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Flood in Rotterdam

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This photo shows the Witte Huis and Gelderse Kade flooded after the 1953 North Sea flood. At its peak, the water in Rotterdam was almost 4 meters above NAP (Normal Amsterdam Ordnance Datum). Although the damage was far worse elsewhere in the Netherlands, Rotterdam did suffer one victim. Mrs. Leentje Visser-De Wolff died on Rosestraat in Feijenoord. Due to the high water level, she was unable to leave her ground-floor apartment in time.

Photo: Alex de Herder (Rotterdam City Archives)

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Rotterdam Rooftop Roetsj

Rotterdam street on your roof

What if we use the rooftops to solve the housing shortage in Rotterdam and create an extra residential layer on top of the city?

What is not green can still come!

Green rooftops contribute to a healthy city by keeping the urban environment cool and promoting biodiversity. Time for a large-scale approach!

Aesthetic simplicity of Wim Quist

The Maritime Museum stands on a historic site where the city and harbor intersect, with a window onto the river. Designed by architect Wim Quist, the building opened in 1986.

1.000.000 objects

The Maritime Museum manages a collection of more than 1 million objects from Rotterdam's maritime past.

Prepare for more extreme weather with Rotterdam Weather Report

What are we doing as residents to adapt our physical environment to climate change and weather extremes? See what Rotterdams Weerwoord is doing.

Coolse Poort: Giant in Aubergine

In the 70s, resistance arose against the business center, which was considered dull and monotonous. Nevertheless, office buildings continued to rise, such as the Coolse Poort in 1979.

A subway station on the roof!?

Discover this unique metro station with Destination Havenstad on top of the museum.

A future for Hart010

The transformation of everything around the Churchillplein intersection has been given the name Hart010.

Generating energy from waves

Did you know that waves at sea generate energy? Dutch Wave Power has developed a machine that harnesses this energy.

Fresh air under the roof

This air scoop used to be placed on the deck of a ship to bring in fresh air.

Hermit crab from the Rotte

Electric Blue Hermit Crab by artist Eddy Kaijser, is made from plastic waste from the river Rotte.

One solar panel is not the same as another

Solar panels work well on green rooftops. And Sempergreen knows this better than anyone.

Jungle block turns what is gray into green

Jungle Blocks (from The Urban Jungle Project) make it possible to create green landscapes where this would normally not be possible. Read more!…

Monument for the Flood

Sculpture on loan from Boijmans van Beuningen.

Octopus exit: sliding out of the museum

For the Rotterdam City of Culture event, students from the WDKA designed a spectacular extension for the Maritime Museum, including this octopus.

You can learn to top up

Adding an extra floor to a building is called topping up. Sounds like a good idea, right?

Painting: Rijnhaven Rotterdam

This artwork, Rijnhaven Rotterdam, depicts the window on the river from the Maritime Museum…

Make way for the fish

Because the Blaak has been filled in, the water flows underground to the Leuvehaven in a large pipe. A fish passage has been built to help fish make this crossing.

Shield pack made of residual materials

Restvorm creates experiential theater that centers on recycling and sustainability. Interactive artworks, like this sea turtle, encourage reflection on this theme.

Beach on the Maas

Until 2008, Rotterdam had a real beach on the Maas!…

From Westblaak to Blaakpark?

Rotterdam is rapidly greening its streets with major urban projects like Hofplein, Hofbogenpark, and Rijnhavenpark. See them here.

From sea monster to design wonder

This enormous octopus was part of the Sea Monsters exhibition. What else can you experience at the Maritime Museum?

Cooling reef for your drainpipe

The Rain Reef from Urban Reef is a solution for using rainwater in your garden or balcony and provides cooling on your facade on hot days.

Fish swim under the square

The water between the Leuvekolk and the Leuvehaven is connected by a large pipe under Square 1940, allowing fish to swim from the Rotte to the Nieuwe Maas. And vice versa.

Where can you store water?

To capture all the rainwater in the future, we need water storage. The Waterwijzer (Water Guide) from Rotterdams Weerwoord shows where this is possible.

Water City, that's going to be something!

View the project plans for Rotterdam Waterstad from the 80s.

What a walk!

Zolar is a solar energy tile that you can walk on, developed by the roofing specialists at Zoontjens.

Plein 1940 is a hot island

Large cities are suffering from the urban heat island effect due to climate change: all that brick and concrete is causing them to heat up significantly. Therefore, the municipality of Rotterdam has developed a heat program.

In action against heat

Take action against heat with the Heat Action Day on June 2.

Rotterdam and water: love or hate?

The series "Dry Feet, Wet Feet" explores the relationship between Rotterdam and the water that surrounds us. Watch the special episode about the Maritime District now!

Window on the river

The Waterstad Society has collected historical images depicting views of the water over the years. View them here with captions.

A river through a pipe

The water from the Rotte flows underground through a pipe, where it used to go to the Leuvehaven via the Leuvesluis.

Skateable art

Check out Deadcat's skateable objects. Designed specifically for Roetsj.

Outdoor swimming in the city

Swimming in open water in the city is becoming increasingly popular. During the Rotterdam City Swim, the Leuvehaven was tested for the first time as a potential public swimming spot.

Weatherproof: prepare for inclement weather!

Experience the consequences of climate change yourself at De Weerbar by Rotterdams Weerwoord.

A barrel and a garden

The TonTuin is a circular rain barrel with a planter on top, developed by Waterleider.

City oasis Leuvehaven according to Rotterdam Dreamers

In the future, Leuvehaven could look very different. For example, full of biodiverse greenery, according to Rotterdam Dreamers.

Leuvehaven in the future according to Obscura

The future of the Leuvehaven according to architectural firm Obscura.

Experience the harbor inside, outside and on the roof

Portlantis is the Port of Rotterdam's brand-new experience center. It teaches you everything about this world-class port and offers spectacular views from the public panoramic roof.