Rotterdam is a young, dynamic global city that is continually reinventing itself. The city is a blend of futuristic and experimental architecture alongside buildings from the post-war period. Beyond its remarkable architecture, Rotterdam has transformed itself in other innovative ways. The Sustainable Cities Index 2024 has ranked Rotterdam 2nd out of 100 evaluated cities worldwide, thanks to its progress in key sustainability areas: planet, people, and future.
Here are different ways Rotterdam is a paradise for every urban planner.
The 'R' stands for Resilience
Rotterdam is renowned for its vision, courage, and perseverance, qualities that have helped shape it into the resilient city it is today. To sustain this resilience, Rotterdam has undertaken several initiatives to enhance the city's preparedness, ensuring it is well-equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. These initiatives range from repurposing water challenges into opportunities, such as creating stormwater buffers and storage areas for recreational use, to initiatives such as Dakakker, one of Europe's largest harvestable Roof Farms. Rotterdam's commitment to reinvention strengthens its resilient character, making it a playground for urban planners where their ideas can blossom into reality.
RIF010
Another standout innovation is RIF010, the world's first urban surf pool in the heart of the city, behind the iconic building of the Markthal. The plans for RIF010 began in 2014, winning the City Initiative competition. Since opening in July 2024, the pool has allowed visitors to surf or bodyboard on perfect waves or engage in other water activities. Additionally, the Surfbar & Kitchen with a terrace offers a nice spot to relax and enjoy the city's atmosphere.
For urban planners, RIF010 shows how to repurpose existing infrastructure into multifunctional recreational spaces, enhancing the city's attractiveness and liveability. Using existing infrastructure innovatively, RIF010 provides year-round activities, promoting physical health and social interaction.
Floating Farm
The Floating Farm in Rotterdam’s port is a groundbreaking project focused on sustainable, localised food production on water. Inspired by the food shortages caused by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the farm aims to enhance urban resilience by producing food close to consumers, providing high-quality dairy products, and serving as an educational hub. It innovates techniques for growing vegetables in water and emphasises the scalability and customisation of the project.
By expanding the production of eggs and vegetables, the versatile and strategic advantages of water-based farming for a sustainable urban food supply are demonstrated
Port of Rotterdam
The Port of Rotterdam Authority, owned by the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Dutch state, is committed to creating a sustainable future for the port. Guided by the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, the port aims to be climate-neutral and prioritise safety and environmental health. Key initiatives include smart logistics, renewable energy, and circular industry.
This strategy focuses on being a smart logistics partner, accelerating sustainability, and fostering an enterprising organisation. The port is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, all while leading the way in innovative, sustainable logistics.
The Recycled Park
Rotterdam's Floating Park is a prototype from recycled plastic collected from the city's waterways. Developed by the Recycled Island Foundation, the park features hexagonal pods that mimic the original landscape of the Maas River before human intervention. These versatile pods can serve as gardens, wildlife habitats, and leisure spaces and can be arranged into various seating configurations. To support sustainability efforts, plastic waste is captured by "litter traps" in the city's canals, preventing it from reaching the ocean. The foundation hopes to use this collected plastic to expand and build more floating parks in the future.
