Rotterdam municipality presents Waterkant Ambition Plan

25 April 2024

The Rotterdam municipality executive committee has presented the Waterkant Ambition Plan, revised alongside the Feyenoord City masterplan, to the city council for review. These two projects are significant for Rotterdam-Zuid (South Rotterdam), increasing 7,000 to 9,500 new homes, offices, schools, recreational facilities, and ample green spaces to the area over the next decade. Both projects were developed after the new Feyenoord Stadium project was put on hold in 2022.

The Waterkant on the Nieuwe Maas is a key area within Feyenoord City (currently named Rotterdams Tij). Designed by EFFEKT, LOLA Landscape Architects and OMA, the Waterkant defines a new urban planning approach for the upcoming high-density neighbourhood with approximately 4,000 homes. A unique landscape design will frame the urban plan, bringing together the community-driven public spaces, and ample greenery, together with various commercial and leisure facilities. A new sloping terrain, running from the riverbank to the inner area over the rail tracks, will cover the existing elements on site. This will form a continuous topography with interesting height differences.

The nature-friendly public boulevard will integrate the Waterkant with Feyenoord City’s new tidal park, creating a vibrant and attractive destination for all. The north and south banks of Rotterdam will be more closely linked by a bridge and the creation of a Stadionpark station, a public transport hub, next to the iconic De Kuip stadium.

New pathways for pedestrians and cyclists will strengthen the connection between Rotterdam-Zuid and the rest of the city.

“Waterkant fills a gap in the urban fabric of Rotterdam by connecting the old and new neighbourhoods with bikelanes and high-quality public spaces. Squares and parks with distinct characteristics including a new tidal park, will offer leisure spaces for the local community and visitors, creating a green and attractive waterfront destination in Rotterdam”

Cees van der Veeken, founding partner & senior landscape architect at LOLA Landscape Architects

The revised Feyenoord City Masterplan and the Waterkant Ambition Plan were developed in consultation with the local community and various stakeholders. The positive input from the stakeholders, published in the ‘The Waterkant Participation Report‘ in April 2024, was instrumental in the creation and refinement of the designs. Both projects will be further reviewed for approval by the Rotterdam City Council in May.

Client: Rotterdam Municipality
I.c.w.: OMAEFFEKT, City of Rotterdam
Partner: Stichting Gebiedsontwikkeling aan de Maas

Read more

Recent news

Car-free, nature-inclusive public space for Merwede

A new inner-city district with 6.000 homes is being developed in the heart of Utrecht. Online magazine Straatbeeld just published an interesting article on the car-free and nature-inclusive public space of Merwede, the residential area LOLA is designing since 2022.… More

News
Shift, Marlies Rohmer and LOLA teamed up for Campus Esserberg

Great news to start the year with. Following a comprehensive selection process the Municipality of Groningen selected the team of Shift Architecture + Urbanism, Marlies Rohmer and LOLA Landscape Architects to design the Campus Esserberg.… More

LOLA + Shift design Stappegoor Sports and Education Campus

The Tilburg municipality has awarded LOLA Landscape Architects and Shift Architecture + Urbanism the contract to draw up the design for the Stappegoor Sports and Education Campus in Tilburg. The new campus will include facilities for athletics and tennis and will significantly improve the quality of the space.… More