Overschie

Overschie was a separate municipality until 1941, with a population of 11,639. Like Schiebroek, Hillegersberg and IJsselmonde, it was annexed by Rotterdam. For some time the city had been looking to expand, and that was quickly arranged during the wartime occupation. The old village of Overschie was concentrated along the River Schie, with the Overschiese Dorpsstraat as its centre. Overschie was connected to Rotterdam by the Rotterdamse Rijweg, to Delft by the Delftweg, and to Schiebroek and Hillegersberg by Zestienhovensekade and Kleiweg. Ribbon development sprang up along these roads. Beyond Delftweg, the Delftse Schie waterway splits into the Schiedamse Schie and Rotterdamse Schie waterways. The Delfshavense Schie canal was dug in 1389.

Overschie celebrated its millennium in 1929. That year had not been determined precisely but was based on dates noted in historical sources. The name Overschie is a corruption of Ouwe Schie. The settlement was first called Schie or Skie; Nieuwe Schie later became Schiedam.

In anticipation of the annexation plans, the Rotterdam city architect Witteveen also drew up an Expansion Plan for Overschie. In the 1930s the municipality was working on new districts to the south of Dorpsstraat. The Overschie city architect Hendrik Sutterland partially elaborated the plans; Overschie would largely house commuters from Rotterdam.

Rotterdam took over the planning and Overschie was largely seen as a residential district for workers from the nearby industrial area of Spaanse Polder. The many homeless people in the city centre also had to be housed there. To this end, the municipality realized in 1940 the temporary neighbourhood of Landzicht, designed by Sutterland. The neighbourhood is the only one of the emergency villages that still exists in Rotterdam.

Rotterdam’s post-war expansion districts by the Department of Urban Planning were largely designed under the supervision of urban designer Lotte Stam-Beese, born in the German-speaking part of Poland. She started work in 1946 after studying – though not graduating – at the Bauhaus and gaining practical experience in Berlin, Brno, Moscow, Charkov and Magnitogorsk. Since Lotte Stam-Beese was the most experienced designer, she was given responsibility for the design of Kleinpolder. The ideals of the Modern Movement and of open-row development are clear in the various expansion districts, perhaps most of all in Kleinpolder, which looks like a suburb of Warsaw because of the industrialized construction system used.

Lotte Stam-Beese lived for some time on Prins Mauritssingel in Overschie after 1949.

Test site, laboratory or breeding ground: terms often used to describe housing construction in Overschie. During the post-war reconstruction years, large-scale system building was seen as the solution to the housing shortage. The big advantage of system building was the speed of construction, since most work could be done in factories and not on building sites. As a result, weather conditions were not a factor and labour-saving machines could fabricate standardized components. A key role was played by concrete, a relatively cheap material. No skilled workers were required for assembly on site, so unskilled workers could be brought in.

In 1947, the first 86 system dwellings were built on Geerkensstraat and Van Staverenstraat, to a design by the architect Romke de Vries. The construction system was known as Kossel, named after the inventor, Paul Kossel. Homes had already been built in the 1920s in Zuid using this system. A little later, the architects Holt and Bijvoet realized 94 homes using the Korrel concrete system on Graswinckelstraat and Schout van Groenenwegenstraat. War rubble collected in the city centre was used to make the concrete components.

A huge quantity of homes were then realized using a system devised by the Rotterdam architect Frans Welschen (1884-1961). He had been working since 1919 on a construction system using concrete components and had subsequently experimented with concrete construction. A trial with his system on Talmastraat in Blijdorp in 1947 was deemed a success, so this system was used in Overschie. In Kleinpolder-West alone, some 1,480 Welschen homes were built; the neighbourhoods were even named Welschen 1 to 7. The system was greatly appreciated and a total of 5,602 Welschen dwellings were built around the country.

Welschen himself was not allowed to design the homes because his trial block on Talmastraat was deemed aesthetically inadequate. Instead, an ‘academically schooled architect’ was appointed to develop the designs. In Overschie the architecture was provided by the office of Jos. and Leo de Jonge.

Another construction system was developed by the Rotterdam architects Wijmer and Breukelman, in collaboration with contractor Van Waning, a pioneer in concrete construction, and the firm Schokbeton. They realized four building blocks along Oost-Sidelinge. On the initial drawings the design looks just as sober as the Welschen blocks, but during the detailing the concrete panels were given a very decorative touch. 

