Lyrical lines printed on the sides of the city’s fleet of rubbish trucks have now been recognized as one of the Netherlands’ proud traditions. The Dutch city of Rotterdam is seeking recognition for its unique tradition of printing poetry on bin trucks, a practice that began in 1988 during a poetry festival.
A Unique Tradition
Since its inception, lines of verse have been printed on all of the city’s waste vehicles. This week, the practice was elevated to the status of intangible cultural heritage, receiving formal recognition from a Dutch body that safeguards the nation’s traditions.
““Since 1988, poetry has been travelling through Rotterdam on our bin lorries,” said Joan Nunnely, the deputy mayor for culture, community, and language. “You see it as you cycle to work or wait for a lorry to pass. Sometimes you read a line that stays with you for the rest of the day. What started as a quirky idea has become part of our city.”
Cultural Impact
Proponents of the initiative argue that it is both democratizing and uplifting. Nunnely noted, “Sometimes people think about culture as something only for those with a theoretical education. This is one way to bring poetry to all Rotterdammers.”
For waste collection workers like Paul Keijzer, who has been driving Rotterdam litter trucks since 1988, the poetry adds a deeper connection to the city. He shared, “We get positive reactions that people have never seen anything like it. But sometimes they say: I don’t understand that line!”
