Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Time: 13.30 a.m. to 16.00 p.m.
Participation: free
Language: Dutch
Starting point: Don't give racism a chance, Jagthuisstraat/Essenburgstraat

For two years now, the work of artist Ro Heilbron (1938-2014) has been on display in all its glory in the Rotterdam streetscape. To celebrate this, BKOR is organising a special art walk on Sunday afternoon 11 May along the work and ideas of Heilbron: powerful, committed and still relevant today. His work speaks out against racism and exclusion, and celebrates identity, pride and solidarity.

In 2023, two murals in Heilbron were restored by design agency Opperclaes: Surinamese hut en Two women (both 1980). The reason for the restorations was the project Ro!Source of Salvation!, an initiative of Opperclaes in the context of 150 years of colonial and slavery history. In 2024, the restoration of the painting will follow on behalf of BKOR Don't give racism a chance (1988) by Bruce Tsai-Meu-Chong and Erico Smit.

Artist Erico Smit is our guest on this walk and co-compiler of the route of approximately 5 km. He shares his perspectives, memories and his own work in dialogue with the heritage of Heilbron and shows the power of art in public space. Art guide Anne-Marie Ros provides the context along the way. We also look at related works of art, such as the murals Fais Forever (2021) by TelmoMiel, winne (2018) by JDL Street Art and Declaration of Rights (2023) by Ferida Sedoc and the images Moments Contained (2023) by Thomas J Price and Unbroken Resistance (1965) by Hubert van Lith.

Registration
There are a limited number of places available for this tour. Please register in advance via join@artinrotterdamtours.nl. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with more information. Only register if you are sure you will come. At the start of the walk you will receive one of our route maps.

About our art routes
In recent years, BKOR has developed various art routes that lead past many works of art spread throughout the city. All routes are offered as a PDF in Dutch and English via this website, but a foldable map is also still available for free at Rotterdam Tourist Information on Stationsplein. The routes have also been made accessible for your mobile phone without having to download an app. Go to www.bkor.nl/routes, select the route you want to walk or cycle and see where you are on the map.