ROTTERDAM, 2 June 2026 – Rotterdam has signed its first local heat plan, setting out agreements between the municipality, GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond and several health, care and welfare organisations. The Rotterdams Hitteplan 1.0 is designed to help protect residents, clients, patients and employees before and during periods of sustained heat.
Photo: Robèrt Kroonen
The plan was signed on Heat Action Day, Tuesday 2 June, by the municipality of Rotterdam, GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, ConForte, the Netherlands Red Cross South Holland Delta region, Rijnmond Apothekers, Rijnmond Dokters and Win 010.
Heat becomes a health issue
With the signing of the Rotterdams Hitteplan 1.0, the organisations acknowledge that sustained heat and extreme temperatures bring growing risks. Those risks affect the health and wellbeing of residents, especially vulnerable groups, as well as the people working in care, welfare, public services and outdoor roles.
Yvonne van Duijnhoven, director of GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond, says the risks of increasing heat for society are being recognised more widely. “It must not be underestimated and a day like today helps enormously with that. The good news is that we can prepare for heat situations and limit health damage. Then the emergency department does not get stuck, but can focus on those who cannot manage without that help. All parties have their own role in this towards Rotterdammers. I am very happy that we are now bringing that together in the Rotterdams Hitteplan and I look forward to continuing with it together, precisely from our different tasks. More parties that recognise themselves in this care for people, including children, during heat are welcome as far as I am concerned.”
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Local plan follows national approach
There is currently no legal requirement to establish a local heat plan. Even so, the signatories consider a joint and coordinated approach necessary, linked to the National Heat Plan and the national Heat Approach 2025.
The Rotterdam plan sets out agreements on roles, responsibilities, information sharing and communication towards clients, patients, residents and employees before and during hot weather. The local heat plan is activated when the National Heat Plan is activated for the whole country or for the Rotterdam region.
For Rotterdam, this is not just about warning people once temperatures rise. The aim is to prepare earlier, make responsibilities clear and ensure that organisations already know what to do when heat becomes a risk to health.
Leendert Vermeulen, director of Human Resources, Development and Communication at the municipality of Rotterdam, links the plan to good employment practice. “A good employer takes good care of its employees. And that certainly means paying attention to the circumstances in which someone works. Attention to working in heat, especially in outdoor roles, is crucial. Fortunately, a lot is already happening in that area. With the signing of the Rotterdams Hitteplan, we as the municipality of Rotterdam want to emphasise this once again.”
Seven agreements on heat
The first version of the Rotterdams Hitteplan includes seven concrete agreements. Signatories are registered for the heat mailing from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and will share heat warnings and alerts with their employees and backup teams.
They will also use a heat protocol for employees, occupational health and clients, with an annual update after summer and implementation in spring. The organisations are members of the Rotterdams Hittenetwerk, take part in online meetings in spring and autumn, and share knowledge and experiences.
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The partners will organise an annual activity on or around Heat Action Day on 2 June for employees and clients or residents, focused on preparation and self-care during summer. They will also share heat tips from organisations such as RIVM and the GGD through their own channels, adapting them where needed.
The agreement also includes cooperation on local neighbourhood heat plans (wijkhitteplannen) in the areas where the organisations are active. The signatories recognise that periods of extreme and long-lasting heat are becoming more likely and will prepare accordingly, including cooperation with crisis organisations if requested.
Plan can grow each year
The Rotterdams Hitteplan will be evaluated every year and can be adjusted. The current participants are inviting other organisations that contribute to the plan’s goal to join, just as they can join the Rotterdams Hittenetwerk.
A local heat plan is the local version of the National Heat Plan. It records concrete agreements between the municipality, the GGD and local partners in care, welfare and housing about preparation and self-care before and during heat. At municipal level, it describes which measures are taken to reduce health risks for vulnerable groups, both before the summer season and during a hot period.
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Heat Action Day raises awareness
Heat Action Day has taken place on 2 June since 2022. The day was initiated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre to draw attention to the risks of extreme heat and its impact on health.
The municipality of Rotterdam and several other South Holland municipalities take part in the day. More information is available via the webpage Heat Action Day – Rotterdams Weerwoord.
