No cows to be seen on the new mural at Koeweide. And that is a deliberate choice, says artist Nina Valkhoff. She gestures to the square. There is already a statue of a cow there. And there are a few at the beginning of Boezemstraat.

So there are enough cows in the area. Nina therefore chose to primarily depict the environment of the cow. So animals that occur with the cow in the meadow. Or at least in the polder. Like a heron. A kingfisher also flutters by. Both birds have just caught a fish. And that is again an indirect nod to the history of the square and the wider Crooswijk neighborhood. Because, says Nina, take those cows that Koeweide is named after. They used to just meet their end here.

At Goudse Rijweg and Hugo de Grootstraat, a livestock market took place weekly until 1974. The traded animals were often slaughtered immediately at the public slaughterhouse on Boezemstraat. Nina: That’s why I wanted to depict something about life and death in this painting. As a kind of nod to history.

Wish

The new painting on Boezemstraat is an initiative of 2 involved residents: Tessa van Caspel and Karin Visser. Nina explains the approach. As you can see, Boezemstraat is a busy street, many people drive through this way into the neighborhood. And Tessa and Karin wanted to brighten up that entrance.

The Crooswijk residents therefore approached Nina to create 2 designs for the intended wall. Residents were allowed to vote for their favorite. It is always nice to work on commission from neighborhood residents, then you know it is really a wish from the community.

Nina nods at the now completed artwork. This design won by a large majority. In total, about 200 people responded to the vote. I think that’s a lot. Really cool.

Meanwhile, Boezemstraat is filling up with traffic again. A motorist honks cheerfully at the artist. Nina laughs: Oh, that happens all the time. People are constantly giving me a thumbs up. Then a window opens and a thumb comes out. Very nice.

New Project

Nina Valkhoffs new artwork can be found on the side wall of the building at Boezemstraat 188. It was made possible by a contribution from the municipality, through a residents initiative. Also a good idea for your neighborhood? Check the website mijn.rotterdam.nl. Link opens an external page for the possibilities.

She is already working on a new project: a mural on Van der Sluysstraat in the Provenierswijk. Here, storm Eugene destroyed an earlier artwork of hers in 2023. But soon a new mural will be visible. This was also initiated by the community.