SiTU MEMO 11

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 rest mainly in Germany and our Royalty is through the years connected by marriage among 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. During the Middle Ages bought from their rulers, the right to call themselve a “city”. It meant a considerabble form of income for the ruling king or emperor. The town I live in, is in its “777th” year. This a significant number, but the city council had no money, so this moment of glory, though historians have doubt about the date, was ignored and forgotten. This is how things go and this is how we create a empty and sterile world. This is our lesson for today. Think about the meaning of words, of things and the world around. As the next assignement, you have to discover the meaning of the names of 5 streets or alleys in your neighbourhood. Don't get lost.