A second project by these architects for 520 dwellings in Kleinpolder-Oost is soberer in appearance.

Another construction system used on a large scale was called Baksteen Montage Bouw (‘Brick Assembly Construction’, BMB). A neighbourhood with 850 BMB homes was built between Ameidestraat and Abtsweg in Kleinpolder-Oost. Designed by Brinkman, Van den Broek & Bakema and Holt & Bijvoet.

Most system building was developed for four-floor walk-up blocks of flats. Later systems such as Dura-Coignet, which was mostly used in Lombardijen and IJsselmonde, RBM (Rijnlandsche Betonbouw Maatschappij) and Muwi (Muijs & De Winter) also concentrated on blocks of walk-up flats. ERA (Van Eesteren Rationele Aanpak) is a high-rise construction system developed in the 1960s. High-rise was also built in Overschie. Because of the planned new airport at Zestienhoven, most new blocks of flats were located in the south-western area. The so-called Seven Provinces Blocks were not built using system building but with traditional methods. There are another two high-rise landmarks in Overschie. The Sestienhoven residential building (1961) marks the entrance to the city and was designed by the Rotterdam architect Lo Hoogenstraten (1913-1993), who also designed a number of commercial structures in the industrial area on Ludolf de Jonghstraat and in the Spaanse Polder. Another high-rise landmark is located at Kleinpolderplein: the Van Leeuwenflat. It took its name from the illuminated sign for Van Leeuwen Buizen located here for many years. The official name is Abtshove and it is a senior citizens’ home run by the Patrimonium housing association and designed by Leo de Jonge architects in 1968.

The high-rise along the Delfshavense Schie waterway was designed by the architects Denijs and Linssen from the Department of Housing. Municipal architect Bart Linssen (1915-1971) also designed the low-rise development in Kleinpolder-Oost. In 1957, he became city architect of Amersfoort, where he designed buildings according to the principles of the Bossche School. The project comprised 425 traditionally built dwellings, of which 250 were gallery-access homes on three levels and 175 single-family homes on two levels. The low-rise homes were called ‘shoe boxes’.

A lot of middle-class housing was also built in Overschie in the post-war years. These freestanding and semi-detached homes in a restrained, modern style align with the pre-war freestanding homes along Rotterdamse Rijweg. A striking block of dwellings is located on Kleinpolderplein (West-Sidelinge 304-332). The design by the architects J.A. Kijne and Jean M. Bodt has a striking gallery-access system.

The new centre of Overschie is concentrated around Burgemeester Baumannlaan, particularly at the intersection with 2e Hogenbanweg and Baanweg. Various shops, a new Catholic Church, a police station and some schools were built here. The 2e Hogenbanweg was connected to the Spaanse Polder in 1952 by the Spaanse Brug. Local traffic could pass beneath the motorway via Baanweg to reach Kleinpolder-Oost.

With the construction of Burgemeester Baumannlaan as central traffic route, the earlier connecting road between Rotterdam and Overschie, Rotterdamse Rijweg, acquired a secondary function. The older, more luxurious freestanding dwellings here contrast strongly with the social housing. J.C. Baumann was the last mayor of Overschie.

The shops with homes above in the new centre were designed by various architects in a comparable style. On the western side, numbers 130 to 148 by Van den Broek & Bakema (1952-1955) and numbers 150 to 160 by A. Krijgsman (1954-1957). On the eastern side, numbers 145 to 165 by J.A. Kijne and Jean M. Bodt (1951-1956) and numbers 110 to 117 by W.J. Fiolet (1955-1957).

A further two shopping centres were built in the new parts of Kleinpolder. The ‘Schanswijck’ shopping centre with 36 shops opened in Kleinpolder-Oost in 1952. It was designed by the architecture firm Hupkes and Van Asperen. This ‘oasis in the Kleinpolder desert’ consists of two rows of shops on both sides of Abtsweg. The space between them was no less than 40 metres wide, allowing a 32-metre-wide pavement with trees and benches to be built along the western side. An extension housed a café with a hall for 150 people. Initially, there were even plans for a cinema here. This was not realized; it wasn’t until 1965 that the Musica community centre (and cinema) at De Lugt 17 opened.

