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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Senay Boztas in Amsterdam

Verse from the waste land: Rotterdam’s poetic bin lorries granted cultural status

A Rotterdam road sweeper, with poetry written on its side, passes a blonde woman riding a bicycle.
A Rotterdam road sweeper. The poem by Alfred Schaffer translates as: ‘And one more step, and step by step, I step away from myself’. Photograph: Irene Hoekstra

It is best known for its rich migration history and striking modern architecture. But now the Dutch city of Rotterdam is seeking recognition for a rather different characteristic: its tradition of printing poetry on bin trucks.

Since a poetry festival first came up with the idea in 1988, lines of verse have been printed on all of the city’s waste vehicles. The practice was this week elevated to the status of intangible cultural heritage, with formal recognition from a Dutch body that guards the nation’s traditions.

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