SiTU MEMO 34

The name of our former Queen Beatrix means from latin: “bringer of luck” and she has so many last names, that she starts her letters with we. These are the names of possesions and titels her family gathered in the course of history. Her family-roots lay mainly in Germany and our Royalty is through the years connected by marriage and alliance to all of the remaining kingdoms in Europe.

Names of cities have a meaning too. Some seem simple like “Amsterdam” and “Coevorden”, others are more complex, some are intriguing, like “Deventer” or “Harlingen”.

During the Middle Ages local city-powers bought from their aristocratic rulers, the right to call themselves a “city”. It meant a considerable form of income for the ruling king or emperor. The town I live in, is in its “777th” year. This a significant and important number, but the city council had no money, so this moment of numerical glory, though historians have doubt about the historical accuracy of the date, was ignored and forgotten. This is how things go and this is how we create an empty and sterile world. This is our lesson for today. Think about the meaning of words, of things and the world around you. As the next assignement, you have to discover the meanings of the names of 5 streets or alleys in your neighbourhood. Don't get lost.