ROTTERDAM, 10 July 2023 – Marking a significant moment in women's cycling, the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift will start in the Netherlands, crossing through Rotterdam, The Hague, and Dordrecht.

The commencement in the Netherlands

Three stages of the prestigious race will take place on 12 and 13 August 2024 in these regions. The first leg commences in Rotterdam, concluding in The Hague, while the second stage begins in Dordrecht and finishes back in Rotterdam. In the afternoon, there is a time trial scheduled in the centre of Rotterdam. Full route details will be unveiled in Paris on 25 October.

Women's cycling has seen rapid growth in recent years. The 2022 launch of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift met significant success, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors alongside a vast television audience. Dutch cyclists demonstrated their prowess in the initial edition, securing six of the eight stage victories.

Marion Rousse, director of the event, explained the decision to host the first foreign start of the world's largest cycling race in the Netherlands. “Given the country's influential role in women's cycling, it was a logical choice,” Rousse noted.

A collaborative endeavour

Rotterdam, The Hague, and Dordrecht anticipate jointly delivering a unique cycling event, aiming to foster local pride and international attention. Furthermore, the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is expected to enhance the sports policy of the three cities.

Rotterdam's ambition

Rotterdam's Alderman for Sports, Faouzi Achbar, expressed his pride at the city's involvement in the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. “Rotterdam aspires to be a leader in mobility and equality. Hosting the start of the Tour offers a unique platform to advance these ambitions,” Achbar shared.

The Hague's connection

The Hague, as the finishing city for the first stage, is closely involved in the event's organisation. Sports Alderman, Hilbert Bredemeijer, noted the importance of both men's and women's cycling. “We aim to create a popular celebration along the route and further stimulate sports participation,” Bredemeijer mentioned.

Dordrecht's pride

Marc Merx, Dordrecht's Alderman, expressed confidence that hosting the second stage's start will inspire more citizens to embrace cycling, both recreationally and competitively.

Getting to the event

For those planning to attend the event in Rotterdam, the city is conveniently accessible via train, bus, and car, boasting a robust public transportation system. The city centre, where the time trial takes place, is a bustling area brimming with shops, eateries, and cultural sites.

ROTTERDAM, 7 July 2023 – The government of Rotterdam has announced an investment of €5 million to enhance the services of school healthcare teams across the city. This investment is aimed at providing increased support to students requiring care, by expanding the reach of these teams and enhancing the effectiveness of existing ones.

Rotterdam increases funding for school healthcare teams

The investment will enable the setup and continuation of school healthcare teams (schoolzorgteams) in a total of 125 schools across Rotterdam. At present, nearly 80 primary schools are benefiting from these teams, which offer swift and effective support to children with healthcare needs.

These healthcare teams are typically composed of various experts from within and outside the school, including an internal supervisor (intern begeleider or IB'er), a school contact person from PPO (Passend Primair Onderwijs), and a school social worker. Youth-specialised staff from municipal district teams are also included, particularly in neighbourhoods where families and children need support the most.

Emphasising healthcare in schools

Since the coronavirus pandemic, Rotterdam has been focusing on providing additional healthcare services in schools. The aim is to mitigate as much as possible the impact of this period on children and adolescents. Funding from the National Education Programme (NPO) has been utilised to increase aid and care in schools via staff from district teams. In addition, numerous tutors have been employed to provide extra guidance in language and arithmetic.

However, now that the utilisation of NPO funds has come to an end, the city is allocating €5 million to continue and increase the deployment of school healthcare teams.

Quotes from the municipality

Said Kasmi, the city's Alderman for Education, is confident in the strategy. "In Rotterdam, we see the positive consequences of this approach," he noted. "Thanks to the close cooperation within school healthcare teams, children and families can receive the right help and support more quickly."

Faouzi Achbar, Alderman for Welfare, shared his satisfaction with the progress so far. "Healthcare professionals in schools want to be able to discuss children's care with the district team more quickly and easily," he stated. "Organising the district teams closer to the schools creates better contact between parents, school, and social workers. This helps to prevent issues more quickly and reduces the need for children to require more intensive help."

A future focus for the municipality

The municipal government emphasises the importance of ongoing investment in measures that yield long-term improvement. This includes more capacity for school social work, focus on the socio-emotional development of children, and investment in measures to relieve teachers and allow them to concentrate on their core tasks.