Close to the Welschen blocks, and actually as a continuation of the central shopping area, the ‘Hoornwijk’ shopping centre was built in 1955. It contained 28 shops and a café with a party room on the corner of Van Noortwijckstraat. It was designed by the brothers W. and B. Lengkeek.

All shopping centres featured service streets for deliveries, as was common in the post-war years. Bakers and milkmen did not have shops because they still delivered directly to homes. The shopping centre on Baumannlaan also contained a bank and a police station.

Apart from the big new Catholic church and the existing Reformed church from 1901, another two new churches were built. In 1963, a second Reformed church was completed. The Advent church on Abtsweg by the architecture firm Brouwer & Deurvorst featured a striking roof of twisted shells in concrete. The church was demolished in 1989. At the corner of Burgemeester de Josselin de Jonglaan and Duyvesteynstraat in West, the reformed Maranatha church by architecture office Jos and Leo de Jonge was completed in 1954. This church was demolished in 2008.

Many primary schools were built across the neighbourhood and mostly system built. In the mid-1950s, municipal architect B.M. den Hollander developed a construction system for Rotterdam schools. The fairly simple buildings had a striking 12-sided playroom.

Non-public schools were usually situated beside a church. The only schools for secondary education were located in the centre of the district. The ‘Starrenburg’ vocational school for girls at the end of 2e Hogenbanweg was a hall-type school designed by the architecture office Lockhorst Koldewijn Van Eijk, and opened in 1959. At the entrance there is a facade relief called ‘Hand and head’ by Henk de Vos. The 5th Technical School on Jan Steenstraat from 1961 was designed by architect Harry Kammer. The two schools shared a gymnasium. The technical school is fitted with distinctive roof lights in the form of glass pyramids, which were also used elsewhere.

For industrial and commercial functions there was no longer any space in the new Rotterdam neighbourhoods. Big companies could acquire space in the Spaanse Polder, while a strip for smaller firms was reserved along the Rotterdamse Schie waterway on Ludolf de Jonghstraat. This connected with the businesses on the other side of Zestienhovensekade. An eye-catching structure was built for Végé at Oost-Sidelinge 15 at the entrance to the industrial site. It was designed by architect K. Mijnarend in 1955. A large dairy was also located here. Most of these commercial buildings have been replaced by housing.

The new neighbourhoods featured generous areas of public greenery in the form of collective courtyard gardens, such as in the Welschen blocks and the houses on Oost-Sidelinge. The Seven Provinces Blocks were surrounded by greenery and a wide green strip was laid out as a buffer along the busy Schie waterway and the Spaanse Polder. In Kleinpolder-Oost, urban designer Lotte Stam-Beese succeeded in realizing the first car-free streets in the country. There were also new canals. At the centre of Overschie was the Sidelinge Park, which largely serves as a buffer for the motorway.

Waalhaven airport was destroyed in May 1940. As a port city, Rotterdam wanted an airport, but on another site. Even before the war there were plans to relocate the airport to Smitshoek, south of Rotterdam, or to the Schieveen polder north of the city. The definitive choice fell to Zestienhoven polder, because the municipality owned all the land there. Approval from the government caused some delays. As a result, Rotterdam first opened in 1953 a Heliport, which operated a helicopter connection with Brussels. It was quicker to travel by helicopter to Brussels than by KLM bus to Schiphol.

Zestienhoven airport opened in October 1956. The airport plans had been influenced by the urban design layout of Overschie and Schiebroek. Zestienhoven was renamed Luchthaven Rotterdam and is now called Rotterdam The Hague Airport, but many Rotterdammers still refer to it as Zestienhoven.

Over the years the runway was lengthened from 1,300 to 1,800 and then to 2,200 metres. In 1970 a new terminal by municipal architect Jacques Bister was completed. An artwork by André Volten, realized within the framework of a ‘percent for art’ scheme, was ready in 1975. Mikado consists of shiny metal tubes.

On 28 October 1971, the city council decided not to extend the airport any further and to possibly close it. A housing development was planned on the site. A possible relocation of the airport to Schieveen polder was later considered. Despite protests from residents about noise pollution and emissions of harmful substances, there airport is still in operation.

