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Rotterdam achieves downward trend in CO2 emissions

Bryan van Putten city news 04 March 2021

Sustainability

The energy transition in Rotterdam has got off to a flying start. Since 2019, almost 3 megatons of CO2 have been saved.

ROTTERDAM, 4 March 2021 - Rotterdam has succeeded in turning the annual increase in CO2 emissions into a downward trend. This is apparent from the DCMR environmental service's reckoning of Rotterdam's emission figures. The reduction of CO2 emissions was one of the objectives of the city council when it took office in 2018 and of the Rotterdam Climate Accord that was concluded in 2019. Today, climate alderman Arno Bonte and the chairmen of the five Rotterdam climate tables present the progress of the Rotterdam climate approach.

More than one hundred parties are working within the Rotterdam Climate Agreement on 55 climate deals with the aim of halving CO2 emissions within ten years. "I am proud of what we have achieved so far. The energy transition in Rotterdam has got off to a flying start. The entrepreneurs, businesses, social organizations, housing corporations and individual Rotterdammers who have contributed to this, deserve a big compliment", says Rotterdam's climate alderman Arno Bonte.

3 megatons

According to the reckoning, almost 3 megatons of CO2 have been saved in Rotterdam since 2019. DCMR, the environmental agency, forecasts that, based on the agreements made, another 9 megatons of CO2 will be reduced by 2030. "So the downward trend continues," notes alderman Bonte. But he warns against too much optimism. "It won't happen by itself. We will have to continue to do everything in our power to achieve the halving of emissions within ten years. The construction of offshore wind farms, the realization of new infrastructure for green hydrogen and the large-scale use of industrial residual heat to heat homes are essential in this respect. We desperately need our partners in Rotterdam, but the help of central government is also indispensable. We are therefore counting explicitly on the support of the new cabinet.

Climate Deals

In 2019, the Rotterdam Climate Agreement started with 49 climate deals, 6 more were added in the past year. The climate deals are projects or programmes that focus on accelerating the energy transition and realizing CO2 savings. For example, the Fieldlab Industrial Electrification has been opened, a testing ground for innovations in electrification of industrial processes, a plan has been developed for the construction of the largest green hydrogen plant in Europe and 50,000 solar panels have been installed on Rotterdam roofs. Furthermore, the climate deal 'Rotterdam against food waste' saved 62,000 kilos of food waste, which is equivalent to 250 tons of CO2 reduction. The intercepted food was given a valuable (re-)use in social restaurants.

More information about the Rotterdam Climate approach can be found at www.energieswitch010.nl.

BAQME introduces electric shared cargo bikes in Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten city news 25 February 2021

BAQME introduces app for booking electric shared cargo bikes in Rotterdam. The Dutch start-up predicts that electric shared cargo bikes will make short car trips in the city redundant.

On 16 February 2021, Dutch start-up BAQME introduced an app for electric shared cargo bikes. With the app, users can easily book an electric cargo bike in their neighbourhood. BAQME offers a sustainable alternative for short car trips in the city and will expand the sharing concept to other Dutch and European cities later this year.

Not only for transporting kids

A 'bakfiets' is a familiar sight in the Netherlands. For parents, this is often the safest way to transport small kids, without having to drive a car. However, a cargo bike is not only suitable for transporting children, but also for big shopping trips, delivering parcels to the postal service or making purchases at the garden centre or DIY store.

The box can hold two children and a dog or two shopping bags. And for those who want to drop off packages, move stuff or make big purchases, BAQME with a maximum load of 80 kg is also a solution. You pay €0.15 per minute with a minimum of €0.50 per ride. Pausing a ride costs €0.05 per minute.

BAQME's sustainable vision

Every day, many unnecessary car journeys are made within city limits. More than half of all car trips are shorter than 7.5 kilometres. These trips are often frustrating because of traffic jams and the difficulty of finding an expensive parking spot. BAQME aims to offer an alternative. Electric cargo bikes are a faster, cheaper and more sustainable alternative for car trips within the city.

