Rotte

The punt is a small ship that was widely used in the Middle Ages to transport goods, people or livestock. A paper version of a punt from the thirteenth century.

Mees: Rotte…. That looks like an abbreviation of Rotterdam!
Jane: That's right, come inside! The Rotte is a river near here, a dam was built in it and that is how Rotterdam was created! And that was in 1270, so a really long time ago! Skippers and fishermen came to Rotterdam with their belongings to sell them. Another ship then brought the cargo onwards.

Mees: And money was certainly made with that…..
Jane: Exactly!
Mees: And...what kind of rowing boat is that?
Jane: That's called a punt, not a rowboat! They used to use these types of ships to transport people, things and animals. But this punt is extra special, they used it as building material for the dam.

Mees: The dam in the Rotte!
Jane: That one! This made the dam extra strong. And did you know that we were recently at the Markthal? Mees Of course I remember that! The Markthal is also on the wall there!
Jane: Yes……Where the market hall now stands, approximately at that spot they found this ship, so that is where the dam was!
Mees: And how did Rotterdam become such a big city? Jane: The film shows that well: the dam becomes a kind of hub where all kinds of things are traded. Money is made there and that attracts new residents. Rotterdam is getting bigger and growing from a small village into a world port.
Mees: Aha, so that's how Rotterdam came to be!

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