This stunning black-and-white photograph captures the Lijnbaan, the beating heart of shopping in Rotterdam during the 1960s. The modern storefronts, wide pedestrian walkways, and iconic neon letters above the entrance define this revolutionary shopping street, which opened in 1953 as Europe’s first car-free shopping promenade.
At the time, the Lijnbaan was the place to shop and stroll. People dressed in the classic fashion of the era browse store windows, shopkeepers present their latest collections, and cyclists move through the vibrant cityscape. In the background, the Laurenskerk, one of the few historical buildings to survive the Rotterdam bombing, stands as a silent witness to the city’s transformation.