KOEVOETSTRAAT

21 pictures


As good as forgotten, this lion's head guards the eastern part of Koevoetstraat.



A 'koevoet' (literally cow + foot) is a crowbar. Since also the street is bent a little, as can be seen on this picture, the name Koevoetstraat may find its origins in that tool.




At number 9, the white house, WEL was located for some years, a publising house which specializes in poetry. WEL was co-founded by Frans Mink (who lived here) in 1973. In the seventies, there was a garage downstairs.



Number 23 housed Valckesteyn in the period 1978-1980. In this gallery the first art performances in West-Brabant took place. Valckesteyn is the historic name. Valckesteyn and the adjacent houses to the right were built around 1750, after the devastating bombardments by the French army during the War of Austrian Succession (1740-1748). Over 25% of the town was flattened, more parts got heavily damaged. Until then the town was called La Pucelle (the virgin), since even the mighty Spanish armies didn't succeed to conquer it. It's only fair to say that during their most serious attempts, in 1588 and 1622, artillery was not as powerful and sophisticated as it was in the 18th century.



Not the biggest building in the street, neither the oldest, the former synagogue however is the most important complex here.



Initially, the Jewish community of Bergen op Zoom used the first floor of the local Weighhouse as a place of worship. According to the text on 'the first stone' of the present building, laid by Mr. S.L. van den Broeck, constructing began on the twelfth of the month Eloel.



The interior before World War II. Photographer: unknown.



The text "Door milddadigheid van den besten Koning 5593" means "Thanks to the benevolence of the best king 1832", refering to a gift by king William I (1772 - 1843), who ruled in the period 1813 - 1840. He was king of The United Netherlands (the actual Netherlands plus Belgium) as well as duke of Luxembourg. During his reign the Belgian Revolution (1830 - 1839) took place, which led to the independance of the Southern Netherlands, called Belgium from then on. The ties between the northern Netherlands and Flanders nevertheless remained tight.



Some lines from the poem by Benno Barnard, written especially for this place on request of Stichting Stenen Strofen (Foundation Stone Stanza's), an organization which strives for integrating poetry in the urban tissue. Some towns with similar intentions are Leiden (with over 100 texts), Middelburg and Den Bosch. In BoZ about 20 poems have appeared on buildings so far.



Barnard's complete text, refering to the fact that a local national-socialist used the complex as a depot for potatoes. David Colmer made the following English translation:



SHUL

On the wall of a former synagogue

Passer-by, this was a house of prayer
for nonzealous believers:
Salomon Samuel Frank, shopkeeper,
Nathan Jakob, of honest conduct,
name them. Here
they gathered: instructed
by forefathers, borne
by tradition.

Realise:
there is no such thing
as a former shul.

Think of the bastard who stored
his winter potatoes inside.
It is not nothingness
that terrifies
but its revelation in banality.

Even now, a cold millennium later,
an old man still stands
under the eternal lamp
mumbling in all his unshavenness
at the ark containing the names
of people death
scooped up like so many spuds:
Sam, Israel, Esther, Benjamin, Jakob.

You who are a passer-by,
as they were,
name them.




The newly formed square connecting the old and new shopping centres was called after Mozes de Hes (1864, Hoogeveen - 1942 Auschwitz), who was a religious teacher in Doetinchem, Smilde, Roermond, Gorredijk and Vlissingen. In 1926 he was appointed teacher and cantor in Bergen op Zoom. In 1942 he moved to Amsterdam. Shortly afterward, October 5th, he died in Auschwitz.



A plaque commemorating the opening of the restored synagogue by the ambassador of Israel in 1975. Between the end of the war and the early seventies, the building had fallen to ruin. Just before the remnants would be demolished in a slum clearance, the synagogue could be saved, thanks to the vigilance and perseverance of a small group of concerned residents.



The restoration works were also performed as a dedication to all the Jewish Dutch who didn't live to see the liberation. Few Jewish fellow townsmen returned to BoZ, too few to be able to reestablish the religious function of the building.



This sign explains that the synagogue was declared a national monument in 1975. Since 1996 the place is open to the public. On the first floor there is a exhibition. The new interior was, with much respect for the former functions, designed by artist Jan Wessendorp.



Many houses in the street were abandoned, due to their poor state after WW II. Since the eighties the downtown area has increasingly become a popular place to live in. Even on the Parade, a big square between Koevoetstraat and the main church, shops and apartments were built.



A new transom window in 'old style'.



All the shops, offices and apartments to the left are new, built between 2001 and 2006.



This double door is a design from the seventies.



After all the mistakes in favour of urban renewal during especially the sixties and seventies, most people in Bergen op Zoom realize it is essential to keep their town's heritage. In order to find a balance between old and new the town may not fossilize to become only a monumental area like some other historic 'fairy tale' towns. Since the centre has been classified as a protected area, new streets and constructions must however show respect to the environment, meaning for example that materials, size, colours and texture should fit. This process is continuously going on with ups and downs. The Parade-project, in which Koevoetstraat partially is situated, was designed by a group of international architects: Rob Krier / KCD, bOb Van Reeth / AWG, Sjoerd Soeters and Jan Weyts. Investors Rodamco and Vesteda made it possible to add 18.000 m2 retail space, 81 apartments and 2 parking garages with together 470 places to the town's functions and facilities. It helped Bergen op Zoom to be awarded Best Centre of The Netherlands in 2007, one year after completing the works. This corner is an example of mixing old and new elements.