ROTTERDAM, 6 October 2025 – From 3 November, Podium Islemunda will officially become the new home of Huis van de Wijk IJsselmonde — literally “Neighbourhood House IJsselmonde,” a community centre where residents meet, take part in workshops and access local welfare services. The move brings together social initiatives, cultural programming and hospitality under one roof.

A new chapter for Podium Islemunda

Located at Herenwaard 17–19, Podium Islemunda has been the cultural hub of Rotterdam-IJsselmonde since 2014, hosting theatre, film, music and community events. The venue also houses Bibliotheek IJsselmonde and the Rotterdams Wijktheater. By welcoming Huis van de Wijk IJsselmonde and Stadskeuken IJsselmonde, the building evolves into a lively meeting place where culture and community intersect — a spot to learn, connect and enjoy a good meal.

A shared vision of connection

“By bringing together culture, welfare, education and hospitality, we’re creating a central place that truly belongs to the people of IJsselmonde,” says Irma van Lierop, director of Podium Islemunda. “It will be a welcoming and inspiring space full of opportunities for connection, relaxation and cooperation.” Ivo Brandsen, director of welfare organisation SOL, adds: “The Grote Hagen location has served the community for many years, and we’re proud to continue that mission here. Culture and welfare complement each other beautifully in this new setting.”

Strengthening the neighbourhood

The relocation fits Rotterdam’s wider goal of using public buildings for multiple community purposes. “This is a great example of how social and cultural partners can work together to strengthen a district,” says Erna Zoomers from the Municipality of Rotterdam. “By sharing facilities, residents gain access to more services in one place.”

Stadskeuken IJsselmonde, led by social entrepreneur Faouzi Chihabi, completes the concept. The initiative offers hospitality training for people returning to the job market. “We stand for relational cooking — preparing honest dishes with heart, using natural ingredients and Mediterranean flavours,” says Chihabi. “From this shared space, we’ll contribute to local wellbeing, social cohesion and talent development.”

Opening dates and practical details

Huis van de Wijk IJsselmonde will open on Monday 3 November 2025, with regular hours from Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30. Stadskeuken IJsselmonde opens a week later, on Monday 10 November, serving accessible daytime meals during the same hours.

Getting there

Podium Islemunda is centrally located in IJsselmonde, just a short walk from the Keizerswaard shopping centre. The venue is easy to reach by tram or bus from Rotterdam Zuidplein or Lombardijen Station.

ROTTERDAM, 26 September 2025 – A Schiebroek resident has spent eight years running a weekly food hand-out for households who do not qualify for the food bank. On Thursday, the city recognised her work with a €500 cheque.

Every Saturday, Loes Zwarts fills around 45 shopping bags for local families, providing an extra buffer for the week. The volunteer effort targets those who miss official thresholds but still struggle to make ends meet.

A weekly food distribution point

On Saturday afternoons, the front garden becomes a small distribution point. Crates of vegetables such as peppers, tomatoes and spinach sit alongside dry goods ranging from pasta to breakfast items. From 17:00, people drop by to fill a bag.

The hand-out is intended for residents who cannot access the food bank. “This way they still have enough food for the whole week,” Zwarts explained.

How it works

Eligible households are often referred by local organisations such as Dock. After joining Loes’s Facebook group, people book a timeslot to avoid queues and ensure orderly pick-ups.

Zwarts began the initiative eight years ago with help from her husband. What started with six visitors a week has grown to 45, reflecting the reality that poverty exists in Schiebroek too.

Community support and holidays

Families make up a large share of visitors, but younger and older residents also attend; ages range from the 20s to the 80s. Bag size scales with household size to keep the system fair, and the hand-out is framed as a supplement to regular shopping.

Part of the food comes from local businesses. On Saturdays, Klootwijk bakery donates fresh bread; in summer, growers provide tomatoes and peppers. The rest is bought in supermarkets with attention to offers; alcohol is not purchased.

City recognition and how to nominate

During Sinterklaas and Christmas, small extras are added so children can join conversations at school about gifts and festivities. Basic items such as pasta, rice, canned vegetables and chicken form the core of the holiday parcels. Most costs are paid out of Zwarts’s own pocket. “A simple ‘thank you’ is enough. If we did not do this, many people would go hungry,” she said.

