location from Loods 24, a number of streets are named after people and locations that remind us of it….

(Submitted on March 31, 2024.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 31, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 173 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 31, 2024, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.