ROTTERDAM, 16 October 2025 — A new transport concept is set to make commuting to the Port of Rotterdam easier, cheaper, and more sustainable. The City of Rotterdam, Deltalinqs, Port of Rotterdam Authority, Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH), Province of South Holland, and Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar have joined forces to launch the platform reizennaardehaven.nl — a one-stop solution that bundles carpooling, vanpooling and shuttle services for harbour employees.

Improving access to Europe’s busiest port

As the port continues to grow, so does the pressure on surrounding infrastructure. Increasing volumes of passenger and freight transport, along with ongoing road maintenance, make access to the harbour area more challenging each year. The new platform Reizen naar de haven aims to reduce congestion and improve accessibility for employees by promoting shared and collective travel options.

Initially, the service is available to employees of ten companies in the Botlek area, with plans to expand to other port zones. Participants can try the service free of charge for the first three months, after which they pay a rate lower than the average mileage allowance.

Flexible, affordable and sustainable commuting

The platform offers three main travel options:

• Carpooling: connecting employees with colleagues who share a similar route.
• Vanpooling: shared vans arranged for groups of employees working in the same area.
• Hopper bus service: shuttle routes for those without access to a car, ensuring everyone has a reliable connection to their workplace.

In addition to cutting costs and emissions, the initiative also benefits workers who previously found it difficult to reach jobs in the harbour without private transport.

Employers on board

Several major companies are among the first to participate, including AVR, LANXESS, Damen Shipyards, Brenntag, and Kemira.

Cynthia van Tilborg, HR Manager at AVR, said:

“We were immediately enthusiastic about this initiative. It will help make our company more attractive to new employees.”

Mark d’Angremond, Site Director at LANXESS, added:

“We plan to actively promote Reizen naar de haven.nl among our staff and encourage them to take advantage of it.”

A sustainable step forward

Alderman Robert Simons (Port, Small Communities):

“With this initiative, we’re making it easy and affordable for port workers to travel together. Fewer cars on the road, more people able to access jobs in the harbour, and a clear step towards sustainability — it’s a win-win for everyone.”

For more information or to register, visit reizennaardehaven.nl.

ROTTERDAM, 30 September 2025 – Rotterdam’s municipal board has presented the 2026 budget, the final one of this council term. The city reports a healthy financial position and a stable outlook, offering the next administration a solid base for future development.

Finances remain stable without extra burden

Despite rising costs and inflation, municipal charges for residents and entrepreneurs will not increase beyond the usual indexation. Reserves are in order, and from 2027 the budget balance is expected to remain structurally positive.

This approach, according to the board, allows Rotterdam to maintain both financial stability and social strength.

Investments in neighbourhoods and infrastructure

The city continues to grow, and targeted investments are being made in public spaces and housing. Upcoming projects include the renovation of metro station Zuidplein, an upgrade of Pernisser Park and local village centres, and the redesign of the beach boulevard in Hoek van Holland. Housing construction in Rotterdam-Zuid is also being accelerated.

Neighbourhoods such as Tarwewijk, IJsselmonde and Beverwaard will see continued attention to safety and liveability, partly through the Schoonoffensief (clean-up initiative). This includes more staff for cleaning, quicker responses to MeldR reports, and greater involvement from residents through neighbourhood actions and container adoption.

Accessibility and business climate

Additional parking spaces are planned at the P+R sites Meyersplein and Kralingse Zoom, supporting accessibility for commuters and visitors. Small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the hospitality sector, are promised more space to develop.

At the same time, the city emphasises the importance of the harbour and industrial sectors for Rotterdam’s investment climate, noting that preparations for long-term projects continue.

Reducing inequality

In 2026, efforts will remain focused on reducing poverty and debt. Pre-school childcare will be available for toddlers from low-income families, young people will continue to receive support through BeTheFuture, and residents with limited digital skills will gain extra guidance. Older residents will benefit from a higher discount on the Rotterdampas.

The cultural offering is also being reinforced to keep Rotterdam attractive for both residents and visitors.

Local centres and housing

Over 20 million euros has been invested in recent years in the smaller city districts, including Hoek van Holland, Rozenburg, Pernis and Heijplaat. The funding went into upgrading village centres, improving beach access points and greening public spaces.

Neighbourhood-oriented governance has become more established, with hubs, councils and managers providing residents with more influence in local matters. Housing supply has also been expanded, with additional affordable and good-quality homes.

