Hotspot Rotterdam region

Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam and the region will receive large investments in spatial development and industry over the next ten years, of an amount totalling more than 10 billion euros. These investments will focus on further industrial development, increased port capacity, improved accessibility, urbanisation of the old port area and other areas and further urban development along the river. Much investment will be made in urban development and in improving the quality of life in the region, with opportunities being provided by the water and climate issues.

Rotterdam would like to become more attractive to middle and high income earners. Rotterdam also wants to create a more attractive investment climate, not just for international and new companies, but also for the current and future inhabitants of the city.

This can be achieved through investment in urban areas along the river and through the transformation of the old industrial and port areas, areas which are vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise.

Climate change is particularly important in this region due to:

• changes in the risk of and the effects of flooding from the sea and the river and the influence these have on development in the port and urban areas
• changes in river drainage and water level systems and their influence on the transport link with the rest of the country
• changes in climate-related conditions, constraints and processes which have an effect on living, working and recreation in urban areas

It is very important that climate change is properly incorporated into spatial planning, to ensure that new investments made in the port and housing are climate proof.

Objective
To make the area both climate proof and as attractive as possible for living and working, with particular attention to be given to the port, transport and housing.

There are issues concerning safety, transport over water and urban development, and projects have been started to investigate the relationship between the Rotterdam programme line, other hotspots, areas upstream and international ports.