ROTTERDAM, 10 October 2025 – The Municipality of Rotterdam and the Province of South Holland are intensifying their collaboration to tackle food waste across the region. On 9 September, Provincial Executive Mariëtte van Leeuwen (Food) and Alderman Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Construction and Housing) signed an official partnership with the national foundation Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling (Together Against Food Waste).
Netherlands, Rotterdam, 9 October 2025 – Signing of the Together Against Food Waste covenant by the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Province of South Holland. Photo: Jan de Groen.
A united effort to reduce waste
Under the new partnership, the province and municipality will not only provide financial support to organisations but also practical assistance — from strengthening networks to helping redistribute surplus food where it’s needed most. With around 20 percent of all food produced in the Netherlands still ending up in the bin, scaling up successful initiatives has become urgent.
Local success stories
“Much is already happening in Rotterdam,” said Alderman Zeegers. “Thanks to the support of the province and the municipality, food surpluses increasingly find their way to neighbourhood restaurants, schools and community initiatives.”
Among the standout examples is Shareaty, which supplies surplus food to social kitchens throughout the city. Neighbourhood fridges help residents share fresh, nutritious food with one another, reducing waste while strengthening community ties.
Another key initiative is Het Nieuwe Nassen (“The New Way of Eating”), a movement of local restaurants, food entrepreneurs, and sustainable farmers working together to promote conscious consumption. Additionally, through Foodsource, a national platform for surplus streams, producers such as growers can offer leftovers and still earn from them.
Scaling up successful models
The province and municipality plan to expand and professionalise these projects to make them sustainable on a larger scale. The partnership with Samen Tegen Voedselverspilling connects Rotterdam to a nationwide network that includes Wageningen University, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, and over 110 companies and organisations.
More than sustainability
The agreement was signed at Buurthuiskamer Studio Delfshaven, a community hub where sharing food is part of daily life. For many residents, access to healthy meals remains a struggle — particularly in South Holland, where food poverty continues to be a growing issue.
Provincial Executive Van Leeuwen described the initiative as “not only a matter of sustainability, but also of common-sense and social awareness.”
Get involved
From mindful grocery shopping to smart logistics and corporate partnerships, there are countless ways for individuals and organisations to make a difference. Residents can adopt or support a neighbourhood fridge, while local entrepreneurs can join Het Nieuwe Nassen. Logistics companies and producers can connect via Foodsource.
Together, Rotterdam and South Holland aim to create a future without food waste — one where sustainable choices also strengthen local communities. For more information, visit rotterdamcirculair.nl.
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