During my recent visit to Rotterdam for the Urban Future conference, I discovered why it is the go-to destination for sustainable events. 

Rotterdam embodies its “Make It Happen” motto by offering direct access to social enterprises and sustainability projects that event planners can easily integrate into conference programs. 

The city’s practical innovations deliver real impact for delegates while supporting local initiatives. I spoke with Brenda Kamphuis, founder-director De Rotterdam Tours & City Programs who organized the social and sustainability excursions during the Urban Future conference. 

We discussed how these exceptions create meaningful connections between visitors and local projects. Below, I’m excited to share highlights from our conversation and my personal experiences visiting these inspiring initiatives.

Social entrepreneurship in Rotterdam

Rotterdam’s strength for sustainable events comes from its active social entrepreneurs who tackle social challenges directly linked to the city. These projects drive real impact for its citizens. 

During the Urban Future conference, I visited three social enterprises that offer such opportunities for event delegates. 

Rotterdamse Munt: community garden 

In Feyenoord, one of Rotterdam’s poorest neighborhoods, Rotterdamse Munt has transformed a plot above railway tracks into a thriving social garden. It started as a mint-growing initiative and developed into a community hub where residents can garden, socialize, and find purpose. 

The location above train tracks ensures this space will never be developed, providing long-term stability for the neighborhood. Participants gain valuable skills while tending to herbs, vegetables, and flowers. The garden offers structured daytime activities for people facing various challenges. These may be social, psychological, financial, or related to housing or addiction issues.

Sports Equipment Bank (Sportspullenbank): makes sports accessible to all

“When you ask a child what sport they like, they might only know football, boxing, or basketball. They won’t think of hockey or cricket because they have no clue about them. You need to show them what’s possible.”

These powerful words from Erna Truijens, the passionate force behind Sportspullenbank (Sports Equipment Bank), stayed with me long after our visit. This initiative collects and distributes high-quality second-hand sports equipment to those who would otherwise be unable to participate in sports activities.

Erna, often described by locals as a “system changer,” has transformed this simple concept into a movement that’s breaking down barriers to physical activity. By introducing children to sports they’ve never encountered, Sportspullenbank is helping children, but also adults, from all backgrounds participate in sports. That, in turn, helps them build confidence, gain new skills and new connections.

Rotterdamsche Werken: Employment for youth with special needs

“Rotterdam Confiture” started as a small jam-making project and grew into Rotterdamsche Werken, a social business that helps young people with special needs. Here, young people with autism, Down syndrome, or learning disabilities find employment and develop skills.

Run by three dedicated women volunteers, Rotterdamsche Werken has expanded beyond jams to include gift wrapping, clothes sorting for reruns, and food service from their newly built kitchen. Located in an area with high foot traffic, they now operate as a café where visitors can enjoy coffee and treats while supporting this impactful initiative.

Environmental sustainability innovations

In addition to addressing social challenges, Rotterdam is addressing environmental ones with equal innovation.

Rooftop utilization

With 18,500 m² of flat rooftop space, Rotterdam has turned what was once wasted space into an asset. 

DakAkker, the Netherlands’ largest open-air roof farm (1,000 m²), grows everything from vegetables to herbs while hosting bees and chickens above the city streets. The rooftop restaurant, Teds Rotterdam, brings the farm-to-table concept to new heights, literally.

This is part of Rotterdam’s broader multi-roof program, which transforms flat rooftops into solutions for climate adaptation, water retention, heat stress reduction, and biodiversity enhancement.

These initiatives form the perfect backdrop for sustainable events in Rotterdam, offering activities that demonstrate environmental principles in action.

Innovation in water management

The Benthemplein Water Square exemplifies Rotterdam’s practical innovation—a public space that serves as both a recreational area and flood control measure. During heavy rainfall, this world-first design can hold up to 2 million liters of water, protecting surrounding neighborhoods from flooding. When dry, it’s a vibrant public square for sports.

Nearby, the Hofbogenpark is transforming a former 2km railway viaduct into an elevated green park, while the ambitious Rijnhaven Project is creating an entire urban development on water, blending residential, commercial, and leisure spaces.

Floating innovations

Rotterdam’s forward thinking extends to transportation and agriculture. In 2022, Watertaxi Rotterdam introduced its first hydrogen-powered water taxi, marking a significant step toward sustainable urban transport.

Perhaps most striking is the Floating Farm Rotterdam—the world’s first floating farm. This revolutionary approach to urban agriculture brings food production directly into the city, dramatically reducing the distance from farm to consumer while addressing land scarcity challenges.

Creating lasting visitor experiences

What impressed me most about Rotterdam was how the city integrates these innovations into the visitor experience. The Urban Future conference exemplified this approach by making field trips to social enterprises and sustainability projects a fundamental part of the program rather than optional add-ons.

Simple solutions like QR code donations in conference venues, sponsor “adoption” of social enterprises, or integrating site visits into networking activities create win-win scenarios. Visitors gain authentic experiences and connections to the city, while local initiatives receive recognition and support.

For event planners seeking to host impactful, sustainable events, Rotterdam provides a complete ecosystem with local expertise and infrastructure. The growing international recognition of sustainable events in Rotterdam is driving more organizations to choose this innovative city for their events.

Rotterdam Partners offers complimentary support by connecting event organizers to the right venues and service partners and providing relevant city information. Their team helps create awareness of Rotterdam as a potential host city and lays the groundwork for successful bids and congresses.

As I left Rotterdam, I carried with me memories from talking with passionate people who stand behind these initiatives. In Rotterdam, they don’t just talk about making it happen—they do it, every day. And that’s a lesson worth bringing home.

Header photo: Luchtpark Hofbogen located at the former railway station Hofbogen / Hofplein. Copyright: Guido Pijper