Paradijslaan te Rotterdam 1887 - 1888

Marinus Pieter Filbri captured this small photograph of Paradijslaan in Rotterdam with an unknown photographic process. Looking at this image through a social-historical lens, we see more than just a simple landscape. The late 19th century was a period of rapid urbanization in the Netherlands, and Rotterdam was at the heart of this transformation. Public parks and gardens like this were carefully designed as spaces for leisure and recreation, reflecting a growing awareness of the importance of nature amidst urban life. What social classes would have had the leisure time to stroll down Paradijslaan? Who had access to the benefits of these planned green spaces? Photographs like this provide valuable insights into the social fabric of the time. By studying historical archives, city planning documents, and accounts of daily life, we can begin to understand the complex relationship between nature, urbanization, and social class in the Netherlands during Filbri’s time.