ROTTERDAM, 19 May 2026 – Rotterdam is giving 24 local initiatives a total of €1 million in start-up funding through CityLab010. The selected plans were chosen from more than 130 applications and will be presented during a public evening at Skateland Rotterdam on Thursday 28 May.
CityLab010 is the municipality’s support programme for new ideas that make Rotterdam greener, more social or safer. The programme offers knowledge, coaching, a network and possible start-up funding (startbudget) of up to €50,000.
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Rotterdam backs local ideas
This year, 24 Rotterdam plans have been selected, including one wildcard. Together, they receive €1 million to start putting their ideas into practice.
Alderman Robert Simons says the selected initiatives show the city’s energy. “Rotterdam is full of people with good ideas that really help the city move forward. With CityLab010, we give that energy room to grow. The initiatives honoured this year show how diverse and resilient our city is. That makes me positive: this is Rotterdam at its best.”
The initiatives are selected by an independent city jury (Stadsjury), made up of twelve Rotterdam residents with knowledge of the city and a strong local connection. Their role is to assess which plans deserve support and can make a meaningful contribution to Rotterdam.
Presentation evening at Skateland
On Thursday 28 May, the 24 selected initiators will present their plans during a festive presentation evening at Skateland Rotterdam. Alderman Robert Simons, the city jury, municipal advisers and CityLab010 partners will be present.
The event is open to the public, so you can come by to discover the plans, meet the people behind them and get a sense of what Rotterdam residents are trying to build next. CityLab010 lists the presentation evening from 19:00 to 22:00 at Skateland, Piekstraat 45.
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Three plans stand out
Among the selected initiatives is Uitbloeiers, a new breeding ground for young people in vulnerable situations in Delfshaven. The project involves young people in flower cultivation and green management in the neighbourhood.
Another selected plan is Club TURN, a platform designed to connect artists, visitors, venues and organisations in Rotterdam’s nightlife. The concept includes online DJ sets, interviews and intimate shows at special locations across the city.
LinguaVerseVR is also among the plans receiving support. The project is an interactive tool that helps secondary school pupils learn a new language in a playful way, without needing to travel abroad.
Together, these examples show the width of the CityLab010 selection. We are talking about youth work, nightlife, education, language, greenery and social connection, which is a very Rotterdam mix of practical, creative and slightly stubborn. Naturally, we approve.
Partners offer more support
CityLab010 is not only about funding. The programme also connects initiators with knowledge, coaching and networks through municipal advisers and seven social partner organisations.
The partners are Rabobank, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Greenchoice, Hogeschool Rotterdam Business School, Ploum, Onderzoekshuis and Voor Goed. Their role is to help initiators move from a promising idea to something that can actually work in the city.
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From thinking to doing
CityLab010 has supported many Rotterdam initiatives in recent years with an annual budget of €1 million. Previous examples include Bikepark in Overschie, Volharders Academy, where young people are trained as hospitality professionals, and MAAK INClusief, where young people with intellectual disabilities design and produce furniture.
That track record explains why the programme’s slogan, “from thinking to doing”, fits rather well. Rotterdam is full of people with plans, but the hard part is always the same: turning the kitchen-table idea into something with keys, invoices, people, planning and actual impact. The glamorous bit, obviously.
Public can discover plans
The presentation evening on 28 May gives Rotterdam a first look at the selected 2026 initiatives. It also gives the initiators a chance to explain what they want to do, why it matters and how their plan could help the city.
More information about CityLab010 and the selected initiatives is available at https://www.citylab010.nl/. The municipal council letter and public jury report can be found at https://gemeenteraad.rotterdam.nl/Reports/Item/e6b44365-1a80-48e7-b052-d340575847eb.
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