While I was in holiday in France  last week, I was struck by the beauty of derelict buildings once more. Is it because in the Netherlands we have these overzealous city councils that do not allow old buildings to be left alone? As a Rotterdam resident I am just used to new*, and sometimes really bad architecture (especially the horrible 80ties social housing programmes). So once abroad, I’m always inclined to take pictures like these. Also slightly weathered type on a building is always a winner.

*In 1940 a German deconstuction company called Luftwaffe created an empty spot where the city centre used to be, giving Rotterdam the opportunity to rebuild everything anew.