Berenice van Gessel, COO and co-founder of BAQME: "Cities are currently too much designed for cars instead of people. Cars stand still 95% of the time and take up a disproportionately large share of public space. We hope to offer Rotterdam residents an attractive new transport solution and an alternative to the (second) car that is often used for short trips around the city."

Dutch start up BAQME introduces electric shared cargo bikes in Rotterdam

How does it work?

You download the BAQME app and use it to find the nearest cargo bike. Then you can drive around the city. The maximum speed with pedal assistance is 25 kilometres and with a full battery you can cycle about 40 to 50 kilometres. And even without electric propulsion you can get around, because all BAQME bikes have at least 7 gears.

If you have dropped off the children or run an errand, park the electric cargo bike and end the ride via the app so that another user can take it on the road again. Unlike other cargo bike providers, BAQME's bikes do not have fixed parking spaces, but so-called parking zones. At the end of a ride a parking check is requested. The user takes a picture of the parked bicycle via the app and can then exit.

Because the cargo bikes are shared, users only pay for their personal use of the vehicles, which makes the concept more economical than purchasing a similar electric cargo bike. Moreover, BAQME takes care of the e-bike maintenance and regularly charges the bikes.

Dutch start up BAQME introduces electric shared cargo bikes in Rotterdam

Dutch start-up

BAQME was founded in August 2020 by Souren Arakelian and Sven Velthuis. Berenice van Gessel recently joined as one of the co-founders and as an investor. Until recently, van Gessel worked at Uber where she was, among other things, responsible for the JUMP operations in EMEA and before that had operational responsibility for Uber in the Benelux. BAQME starts off in Rotterdam and aims to expand into more cities in the Netherlands and Europe, as an alternative for short car trips.

Brewing underway at new Stadshaven Brouwerij in Rotterdam

Bryan van Putten city news 24 February 2021

The Rotterdam-based Stadshaven Brouwerij, with an output of two million litres of beer per year, combines traditional beer ingredients with fruit. Stadshaven, among the largest independent breweries in the Netherlands, also offers tours and beer tastings.

In the Rotterdam Makers District, Stadshaven Brouwerij, a craft beer Brouwerij has been built on the Merwehaven. In a 100 year old, fully restored fruit warehouse of more than 5,000 m2, approximately 20,000 hectolitres (2 million litres) of craft beer will be brewed and either bottled, canned or casked.

In February 2021, the Stadshaven Brouwerij in Rotterdam officially started brewing. By brewing no less than two million litres of beer a year, the Stadshaven Brouwerij immediately found itself in the top 3 of the largest independent craft beer breweries in the Netherlands.

In addition to the usual ingredients for beer (malt, hops and yeast), the Stadshaven Brouwerij uses fruit. On February 15th 2021, the first load of fruit was delivered by forklift truck, after which master brewer Wesley Aarse and director Harm van Deuren took it to the brewing kettles. This marked the festive start of brewing.

The fruit will be used as a subtle enrichment in a new craft beer line inspired by the history of the Rotterdam Fruit Port, once Europe's largest fruit port. The Stadshaven Brouwerij is located in a 100-year-old fruit warehouse of over 5,000 m2 at Rotterdam's Merwehaven, which has undergone a complete metamorphosis in recent months. The ambition is to become the most distinctive and leading craft beer brand in the Netherlands with its contemporary beers.

Audacious entrepreneurship

Stadshaven Brouwerij is an initiative of director Harm van Deuren, who has gathered around him a committed group of beer lovers and experts for this project. Harm says: "I am proud that we were able to turn something unreal into reality. We are rapidly realizing a large craft beer brewery that would normally take several decades to complete. With the Stadshaven Brouwerij we have, out of nowhere, made it into the top 3 of independent craft beer breweries in the Netherlands. With 4,000 litre brew kettles and storage tanks of up to 12,000 litres, master brewer Wesley started brewing today and I can promise you: this is not only a great adventure for us, but also for everyone who will visit us once the doors are open. We are looking forward with the whole team to the first beers flowing out of the kettles and of course the official opening to the public."

