Rotterdam’s green metamorphosis

Paddling at Hofplein, strolling along the banks of Feyenoord Riverside Park or picnicking at Rijnhaven. Hopefully, Rotterdam will always remain a bit rough around the edges, but with seven new urban projects, the city has committed to ‘greening’ its public space.

These projects will create inviting new environments for citizens and visitors to meet each other, exercise and relax. But they will also offer new solutions for various major challenges faced by today’s cities. Emiel Arends works as an urban planner for the Municipality of Rotterdam: ‘Green space is not only good for residents’ health. It also increases the city’s appeal as a business location and makes it more climate-adaptive.’

Extreme weather conditions

The urban projects overlap with Rotterdam’s current densification programme. ‘The number of people who come to live and work in the city continues to rise. That is why over the next few years, Rotterdam will be building another 50,000 homes within existing city limits. And all these new residents will need the necessary amenities: places where they can exercise, meet each other, recreate and relax.’

At the same time, the city needs to adapt to extreme weather conditions caused by climate change. Arends: ‘Greening also helps us to address issues like the urban heat island effect and the need to accommodate heavy rainfall and mitigate lengthy dry spells. For example, Hofbogenpark, which runs along the old railway overpass, will become the largest green roof of the Netherlands. And at a length of over 2 km, it will actually double as Europe’s largest storage basin.’