Rotterdam

Garden Clippings for Sept 19, 2025

What do you do if agriculture is your primary industry, but land is preciously scarce? You build a floating farm.

The Dutch are known for tulips and cheese, yes, but also for innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and drive for sustainability. Nowhere is this truer than in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Six of us had the pleasure of biking from Amsterdam to Haarlem, to Alkmaar to Enkhuizen, to Kampen, to Harderwijk, then back to Amsterdam. We didn’t put Rotterdam on the itinerary because we thought it to be a concrete city lacking the typical canals, delightful city squares, historic churches and tempting cafes that all other Dutch cities are known for.

We were right and we were wrong.

The day before departure we took the train from Delft to Rotterdam to visit my nephew Thomas who works in City Planning. Rather than boast about Rotterdam’s major greening initiatives, Thomas focused on what is being done in small scale interventions in urban areas.

Thomas first explained that Rotterdam was largely destroyed when it was taken over by the Nazis, then further damaged when the Allies helped reclaim the city. Immediately after the War, Rotterdam was rapidly rebuilt to become a modern port city, often with little regard for the environment and social health. Beginning in the nineties, Rotterdam did an about-turn where it has now become one of the most people-friendly and architecturally clever cities in the world, focusing on greening and sustainability.

Among the most noteworthy initiatives are the Rooftop Park which is now nearly a mile long, creating space for folks to hang out while also serving as a dike for water control. Another park has been developed to replace an old railway viaduct. Rotterdam is now a world leader in sustainability, with attention given to waste systems, local cooking, eco-smart shopping, water plazas, green roofs and citizen-driven micro green projects.

In his own neighbourhood, Thomas pointed out how they convinced the city to permit residents to remove a patch of cobblestone against their homes, measuring approximately 1 by 2 meters, enough space to create personal gardens. Those living on the second or third floor are given quiet permission to put containers of flowers or vegetables at street level.

Another initiative in Tom’s neighbourhood involved convincing City leaders to remove one streetside parking spot (3 meters by 5 meters) provided 7 homeowners cooperate on a mini ride-share program.

Before returning to Delft, Thomas took us down a quiet street leading to a narrow patch of ground adjacent to and owned by the railroad line. The area has been lent to the community for garden plots, outdoor ping pong table, patio, play area, benches and composting bins. The small stretch of green space has become a community gathering spot for barbeques, sharing food, and strengthening social life.

Next week’s Garden Clippings will look at Holland’s amazing transportation system focusing on rail, bus, and of course bikes.