These are (not) real bridges
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When using a country’s currencyThe money used in a particular country at a particular time, like dollar, yen, euro, etc., consisting of banknotes and coins, that does not require endorsement as a medium of exchange. More, it’s taken for granted that whatever it illustrates is “local” and “real”. In fact, travel often begins when we go to the exchangeThe Eurosystem comprises the European Central Bank and the national central banks of those countries that have adopted the euro. More office prior to a trip. There is so much to discover about a country on a banknoteA banknote (or ‘bill’ as it is often referred to in the US) is a type of negotiable promissory note, issued by a bank or other licensed authority, payable to the bearer on demand. More: landscapes, indigenous flora and fauna as well as noteworthy buildings. But when it comes to Europe, this all falls through. This is precisely why, when people realise that the monuments featured on the euroThe name of the European single currency adopted by the European Council at the meeting held in Madrid on 15-16 December 1995. See ECU. More banknotes are fictional, an astonished look is generally accompanied by a tinge of disappointment… but no longer!
In 2013, in the suburb of Rotterdam, the island township of Spijkenisse decided to claim the bridges featured on EU banknotes as its own. Triggered by the creative spirit of Dutch designer Robin Stam who dreamt of bringing these fictional bridges to life, the township agreed to invest additional funds to make Stam’s vision a reality.
If the initial reasoning behind the fictional bridges, designed by Austrian banknote designer Robert Kalina, was to avoid any hard feelings between the then 12 members of the Eurozone (for only 7 denominations), now the bridges have become a product of The Netherlands. Yet, they do a very good job at satisfying Kalina’s message: bridging gaps and connecting an island to the mainland.
To find out more about this peculiar architectural project, watch Tom Scott’s short video here below:
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