ROTTERDAM, 9 December 2025 – Rotterdam’s MKB Action Programme has reached 20,000 entrepreneurs in just over two years, double the original target. The municipality sees the result as a sign that local small and medium sized businesses are finding their way to practical support on issues such as rising costs, staff shortages and sustainable growth.
Image: Alderman Robert Simons and municipal staff celebrate a milestone in De Rotterdam. Photo credit: Bart Hoogveld
MKB action programme doubles its target
In a little more than two years, the municipal MKB Action Programme (MKB Actieprogramma) has supported or informed 20,000 entrepreneurs in Rotterdam. The programme originally aimed to reach 10,000 businesses, but that figure has now been doubled. Together, these companies account for around 230,000 jobs, which is roughly 60 percent of employment in the city.
The programme, launched in 2023, focuses on practical information and advice for small and medium-sized enterprises. Themes include dealing with higher energy bills, attracting and retaining staff, digitalisation and making business models more resilient. Alderman Robert Simons, responsible for port, economy, hospitality and governance, underlines that the municipality will continue to work with partners to respond to the issues entrepreneurs are facing.
Direct visits through Klus & Coach
One of the ways Rotterdam approaches businesses is through the Klus & Coach method. In this approach, entrepreneurs in shopping streets are visited at their premises. During these visits, small energy saving measures worth up to 500 euros are installed free of charge, such as LED lighting or draught strips, while the entrepreneur receives explanations and advice on further steps.
On average, these measures save around 440 euros per year on energy costs for each business that takes part. So far, 1,200 entrepreneurs have been helped in this way, with another 350 expected to follow in the coming months. The visits are intended as a low threshold way to support shop owners and other local businesses that may not have time to research all options themselves.
Workshops, networking and peer learning
Alongside one-to-one support, the municipality and its partners organise workshops, meetings and networking events throughout the year. These sessions are meant to inform and inspire, but also to connect entrepreneurs who can learn from each other’s experiences.
Examples include workshops on social media content, the monthly MKB Specials and regular entrepreneurs’ breakfasts. The most recent breakfast focused on employee debt problems, offering employers concrete tools to recognise financial stress among staff and to point them towards help at an early stage.
Focus on future-proof business in Rotterdam
The municipal programme is developed in close collaboration with organisations such as MKB Rotterdam Rijnmond. Chair Rob Uytdewilligen describes the local SME sector as both an economic and a social backbone, and stresses the scale of the challenge of becoming future-proof for many smaller companies in the region. The partnership with the city aims to keep support as accessible and relevant as possible.
Through the MKB Action Programme, Rotterdam wants to help entrepreneurs adapt their business to themes such as digitalisation, sustainability and the circular economy. The hope is that by reducing energy use, improving online visibility and rethinking the use of materials, companies can both cut costs and strengthen their position in the local economy.
Entrepreneurs who want to know more about the MKB Action Programme, upcoming events or the Klus & Coach approach can find information on the municipal business portal: www.ondernemen010.nl. On the same website, business owners can register for activities, ask questions and look up guidance on specific topics such as permits, staff or funding.
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