Alderman Abigail Norville (Poverty Reduction and Debt Assistance) visited on Thursday 25 September to present a €500 cheque. Zwarts is the seventh recipient under the Samen Sterk tegen Armoede en Schulden initiative, which highlights residents who support neighbours living with money worries. The city invites nominations for future acknowledgements via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ROTTERDAM, 28 September 2025 – Neighbourhood hubs across the city opened their doors for Burendag. From workshops to local awards, residents came together.

Residents connect across the city

On Saturday 27 September, Rotterdam marked Burendag with events in every neighbourhood hub. From 10.00 to 14.00, residents could join creative workshops, play games and meet their local neighbourhood council. Each hub offered its own activities, including the festive presentation of a volunteer award and a warm welcome for new neighbours.

Alderman Robert Simons visited three neighbourhood hubs to speak with residents and hear what issues are most pressing in their areas.

Neighbourhood hubs at the heart of the community

Burendag once again highlighted the role of neighbourhood hubs as accessible spaces where residents can go with questions, ideas or concerns.

“It is inspiring to see so many Rotterdammers coming to the hubs during Burendag,” said alderman Simons. “You can walk in here with anything on your mind – or simply for a cup of coffee and a chat with your neighbours. I am proud of everyone who contributes to our neighbourhoods and grateful to all residents who made this day such a success.”

A nationwide initiative

Burendag is a yearly event celebrated across the Netherlands on the last Saturday of September. It is intended to strengthen social ties between neighbours and to encourage people to contribute to their local community. In Rotterdam, the tradition has become closely linked with the city’s network of neighbourhood hubs, which provide a physical space for residents to meet and seek support.

Campaign to raise awareness

This year, Burendag also marked the start of a citywide campaign to increase awareness of neighbourhood hubs. The campaign will gradually roll out through outdoor advertising and social media, introducing more residents to the hubs as central meeting places and points of contact in their communities.

ROTTERDAM, 19 September 2025 – Recycling platform Droppie has opened its first Rotterdam location on Eudokiaplein. The company marks the milestone of its tenth branch in one year and celebrates a cleaner stream of plastics suitable for high-quality recycling.

Cleaner plastics for better recycling

Droppie’s collection system is designed to keep plastics “shake and scrape clean” before drop-off. According to independent research by Wageningen University & Research, the plastic collected through Droppie is significantly cleaner and drier than regular PMD waste. This higher quality makes it possible to recycle more material into new products, including food packaging.

The choice of Eudokiaplein is deliberate: an area where litter and waste problems are visible. By placing a recycling point here, residents are encouraged to separate their plastics and cans, with the added option to deposit even flattened cans. The initiative aims to improve both recycling quality and neighbourhood liveability.

Rotterdam welcomes Droppie recycling point on Eudokiaplein

Figures from one year of operation

Since launching, Droppie has recorded:

• 30,000 active users
• 110,000 drop-offs
• €500,000 paid out (including deposits)
• 150,000 kg of material collected (excluding deposit items)
• 3 million bottles and cans collected under the Dutch deposit system

Through the Droppie app, users receive a small financial reward for every drop, which they can keep or donate to charity. This incentive is designed to encourage consistent, high-quality recycling.

City support and company vision

Rotterdam alderman Chantal Zeegers welcomed the initiative:

“Rotterdam goes all-in for the circular economy of the future. Resources are too valuable to throw away: keeping them clean and reusing them is the key. With Droppie, residents can easily hand in materials in a clean way while earning a reward. That this point is located at Eudokiaplein, in a neighbourhood where waste often ends up on the street, shows how circular innovations can immediately improve liveability.”

Droppie co-founder Natascha Hermsen underlined the broader impact:

“By rewarding people and giving clear instructions, we collect the cleanest plastics in the Netherlands. This shows that recycling works if you organise it properly. Our system proves that consumers are willing to contribute when the process is simple, transparent and rewarding.”

Rotterdam welcomes Droppie recycling point on Eudokiaplein

Opening day promotion

To celebrate the new Rotterdam location, everyone who drops off recyclable items on opening day not only receives the usual reward but also stands a chance to win a “superdrop” worth €500 in cash.

Practical information

• Location: Eudokiaplein, Rotterdam
• App: Droppie app required for rewards
• Opening date: 19 September 2025
• More info: Droppie Rotterdam

Location and directions

Droppie Rotterdam is located on Eudokiaplein, north of the city centre. The site is accessible by tram and metro via Blijdorp station and is within cycling distance of most central neighbourhoods.