Greetings from Rotterdam

I live outside of a small town (population is touted at 3,000 people, but I think that's a stretch). It takes mail longer to arrive here sometimes, as demonstrated by the holiday card I received 16-January, over a month after it was mailed to me from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In a straight-line distance, that is 4263 miles, or 6860 km!

Inside the card is a lovely, handwritten note which I shall treasure... 💖 And also a refrigerator magnet with scenes from Rotterdam on it! 😃

The images shown on the magnet depict (in counter-clockwise order, from left):

• Euromast: An observation tower built for the 1960 Floriade garden exposition and festival, which is held every ten years. As a testament to the engineering ability of the Dutch people: "For stability it is built on a concrete block of 1,900,000 kg (4,200,000 lb) so that the centre of gravity is below ground."  ^[1]

• Witte Huis (or White House): This beautiful building was built in 1898 and was the very first high-rise building in the Netherlands, and perhaps in all of Europe. The 10-story building is 43 m (141 ft) tall and built in the Art Nouveau style. "It was also one of the few buildings in central Rotterdam to survive the German bombing campaigns of World War II."  ^[3]

• Cost-of-Arms: Besides the usual heraldic elements (rampant lions, escutcheon [shield], and the royal diadem) is the motto of the Kingdom, granted by Her Highness Queen Wilhelmina in 1948 to honor the resiliency of the Dutch people after World War II: Sterker door strijd  (Stronger from struggle). ^[2]

• Skyline: Rotterdam is a major port city of Europe, located at the confluence of the Rotte River and the massive Nieuwe Maas channel which flows into the North Sea. The history of the city dates back to the 13th century, when a dam was built on the Rotte River and people settled near the "Rotte Dam." Having been largely destroyed during World War II bombings, the city was rebuilt with a more modern flair than is exhibited in many European cities. It is now the second largest city in the Kingdom, only surpassed by the capital, Amsterdam.

Thank you, @brittandjosie for the beautiful card, your wonderful note, and the great memento of your city! 🤗