ROTTERDAM, 29 September 2026 – Rotterdam's executive board has presented its proposed 2027 municipal budget, with housing construction, economic development and support for children among the main priorities. The plan still requires approval from the city council, which is due to take its final decisions in November.
First budget of the new term
The 2027 budget is the first presented by Rotterdam's new executive board and translates the coalition agreement Vaart maken into proposed spending and policy for the coming years. The coalition groups its programme around three stated ambitions: housing, economic development and making Rotterdam a better place for children to grow up.
Across the municipality, the budget estimates around €5.17 billion in expenditure in 2027, excluding reserve movements, against approximately €5.20 billion in income. The detailed budget covers everything from housing and transport to culture, health, education and public safety.
Importantly, these are still proposals. The council has not yet adopted the budget, so individual spending plans and policy measures can still change during the political process in October and November.
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Construction target rises to 3,500 homes
One of the most concrete targets is housing. Rotterdam wants to start construction on 3,500 homes in 2027, up from a target of 3,000 starts in 2026. The longer-term aim is at least 15,000 homes through 2030, including 10,000 in the affordable segment. Of those affordable homes, the budget sets out 4,500 social homes and 5,500 homes in the middle segment.
The city plans to continue using its Doorbouwfonds to support projects that might otherwise be delayed, particularly affordable housing. The budget documentation says the fund is intended to accelerate construction and contains almost €60 million under its current structure, while the new coalition agreement envisages further expansion.
Housing policy is being combined with changes to mobility. The executive wants more space for cycling, fewer cars in the city centre and improvements to transport connections as Rotterdam grows. It also proposes measures addressing vacant buildings, tenant protection and foundation repairs.
Plans around homelessness include additional shelter capacity for young people and families and an expansion of Room First, where people living on the street are first offered their own accommodation before care and support are organised around them.
Economy, port and nightlife get funding
Economic plans focus heavily on the port, innovation and the energy transition. Rotterdam wants to support sectors including Life Sciences & Health Tech and circular manufacturing, while investment funds are intended to help startups and scale-ups grow.
The municipality is also working with TU Delft and other partners on the development of Campus Rotterdam. The budget reserves €1.5 million through the Rotterdamse Investeringsmotor for its development, with a focus on innovation around healthcare, the port and urban challenges.
Climate and public-space measures continue alongside the economic programme. The budget maintains Rotterdam's target of a 55 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2030 compared with the relevant baseline, while the city and port are working towards climate neutrality by 2050. The Nelson Mandelapark in the Maashaven also remains part of the city's plans for more climate-resilient green space in Rotterdam-Zuid.
Culture and nightlife receive a few specific allocations. From 2027, the municipality proposes €450,000 per year for Rotterdam's nightlife programme, including work with N8W8, square stewards and the Safe'R city cloakroom initiative. At the same time, the wider cultural-events budget is set to be reduced by €656,000 annually, showing that the budget also contains cuts alongside new spending.
Museum Rotterdam is also due to move permanently into the former Steigerkerk. Until that redevelopment is complete, the building is expected to be adapted for temporary exhibitions.
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More support around schools and health
The budget proposes expanding support around schools so problems can be identified earlier and fewer children remain at home without attending school. New education policy is due to be presented to the city council in 2027, alongside further investment in sport and physical activity.
Health policy increasingly focuses on prevention outside traditional healthcare settings. Rotterdam says funding linked to the national Aanvullend Zorg- en Welzijnsakkoord will give municipalities a larger role from 2027 in areas including mental health, healthy childhood development, lifestyle and healthy ageing.
The executive also wants the municipality to contact residents experiencing financial problems earlier, direct more people towards debt assistance and reduce avoidable collection costs. Neighbourhood organisations, volunteers and associations are also included in plans to strengthen what the municipality describes as the city's social foundation.
Rotterdam residents can respond in October
The budget has not yet been approved. Residents can speak about the proposed 2027 budget during a committee meeting at City Hall on 14 October. Registration is open until Sunday 11 October via the city council secretariat.
Council committees will examine the budget on 28 and 29 October, after which the full Rotterdam City Council is scheduled to make its decisions on 10 and 12 November.
You can read the full budget through the municipality's 2027 budget portal.