Arrival of the first load of fruitt 📷 Arnaud Roelofsz

Stadshaven Brouwerij Master brewer Wesley Aarse throws the first fruit into the brew kettle 📷 Arnaud Roelofsz

Distinctive brewing concept

For Dutch standards, this will be a unique opportunity to visit a brewery. There will be guided tours and beer tastings, and a contemporary "urban-trendy" catering area with seating for about 350 people. Here, with a view on the beer kettles and the water, one can enjoy the in-house brewed craft beers and the extensive menu. The catering area, which will open in the spring, consists of various rooms, each with its own identity. Because of the diversity of the spaces, companies can organize large presentations as well as business meetings and company outings here. The arrival of the Stadshaven Brouwerij in the redeveloped Rotterdam Makers District will contribute to the liveability, circular economy and social dynamics of the area. This should become the new hotspot of Rotterdam: an energetic area with a mix of working, living, culture, catering, sports and education.

New Stadshaven Brouwerij starts brewing craft beer in Rotterdam 📷 Arnaud Roelofsz

Rotterdam Philharmonic to stream live concerts on Saturdays

Bryan van Putten city news 03 February 2021

Starting this week, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra will be offering an online concert every Saturday. With the campaign 'DICHT ERBIJ' (Close by) the orchestra draws attention to the online concerts.

On Saturday 6 February at 20:15 the first concert in the series can be seen. In this episode, the orchestra plays a French programme conducted by Stephane Denève. This concert is the first in a series of ten.

About DICHT ERBIJ

The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra is always looking for new ways to connect its audiences with the finest symphonic music. Even in times when that seems more difficult. Of course, nothing beats a live performance in the concert hall, but new 'stages' also create new opportunities to experience symphonies and artists; not far away from the auditorium, but closer than ever.

How? The slogans "Hear more, see more, experience more" and "Closer than ever!" emphasize the fact that audiences can discover a different side of the orchestra. The concerts under the denominator DICHT ERBIJ (Close by) show more detail, unique perspectives, interaction and emotion of the musicians.

Series of online concerts

During the coming months, the orchestra will publish a new concert every Saturday evening at 20:15. This series consists of ten high quality performances with big names. Online tickets are available for individual concerts or for the entire series. For tickets and programme information, visit the official Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra website.

Programme

6 February - Ravel & Denève
13 February - Barenboim plays Chopin
20 February - Dvořák's Seventh
27 February - Matthias Goerne: Im grossen Schweigen
6 March - Lahav Shani: Symphonic Dances
13 March - Shostakovich's Chamber Symphony
20 March - Valery Gergiev: Overtures & Dances
17 April - Lahav Shani: Shostakovich 9
24 April - Valery Gergiev: Scottish Symphony
1 May - Shani conducts Brahms' First

Villa Thalia re-opens nightclub as digital production studio

Bryan van Putten city news 25 January 2021

Although entertainment venues have been closed since March 2020, Villa Thalia has found a creative way to keep the entertainment business going. The Rotterdam club is now offering its event space as a studio for the production of presentations, videos, workshops and livestreams.

Event space for digital productions

As long as the pandemic endures, a night out partying, a dinner show or live entertainment are not yet possible at Villa Thalia. However, in the spirit of creative entrepreneurship and thinking in terms of digital possibilities, Villa Thalia decided to transform the club into a studio. The venue, henceforth temporarily known as Studio Villa Thalia, offers entrepreneurs, companies and creatives a complete location for realizing their creative productions.

Professional equipment

"The concept arose from a passion for entertainment, which we also want to continue and share in these times", says Cherry van Dinther, manager of Villa Thalia. To this end, the club sought the cooperation of David Arthur Moor, founder of Event Imagineering Group (EIG). This is an American technology company active in the entertainment industry. The professional equipment and technology in Studio Villa Thalia is normally used for international tours by artists such as David Guetta, Alesso and Calvin Harris. Villa Thalia has everything in house. Think of a 360 degree projection screen, a green screen for XR video recordings, camera equipment and special effects from confetti to fire shows.

A stage for artists

With the studio, Villa Thalia also continues to offer artists a stage - literally. For example, the club has already set up several successful livestreams and digital shows, parties and virtual festivals that have attracted more than 10,000 visitors. Every week, the studio is used by Club Villa Thalia itself for live streams and recordings of the resident deejays.