This is mister "Floor Wibaut" (1859-1936), a socialist politician and municipal councillor of Amsterdam from 1914 until 1931. He had much influence in Amsterdam politics and his nickname was "the Mighty" or the "Viceroy of Amsterdam". He did a lot for the housing for the people.
An important approach road in Amsterdam has his name the "Wibautstreet", which looked like this last summer. In 1963 an officebuilding of the Municipal Public Works was built here, the "Wibaut-house" and in 1967 the statue of Wibaut was placed in front of it. In 2007 the building was demolished already and mister Wibaut had to be removed. He is now watching from a bridge what the city council is doing with his street.
My sister in law lives on the Wibautstraat in Zaandam. Until now I had absolutely no idea what the story was behind this streetname :-)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenAnd thanks for your tip today about Greenwich Village Daily photo, what a coincidence we had a post about the same subject today.
Have a very nice weekend!
Altijd die open liggende straten, het moet wel maar het is zo lastig. INterssant verhaal van Wibaut, ik kende het niet. MIjn man waarschijnlijk wel.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenFijn weekend!
wow, that looks like a mess! i understand that mister wibaut looks a bit annoyed... ;)
BeantwoordenVerwijderenvery funny how you wrote it.. :)