"In the 2025/2026 school year, we aim to provide support to at least 100 primary and secondary schools where the need is greatest," Kasmi stated. He explained that this could be achieved in various ways, including the deployment of tutors, mentors, preventive youth work at school, and smart organisation with art subject teachers.

For more detailed information and practical stories, visit www.onderwijs010.nl/schoolzorgteam.

ROTTERDAM, 7 July 2023 – As the warmest June on record sees a surge in barbecue-related injuries, Rotterdam's burn centre is urging residents to exercise caution. The centre, along with its counterparts in Groningen and Beverwijk, has reported an influx of patients suffering from severe burns, primarily caused by unsafe barbecue practices.

Rise in Burn Injuries

The three Dutch burn centres (brandwondencentra) have been treating a significant number of patients with severe burns, most of which are attributed to typical summer activities. Barbecuing has been identified as the leading cause. According to Kiran Baran, a burn specialist at the Red Cross Hospital, the use of flammable liquids to ignite barbecues is a common and dangerous practice.

Barbecue Safety Warning

The burn centres, in collaboration with the Dutch Burn Foundation (Nederlandse Brandwonden Stichting), are advising the public to use firelighters (aanmaakblokjes) for a safer barbecue experience.

Summer Burn Hazards

Every year, people sustain severe burns from incidents that are unique to the summer season. These include accidents involving hot metal slides, gas mishaps on boats, and, of course, barbecues.

Burn Centre Statistics

The burn centres have already treated 11 adults and 3 children with severe burns this year. Many of these patients were injured while using flammable liquids during barbecuing. Often, it is the family members or friends of the person using the flammable liquid who are injured.

The Tip of the Iceberg

Ymke Lucas, a burn specialist at the Maasstad Hospital's burn centre in Rotterdam, suggests that the actual number of burn victims is likely higher. The centre only sees the most severe cases, and does not have data on patients treated in hospitals without a burn centre.

Safe Barbecuing Practices

Lucas advises that safe barbecuing can significantly reduce the risk of accidents. However, she warns against the use of flammable liquids to speed up the ignition process. These include substances like spirit, bio-ethanol, petrol, white spirit, and fire gel.

Directions to Maasstad Hospital

The Maasstad Hospital is located in the Zuid district of Rotterdam, easily accessible by public transport or car. The area is well-served by local amenities and is just a short distance from the city centre.

    

ROTTERDAM, 5 July 2023 – As the climate warms, the city of Rotterdam is looking to the future with a focus on heat-resistant greenery. Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum, a green oasis in the heart of the city, is leading the way in researching and cultivating the trees and plants of the future.

The urban heat challenge

The phenomenon known as 'urban heat' is becoming increasingly prevalent in cities like Rotterdam. This effect, caused by dense construction, solar radiation, and climate change, results in cities retaining heat and failing to cool down sufficiently at night. A solution to this issue is being explored at Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum, where a focus has been placed on the cultivation of heat-resistant greenery.

The power of one tree

Jaap Smit, the green curator and dendrologist at Trompenburg, explains the significance of this initiative. “Did you know that planting one tree can reduce the need for ten air conditioners?” he says. However, not all native trees and plants thrive in urban heat. Therefore, Smit and his colleagues are exploring flora from warmer regions that can survive in these new conditions.

Future-ready trees

Smit refers to trees not native to the Netherlands as 'naturalised trees'. The country faces challenges with native trees not being heat-resistant and being affected by diseases and pests such as the oak processionary moth. By introducing a variety of plant and tree species, the risk of losing greenery is reduced.

At the entrance of Trompenburg, a Zelkova carpinifolia stands as a typical 'tree of the future'. Originating from Southeast Europe, it is accustomed to hot summers and cold winters. This species is thriving at Trompenburg, which even provides cuttings to tree nurseries, acting as a nursery for urban greenery in the Netherlands.

Zelkova carpinifolia

About Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum

Located in the Kralingen district on the outskirts of Rotterdam's city centre, Trompenburg Gardens & Arboretum is a beautiful botanical garden with a large collection of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs and tubers. The garden, which spans 8 hectares, is open to visitors in all seasons and is a refreshing green museum where it is always cooler than in the city during the summer.

How to get there