Rotterdam’s Erasmus Bridge is commonly nicknamed “The Swan” because of its white asymmetrical pylon.
The bridge crosses the Nieuwe Maas in Rotterdam and links the northern city center with the Kop van Zuid district. Designed by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, it opened in 1996. Its tall white pylon and fan of stay cables give it a distinctive silhouette that resembles a swan’s neck.
The Erasmus Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with a movable bascule section at its southern end. That opening section allows taller vessels to pass along the river. The bridge therefore combines a fixed cable-stayed span with a mechanism for navigation clearance.
The nickname is informal, while Erasmus Bridge is the official name. It honors Desiderius Erasmus, the Renaissance humanist and theologian who was born in or near Rotterdam, although the exact details of his birthplace are debated.