Europe's best-known bridges don't exist. They are depicted on the euro banknotes, but they are fictional bridges which were never built. But that is going to change. Dutch designer Robin Stam is building the seven bridges for real.
When the European Union got its common currency in 2002 euro banknotes were introduced in seven denominations ranging from 5 to 500 euro. They were designed by Austrian artist Robert Kalina.
Openness and cooperation
One side of the notes displays windows and gates from all epochs of Europe's cultural history: Classical, Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo, industrial and modern. The various apertures represent Europe's openness and cooperation.
Bridges are displayed on the reverse side of the notes. The initial idea was to show real bridges such as the Erasmus bridge in Rotterdam and the Pont Neuf in Paris, but that was inviting trouble, since there are just seven euro notes - far too few to give every EU member state its own bridge and guaranteed to cause envy.
Communication
To prevent squabbles, Brussels opted for seven fictional bridges to represent the close cooperation and communication between the EU states.
Ten years on these bridges will now actually be built, on a scale large enough to sail under or to cross on foot or by bike. All seven will span a canal encircling a new estate in the town of Spijkenisse, south of Rotterdam.
Joke
It all began as a joke by a young designer and artist from Rotterdam, Robin Stam. But the joke got out of hand and did, in fact, find supporters in Spijkenisse's local council which allowed him to actually build the bridges.
To avoid any unpleasant surprises, Mr Stam asked the Dutch Central Bank and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt whether they had any objections to the project but they gave him the green light. Apparently it's not a problem that all seven euro bridges will soon be Dutch.
Purple
The first two bridges have now been completed, being the ones on the 10 euro and 50 euro notes: a red bridge in Roman style, and an orange Renaissance bridge.
Next in line are the 200 euro bridge: ochre-coloured, in industrial iron and glass.
Still being prepared are the remaining four: the Classical one from the 5 euro note in grey, a blue one in Gothic style as seen on the 20 euro note, a green Baroque and Rococo bridge (100 euro). Few people will have seen the final bridge since the 500 euro note is not widely used: the 20th/21st century bridge in purple.
(rk/imm)
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I especially like the idea of coloring them the same as on the notes. All in all, an inspired and amusing project!
The €5 bridge, so to say, is indeed similar to the Pont du Gard. And yet there are significant differences - compare a note and an image of that bridge. Similarly, many say that the €100 bridge could be the Pont de Neuilly in Paris. When Robert Kalina designed those notes, he got his inspirations from existing buildings of course, but made sure (even by adapting his designs later) that they would be recognized as "familiar" architecture without being images of actual buildings.
The idea to build such bridges in Spijkenisse I find amusing. And by using the bank note colors, the designer shows where he got his inspiration from. Too bad it will take quite a while until all seven are done. :)
Is the bridge on the 5euro note not the bridge at Pont de Gaurd in the south of France? I have been to this site and it looks remarkably like the bridge on the note.
James
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