'Look up more often!'

The Hema building on the Grote Markt, an example of reconstruction architecture. It was opened in 1958. [photo Eveline van Elk]

Reconstruction architecture makes Nijmegen truly unique

The bombing in February 1944 and the period when Nijmegen was a front city literally left large holes in the city center. In September, during Market Garden, the Germans set fire to many buildings in the center to buy time for defense. In the "shell time" that followed, German projectiles did their devastating work. The result after the war ended: 90 percent of the center destroyed, Nijmegen had to be rebuilt. This created a beautiful city of reconstruction, long underappreciated.

Old glory or modern?

After the liberation, reconstruction initially got off to a difficult start because of the lack of building materials. There was also discussion about what Nijmegen's city center should look like: should everything be restored to its former glory or should there be a new, modern city? "A middle way was chosen, where a few important buildings such as the Town Hall and the Stevenstoren were restored. But otherwise modern architecture was chosen," Piet Hieltjes of the Stichting Nijmegen Wederopbouwstad told me during a tour of the center. "In twenty years, the inner city was completely rebuilt."

Eye for detail

Stand at an intersection downtown and look down any street. Almost everywhere you see the reconstruction buildings. Characteristic is the small scale of the buildings, designed by different architects. But with coherence. "The buildings are usually four stories high, with flat roofs, many vertical lines and eaves overhangs, balconies and large windows," says Hieltjes. For the upper dwellings, the starting point was light, air and space. Nijmegen became a modern city. The large building of the Hema is an example of modernism, with lots of glass and aluminum.

Concrete and marble were mostly used, as well as brick and aluminum. At first glance, it may seem a bit dull and plain. "But there was actually a lot of attention to detail, just look at the brickwork," says Walking around Want to walk around looking up yourself? There is a city walk available along the reconstruction architecture. You can find it at the Citystore on the Grote Markt or on the website wederopbouwstad. nl. Here you will also find more information and photo material. Reconstruction architecture makes Nijmegen truly unique Hieltjes, while pointing to the building on the corner of Burchtstraat and Grotestraat, where H&M is now located. The elegant balconies also show that there was a lot of attention to detail.

Reconstruction Art

Art can be found on many facades, reconstruction art. Often these are mythological or biblical representations in concrete reliefs, or an image related to the original services in the building. For example, you can see clothing being made on the WE building, also on the corner of Burchtstraat and Grotestraat. Occasionally Hieltjes pauses and looks back, such as at the bottom of Burchtstraat: "I love the fact that you can see a couple of centuries of architectural styles at a glance. From centuries old, to reconstruction to more recent buildings."

Beloved spot

The Petrus Canisius Church in Molenstraat was badly damaged during the bombing. The facade was rebuilt in reconstruction Piet Hieltjes style: rectangular with concrete ornaments and decorations. "You also see glass in concrete here, very colorful and beautiful to see," Hieltjes says. Square 1944, also a product of Reconstruction, was a place to go out, where wide streets ran to give ample space to traffic. It included three cinemas, live performances and a weekly market. Hieltjes: "It was a beloved spot and very recognizable as a reconstruction square. What I like is that recent new construction on the square has taken that special history into account."

Rating

The reconstruction buildings are now some 65 to 70 years old; they breathe the history of Nijmegen. The city therefore deserves to look upwards a bit more often, at the buildings above the shop windows, and appreciate what can be seen there. Hieltjes: "Nijmegen has a unique city center, which was created by necessity after the devastation during the war. This sets Nijmegen apart from cities like Zutphen or Deventer, with centuries-old streets and Dutch houses. There is no second Nijmegen in the Netherlands. We should be proud of that."

Walking around

Want to walk around looking up yourself? There is a city walk available along the reconstruction architecture. You can find it at the Citystore on the Grote Markt or on the website wederopbouwstad. nl. Here you will also find more information and photo material.

The reconstruction buildings are now some 65 to 70 years old; they breathe the history of Nijmegen. The city therefore deserves to look upwards a bit more often, at the buildings above the shop windows, and appreciate what can be seen there. Hieltjes: "Nijmegen has a unique city center, which was created by necessity after the devastation during the war. This sets Nijmegen apart from cities like Zutphen or Deventer, with centuries-old streets and Dutch houses. There is no second Nijmegen in the Netherlands. We should be proud of that."

The Stadsschouwburg on Keizer Karelplein dates from 1961: lots of light and space.

Walking around

Wilt u zelf eens rondlopen met de blik naar boven? Er is een stadswandeling beschikbaar langs de wederopbouwarchitectuur. Deze kunt u vinden bij de Citystore op de Grote Markt of op de website wederopbouwstad.nl. Hier vindt u ook meer informatie en fotomateriaal.