Getijdenpark Feijenoord construction starts in Rotterdam

ROTTERDAM, 22 May 2026 – Construction has started on Getijdenpark Feijenoord, a new tidal park in Stadionpark between the Eiland van Brienenoord and Mallegat. The project will add a new stretch of urban nature to Rotterdam-Zuid, with walking paths, tidal landscape and space for wildlife along the Nieuwe Maas.

The first work began on Friday 22 May, with dredging vessels preparing the area and alderman Tim Versnel giving the official starting signal. The tidal park (getijdenpark) is designed to bring the movement of ebb and flow back into the city, twice a day, right here in Rotterdam.

New nature along the Maas

Getijdenpark Feijenoord will become a new natural area shaped by the rhythm of the river. Because the Nieuwe Maas has an open connection to the sea, fresh and salt water meet in Rotterdam, creating the conditions for a landscape that changes with the tide.

Alderman Tim Versnel describes it as “a new piece of urban nature with beautiful walking paths where you can experience the dynamics of ebb and flow twice a day.”

Room for walking and wildlife

The park is intended to combine nature, recreation and better water quality. Once the first part is ready, you should be able to walk through a new waterside landscape with paths, a boardwalk, a pedestrian bridge and access to the river.

“We are bringing original nature back to Rotterdam,” says Versnel. “This is good for the city, where residents can relax in the park, but also for water quality, biodiversity and the wellbeing of Rotterdammers. A few minutes in nature each day can do wonders for your mood.”

Construction has started on Getijdenpark Feijenoord, a new tidal park between Eiland van Brienenoord and Mallegat in Rotterdam-Zuid.

A tidal landscape for Rotterdam-Zuid

The new park will fit Rotterdam’s identity as a delta city. Instead of treating the river purely as infrastructure, the design gives more room to the natural processes that already belong here.

With every tidal change, the landscape will shift. That should create habitat for fish, birds and insects, with plants that can handle the special conditions of this river delta.

Building the park in phases

The construction will take place in phases. Phase one runs from May 2026 until the summer of 2028, while the other phases are scheduled between 2027 and 2029.

The work starts with dredging to create a firm base. After that, the ground will be raised and several dams will be built. The project will effectively extend the Eiland van Brienenoord by 800 metres, which is quite a statement, even by Rotterdam “we’ll just build more land” standards.

More green space near Feijenoord

The project is part of the wider greening of Rotterdam-Zuid. It will give people from nearby, densely built neighbourhoods such as Hillesluis and Feijenoord easier access to nature.

The future Waterkant district is also expected to benefit from the new landscape. For this part of the city, the park adds a softer, greener edge to an area often associated with infrastructure, stadium plans and big development maps.

What visitors can expect

The first section is expected to be ready in about two years. By then, a new piece of urban nature should border the Eiland van Brienenoord, including walking routes, a boardwalk, a pedestrian bridge and a new harbour for the Watertaxi and Waterbus.

After construction, the tidal nature will continue developing on its own. Think willow floodplain forest, reeds, bulrushes, mudflats and algae. Birds and fish are expected to follow, and every now and then, perhaps even a seal. Very Rotterdam: a bit industrial, a bit wild, and suddenly there is a seal minding its own business.

Part of Stadionpark

Getijdenpark Feijenoord is part of the larger Stadionpark area development. That makes the project more than a standalone nature plan. It is one of the ways Rotterdam is reshaping the riverside on the south bank.

The work can be followed through the dedicated BouwApp, where updates about the construction process will be shared.