METRO O1O

Rotterdam, NL

Can we talk about the city in a different way?

TechCity – Illustration Stang Gubbels

METRO O1O takes you on a journey through the city of Rotterdam’s history and into is future. In this richly illustrated cartoon book, author Abdelkader Benali follows the traces to the city as it is today: from the dam in the Rotte river, to Rotterdam as a water city and later a port city, to the bombardment and post-war reconstruction.

The story shows that Rotterdam was not created all at once, by a single person, but was shaped over the centuries, by many people – and now by you and everyone else living there.

“The beautiful and compelling illustrations not only invite you to read, but also make you want to get to work right away.” – Riek Bakker, former director of Rotterdam Urban Development

19 illustrators, 4 city poets, 2 photographers and 4 historians contributed to the book.

The neighbourhood renewed – Illustration Nadia Pepels

The dam in the Rotte – City map Marcel Ruijters

The dam in the Rotte – Illustration Martijn van Santen

The Malle Schip (‘Strange Ship’) – Illustration Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva

The Nieuwe Waterweg (‘New Waterway’) – Illustration Vera de Koning

The bombing – Illustration Esther Malaparte

The reconstruction – Illustration Boy Akkerman

When you get to know a city you love it, and what you love, you take care of.

TechCity – Illustration Stang Gubbels

Rotterdoom – Illustration: Edwin Hagendoorn

Rotterdam 2050: Nature City –Illustration Gwen Stok

Rotterdam 2050: The Inclusive City – Illustration Sai Rodrigues

City as playground – Illustration Marvin Bruin

Photography Elizar Veerman

Poem Moze Naél

Photography Loes van Duijvendijk

METRO O1O

Strange but true. A graphic novel about the metropolis on the Maas

METRO O1O takes you on a journey through the city of Rotterdam’s history and into is future. In this richly illustrated cartoon book, author Abdelkader Benali follows the traces to the city as it is today: from the Dam in the Rotte river, to Rotterdam as a water city and later a port city, the bombardment and the post-war reconstruction.

The story shows that Rotterdam was not created all at once, by a single person, but was shaped over the centuries, by many people – and now by you and everyone else living there.

METRO O1O is not only a compelling historical and urban narrative, but also a call to action. In an inspiring way, the book shows how you can influence the development of your own street, neighbourhood and city. And therefore also such aspects as diversity, quality of life, inclusiveness, sustainability and the energy transition. It helps you get to know Rotterdam better, understand it better and make it better. More and more each day.

19 illustrators, 4 city poets, 2 photographers and 4 historians contributed to the book: Boy Akkerman, Marvin Bruin, Dodici, Loes van Duijvendijk, Bruno Ferro Xavier da Silva, Stang Gubbels, Vienne Lisa Haagoort, Edwin Hagendoorn, Mariana Hirschfeld, Han van der Horst. Benzokarim, Saskia de Klerk, Hanco Kolk, Vera de Koning, Esther Malaparte, Moze Naél, Nadia Pepels, Michelle Provoost, Egon de Regt, Sterre, Richard, Sai Rodrigues, Simone Rots, Marcel Ruijters, Martijn van Santen, Rachel Sender, Gwen Stok and Elizar Veerman.