Middelland in Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands — Northwestern Europe

Claes de Vrieselaan

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2024

1. Claes de Vrieselaan Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Claes de Vrieselaan herinnert aan het feit dat Claes de Vriese van Schoonderloo in 1270 toestemming van Graaf Floris V kreeg om het buitendijks aangeslibde land bij Schoonderloo te bedijken. Door deze bedijking ontstond er een polder die aansloot van de huidige Westzeedijk naar de huidige Havenstraat in Delfshaven, die toen deel uitmaakte van de Schielandse Hoge Zeedijk. Ten Noorden van deze polder wilde Claes de Vriese een aansluiting hebben op de bedijking aangebracht door de familie van Bokel (Beukelsdijk/-weg). Maar dit werd hem, door Gijsbrecht van Bokel, niet gegund en moest hij een eigen noordelijke dijk aanleggen. Hierdoor ontstond tussen zijn polder en die van de Bokels een open strook land dat Middelland werd genoemd.
Door de werkzaamheden van Claes de Vriese werd het linker gedeelte van de bocht in de Maas zekergesteld. Het rechtergedeelte werd aangelegd door verschillende Heren van Kralingen. Zo werd er een gestroomlijnde bocht in de Maas gerealiseerd waarin later de stad Rotterdam zou ontstaan.

(English translation:)
Claes de Vrieselaan commemorates the fact that, in 1270, Claes

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de Vriese van Schoonderloo received permission from Count Floris V to embank the land that had silted up outside the existing dikes near Schoonderloo. This embankment project created a polder stretching from the present-day Westzeedijk to the current Havenstraat in Delfshaven—a route that was then part of the Schieland High Sea Dike. Claes de Vriese wanted to connect this polder to the embankment constructed by the Van Bokel family (Beukelsdijk/Beukelsweg) to the north. However, Gijsbrecht van Bokel denied him this connection, forcing him to build his own northern dike. Consequently, an open strip of land—known as Middelland—was left between his polder and that of the Van Bokels.
Claes de Vriese’s work secured the left section of the bend in the Meuse River, while the right section was developed by various Lords of Kralingen. This resulted in a streamlined bend in the Meuse, the location where the city of Rotterdam would later emerge.

Erected by the 32N.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Man-Made Features • Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1270.

Location. 51° 54.811′ N,

Claes de Vrieselaan Marker - wide view, looking north on Claes de Vrieselaan image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, March 20, 2024

2. Claes de Vrieselaan Marker - wide view, looking north on Claes de Vrieselaan

The marker is visible here on the very right.

4° 27.608′ E. Marker is in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland (South Holland). It is in Middelland. It is on Claes de Vrieselaan north of Nieuwe Binnenweg, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Claes de Vrieselaan 104, Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland 3021 JV, Netherlands. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

Atlantic 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: Israëlietisch Oudeliedengesticht / Jewish Old Age Home (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Branco van Dantzig (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Het Israëlietisch Weeshuis / The Jewish Orphanage (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Herenhuis / Mansion (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Lew Jom Sjoel (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Jacobus Henricus van ‘t Hoff (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Toni Koopmanplein (approx. 0.6 kilometers

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away); Henegouwerlaan (approx. 0.7 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rotterdam.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2026, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.