You'll be in trouble

by Bert Hermans · Gouda, NL

Bert Hermans revisited the Fenixloods II in Rotterdam (Netherlands) shortly after the official opening of the Emigration Museum on May 16, 2025. While painting in the summer of 2025, the potential negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine seem to have reached a crucial stage. Does Putin seem to hold all the cards, or are appearances deceptive, and will the deceiver be deceived? In the painting, Putin himself, who waves innocently at the viewer and seems convinced of his victory, is threatened by drones that attack him. A dream of the future, or will it soon become reality? The Fenixloods II opened in 1923 in the Katendrecht district of Rotterdam. At the beginning of the last century, Katendrecht had one of Europe's first Chinatowns. The Fenixloods is located opposite the former headquarters of the Holland America Line. The Fenix building was once the largest storage and transhipment warehouse in the world. Millions of people began new lives on the quays surrounding the warehouse. They departed by ship for the United States and Canada, or arrived here. This striking harbor building, designed by architect Cornelis Nicolaas van Goor, has been fully restored to the design of the restoration architects at Bureau Polderman. The reinforced concrete structure, distinctive windows, and sturdy columns have been carefully restored. A work of art with a spectacular view has also been added to the warehouse: the Tornado, partially depicted in the painting. This double-turning staircase leads visitors through the building to the viewing platform above. The Tornado symbolizes departures and arrivals from around the world. The spiral staircase with the new viewing platform was designed by the Chinese architectural firm MAD Architects. Founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong, MAD Architects quickly became known as one of the world's most innovative architectural firms. Organic and technologically advanced forms characterize the design. Within the building, people, the city, and the environment merge seamlessly. Fenix is the first European museum built by a Chinese architectural firm. The choice of MAD Architects honors the forgotten history of Europe's first Chinatown.