The name of the street Diergaardesingel comes from the fact that before WW2 the city zoo was here in this area.

The new zoo at Blijdorp, which is still there, was built just before the war started. The move was planned, but was disturbed by the eruption of the war and the bombardment of the city center of Rotterdam on May 14th of 1940.

Story goes that some of the animals escaped during the bombing and were seen roaming the destroyed streets of Rotterdam.