“In the past, Chinese restaurants were the first place families would go to eat on Christmas. Now you have cuisines from all over the world,” says Dik Otto. He was born in Charlois in 1943, in the middle of World War II. His father was from Rotterdam, his mother from an island in a Christian environment.
From marching to painting
He grew up in Rotterdam, where he spent his youth as a proud member of the Excelsior music association. “As a child, I used to march around the table. When the brass band came down the street, I ran outside and marched along with them. That’s how I got into it.” He played the flute for years and remembers the performances on Queen’s Day and the lantern parades in particular.
After his childhood, Dik started working as a house painter. “I made ugly things beautiful,” he says with a smile. Sometimes there were difficult customers—like when he had to repaint a door because a fly had flown into it—but there were also many pleasant moments. “In Kralingen, I would sometimes just sit at the table with customers to eat bread together.”
Chatting
Dik is retired, but he is still active in the city. Every week, he hosts the Roze Salon at Humanitas. “We sit together with twenty to twenty-five people. Everyone can say what they want, but I mainly try to keep things pleasant.” He also likes to visit his local bar. “Loge 90 is a gay bar I’ve been going to for years. On Mondays, it’s quiet, so you can just chat with each other.”
Rotterdam as home
Rotterdam is truly his city. He is certain that he does not want to live anywhere else, because he tried that once and it did not work out well. “I lived in Zoetermeer for a short year, which was a commuter town. I missed the life of Rotterdam there,” he says. When he saw an advertisement in the newspaper for new homes near Hofplein, he seized the opportunity. “I’ve been living here happily since 1984.” Rotterdam undeniably feels like home to him. “You have festivals, soccer celebrations, and just the liveliness that I find important.”
Multicultural city
The liveliness is partly due to the arrival of many different cultures. Dik sees this as an enrichment. “We can enjoy parties and good food together. Rotterdam must remain a place where everyone can feel at home.” At the same time, he thinks it is important for people to adapt. “If you learn the language and join a club or association, you will feel at home more quickly.”
A good mix
Dik sees the city changing with all the new construction and towers. “That’s good for the municipality, but it’s difficult for first-time buyers. Affordable housing is becoming increasingly scarce.” Still, he hopes that Rotterdam will remain a place for everyone. “A good mix is important.”