Progress on major projects

Work continues on preparations for the new city bridge with public transport connection between Zuidplein and Kralingse Zoom. The bridge, once completed, will link both city districts within about fifteen minutes and play a role in serving 30,000 planned new homes on the Oostflank.

In employment policy, more Rotterdammers are finding work through training, language support and social return programmes. Increased monitoring and enforcement is being used to tackle street nuisance, while support for homeless residents remains a priority.

Challenges in healthcare funding

The healthcare budget, particularly youth care, remains under pressure despite additional national funding. Rotterdam is not alone in this challenge, which many municipalities face. The council continues to lobby the national government for fairer compensation and is working on structural solutions.

While acknowledging these difficulties, the administration states that the city is being handed over with confidence. The financial outlook is stable, social strength is emphasised, and the next council is expected to have a strong foundation to continue building Rotterdam’s future.

ROTTERDAM, 15 October 2025 — The European Commission has officially awarded Rotterdam the European Mission Label, a distinction that recognises the city’s ambitious and high-quality climate plans. With this label, Rotterdam joins one of only 100 European cities to receive the designation, confirming its place among Europe’s frontrunners in sustainability and climate action.

Access to European support and funding

The Mission Label serves as a quality mark for cities developing strong, credible pathways to climate neutrality. It gives Rotterdam access to exclusive EU resources — including expert support from leading research institutions, connections to financial networks such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), and priority consideration for future European funding and collaboration opportunities.

Why Rotterdam stands out

According to the European Commission, Rotterdam’s Climate Action Plan distinguishes itself through its focus on tackling energy poverty, supporting SMEs in the transition to sustainability, and reducing hard-to-abate emissions in sectors such as industry, transport and inland shipping.

The plan also highlights Rotterdam’s strong local partnerships and innovative initiatives aimed at achieving a climate-neutral future. These range from green infrastructure projects and sustainable energy pilots to social programmes ensuring that the energy transition benefits all residents.

A step closer to climate neutrality

Alderman Chantal Zeegers (Climate, Housing and Urban Development) expressed pride in the European recognition:

“In Rotterdam, we’re working hard to achieve a climate-neutral city. This label is a recognition of our efforts and will help us put future plans into action.”

Leading the way in Europe

Rotterdam is part of the European Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, a leading group of urban areas committed to achieving net-zero emissions. Knowledge gained from this initiative is shared with other Dutch municipalities, accelerating the broader national effort to create sustainable, resilient cities.

The City of Rotterdam continues to expand its network of partners across Europe through innovation, cooperation, and shared climate knowledge. For more on Rotterdam’s environmental programmes, visit rotterdam.nl/klimaat.

ROTTERDAM, 26 September 2025 – Weekly sport and daily exercise not only make people healthier, they also reduce healthcare costs significantly. New research from the University of Groningen, commissioned by Amsterdam and Rotterdam, shows the link in detail at neighbourhood level for the first time.

Biggest impact in vulnerable areas

The health gap between wealthy and disadvantaged neighbourhoods remains wide and is reflected directly in healthcare spending. The report distinguishes between regular movement (walking, cycling, climbing stairs) and weekly sport. In vulnerable districts, weekly sport brings the greatest savings, while in wealthier areas daily activity has more effect. The findings underline that prevention through sport and exercise is essential to narrowing health inequalities.

Millions saved

The financial impact is substantial. If one percent of Rotterdam residents who are currently inactive – around 6,700 people – were to start weekly sport or meet the activity guideline, the city would save an estimated €11 million per year in healthcare costs.

On a local scale, in Charlois alone, one percent more weekly sport participation – about 700 residents – would reduce costs by €1.2 million annually. In Amsterdam, a similar scenario would yield more than €14 million in savings.

Local initiatives in Rotterdam

The results reinforce Rotterdam’s approach of encouraging sport and physical activity through neighbourhood networks. Sportregie helps local organisations to develop activities, while the Schoolsportvereniging focuses on young people in districts with limited facilities.

The platform opjouwplein.nl provides free access to sports on Cruyff Courts and Krajicek Playgrounds, making the local offer more visible and accessible. These initiatives are designed to get more young people moving in an informal and low-threshold way.

Call for national support

Despite the proven savings, the benefits of lower healthcare costs mainly go to insurers and the national government, while municipalities carry much of the investment burden. Amsterdam and Rotterdam are therefore calling on insurers and political parties in The Hague to make structural investments in prevention. They argue that only joint action on sport and movement can reduce the health gap between rich and poor.