Charles van Wijk Van 't Hoff monument (1915)

The monument unveiled in 1915 in honor of Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff (1852–1911) possesses an un-Dutch allure. Van 't Hoff is flanked by two women, symbolizing Imagination and Reason. On the back of the pedestal, a depiction of his most important works and a bas-relief of his laboratory can be seen. The monument stands in front of the building that housed the first Rotterdam Higher Secondary School (HBS) until the late 1950s. One of the first pupils of this school was J.H. van 't Hoff. He studied chemistry in Leiden, Bonn, and Paris. He became a professor in Amsterdam in 1878. The highlight of his career was the Nobel Prize, which he received in 1901; the first to be awarded for chemistry. Upon his death in 1911, the idea quickly arose in Amsterdam university circles to erect a monument for 'their' professor. Outside of these circles, however, enthusiasm was limited. For that reason, they turned to his birthplace, Rotterdam, where the idea was taken up by Mayor Zimmerman. From five designs, that of The Hague sculptor Charles van Wijk was chosen, which was realized in 1915. In the early 1990s, the statues of the two women had been so severely damaged by polluted outdoor air that restoration was no longer possible. Rotterdam sculptor Marthe Stigter made replicas from Portland stone, which replaced the old statues in 1997. The small square surrounding the monument was also refurbished at that time. Van 't Hoff monument has become a resting point in the turmoil of the 's-Gravendijkwal.