Powerful memorial project brings bombing victims to life
On May 14, 2025, it was 85 years since Rotterdam was struck by the devastating bombing. To mark this commemorative year, the Comité Herdenking 14 Mei launched a remarkable initiative: The Names of May 14, 1940. Commissioned by the committee, Mothership and Video Agency created this powerful tribute, projecting the names—and, where possible, the faces—of 711 Rotterdam victims onto buildings and screens across the city between May 6 and 14.
This year, the focus shifted from buildings and destruction to the victims themselves. Their names and portraits appeared in prominent locations throughout the city—a powerful tribute to who they were. For many relatives, this meant more than remembrance: it offered a chance to make their loved ones visible, and to open up conversations about a painful chapter that often remained unspoken.
The visuals left a deep impression and moved many. For those left behind, it was a comforting way to share memories, express emotions, and reflect together on what was lost.
Initiator Susan Hogervorst emphasized that the project invites people to feel personally connected:
“They are not just anonymous names.
It’s history that touches us all.”
Especially in a time when we are flooded daily with fleeting images, this quiet and public form of remembrance creates a profound impact. The strength of the project lies in the visual presence of the victims’ faces throughout the city—even for younger generations who know the bombing only from books or stories. It brings the past tangibly into the present.
The official launch of The Names of May 14, 1940 took place on Tuesday, May 6, in the main hall of Rotterdam Central Station. Mayor Carola Schouten unveiled the first projection on a large screen: the names of the 711 victims, followed by several portraits of the deceased. Many relatives and their families were present at the opening.
“We often speak about the reconstruction, but it’s just as important to pause and reflect on the grief. This project gives a face back to those we lost.”
— Mayor Carola Schouten
Following this meaningful launch, the projections appeared throughout Rotterdam—from the KPN building on the Kop van Zuid to Ahoy, and from the screens at Binnenwegplein, Lijnbaan, and Westblaak to Zuidplein, as well as on several screens in metro stations—giving the tribute a powerful, citywide presence.
A Tree That Saw It All – and Stood Its Ground
One of the most remarkable projections appeared on a monumental tree near the Bilderberg Parkhotel on the Westersingel — a plane tree that survived the bombing.
For this projection, we collaborated with 360 Experience Group and Live Legends.
“My grandmother’s portrait is being seen by so many people. That means so much to our family. It’s important that her story continues to live on.”
— Jeroen Huijsdens, relative
A Remembrance That Resonates
The project The Names of May 14, 1940 received an overwhelming amount of media attention, both locally and nationally. Articles and reports appeared in leading newspapers such as AD, De Telegraaf, De Havenloods, and De Twentsche Courant Tubantia. The project also made a strong impression on television, receiving in-depth coverage from national news programs like Nieuwsuur and Hart van Nederland, where the human stories and the visual impact of the projections took center stage.
Reaching hundreds of thousands of people, this media attention highlighted the social and emotional significance of this remarkable commemorative initiative.
Thanks to All Our Partners
The Names of May 14, 1940 could never have been realized without the dedication, support, and involvement of many partners. Together, we ensure that Rotterdam continues to remember.