From the very start, system building gave rise to various technical problems. The concrete walls of the Welschen dwellings did not absorb moisture, as a consequence of which large damp stains appeared on the wallpaper, which then peeled off. Neighbourhood council member Prins of the Labour Party, himself a building expert, was of the view that these complaints could only be solved by fitting all exterior walls with ‘eternit’ panels. The municipality eventually decided to tackle the problem. Cost: 1.8 million guilders.

According to rumours, the blocks on Oost-Sidelinge ‘leaked like a sieve’. The joints between the concrete components turned out not to be completely waterproof. They were sealed again and a new water discharge system was installed.

But traditionally built homes also developed defects. Airflow in the chimneys of the Seven Provinces Blocks proved to be poor. Major changes were made to the rotors on the roof, and the TNO research institute in Delft also carried out an extensive study. Because of the problems, unhappy residents set up a tenant association that, after the chimney problems had been solved, turned its attention to neighbourhood activities and the space around the blocks. 

The traditionally built homes on Becramming and Abtsweg also had moisture problems. These were the result of inadequate ventilation.

From the start there was criticism of the architecture and drabness of system construction. However, architects, artists and the municipality were very confident about the chosen approach. After all, an abstract, industrial appearance and modern materials such as steel and concrete reflected the times. It was not until the 1990s, when modernist architecture underwent a revival, that the exteriors of the Welschen blocks were fitted with facade insulation and fresh colours or colourful panels. The Seven Provinces Blocks were also restyled. The focus was not so much on the drab architecture, but on the poor heat insulation of the homes. Attaching insulation to the exteriors offered an opportunity to freshen up the appearance of the homes.

Some of the Welschen blocks were demolished, along with two of the Seven Provinces Blocks, but a lot remained standing. Residents were in favour of renovation and had already elaborated plans. “We do not want new buildings, because rent prices will more than double. Many residents cannot pay higher rents and would not be able to continue living in the blocks. Homes for tenants on low incomes should also be available in Overschie,” argued chairwoman L. van der Velden of the Overschie tenant association in Het Vrije Volk of 25 April 1989.

After 1990, some of the homes in Welschen 7 were renovated by architect Henk van Schagen. This renovation project won the National Renovation Prize. A ‘national memorial to post-war reconstruction’ was also unveiled on the site.

Since 2020, some of the Welschen homes (Welschen 2) have been renovated again by the same architect, Henk van Schagen. Not only does the structure contain various types of dwellings but new balconies and galleries can also be attached to the load-bearing side facades. The brickwork facades and recessed plinth and roof line make the blocks look new again.

Despite the many protests, the striking blocks on Oost-Sidelinge were demolished. Some of the ‘shock concrete’ panels will be reused in the new development.

Various parts of Overschie have been renovated since the early 1990s. In 1994, outdated blocks in Kleinpolder-Oost were replaced by architecturally similar low-rise blocks of subsidized rental dwellings designed by the neo-modern architects Roelf Steenhuis and Geurst & Schulze. Housing for seniors has been built in the form of high-rise structures, such as the Schie Tower by Akropolis Architekten from 1999. In 2017, owner-occupied homes in 1930s style were built on the site of the dairy on Ludolf de Jonghstraat. ‘De Kleine Schie’ was designed by Toverstralen Architectuur.

Welschen 1, close to Kleinpolderplein in Kleinpolder-West, was demolished and, after lying vacant for some years, the site was redeveloped with owner-occupied homes and traditional architecture and urban design. In ‘Thuis in Overschie’, no attempt was made to align with the 1950s system-built blocks but with the 1930s architecture of the freestanding houses on Rotterdamse Rijweg. The ‘Hoge Schie’ building by Eentien Architecten was built midway along Burgmeester Baumannlaan. This new shopping complex contains apartments above. Two of the Seven Provinces Blocks were replaced by a new building by Arons & Gelauff Architecten. In 2011 they realized phase one of Blijvenburg (De Nieuwe Overijssel) with housing for seniors in two elongated blocks around a courtyard. It is a contemporary interpretation of the post-war principle of open row blocks. Phase two of Blijvenburg (‘Together along the Schie’) was not developed until after the property market crisis, starting in 2022: two towers of different heights with apartments designed by WE Architecten.