“ULTIMATELY, OUR DREAM IS THAT THE ANTIBODY REALLY WORKS”
Gurvinder Singh Chahal
BIZ RCD Welcomes new area manager
We are here in the middle of Rotterdam Central District, a place where talents of all stripes converge. From legal and finance experts to architects and artists to restaurateurs: it’s all happening here in the heart of Rotterdam! And obviously that’s something to be proud of.
On this issue’s cover is Gurvinder Singh Chahal. With their company based at CIC in the Groot Handelsgebouw, Gurvinder and his brother Dharminder are conducting research into antibodies that fight cancer. The brothers have raised more than 40 million euros so far to expand their work and continue developing a new drug that can treat this devastating disease. In our eyes they are a monumental example of tal -
ent and of course we wish the brothers the best of success with their company, Sairopa.
Also don’t miss our interview with Enoma Amayo, event planner at Motel Mozaïque. She won the Ijzeren Eierbal Award in January, which recognizes emerging talent in the music industry. Her ambition? To make the creative industry more inclusive and diverse. Enoma is happy with how her career is progressing, but knows she has plenty more to learn and is busy taking courses to invest in her personal development. Good luck to you, Enoma!
We hope you’ll enjoy reading this issue!
Romy Lange & Céline Boute Editors, RCD Magazine
“ULTIMATELY, OUR DREAM IS THAT THE ANTIBODY REALLY WORKS”
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@ Theater Rotterdam | 20 June
Inspired by Greek mythology about the cycle of life, this production tells stories about the struggle to be free through two pieces by dance makers Danae & Dionysios and Erika Maria Silgoner. Through their passionate dance, the choreographies convey a narrative with a powerful message.
@ Bird Rotterdam | 14 June
Emerging artist Gino-Cochise is one of a kind: a skilled multi-instrumentalist who gives a unique spin to lyrics to create his signature brand of jazz-funk fusion. You may even know some his music, which has already featured on the radio and at various festivals!
@ Centrale Bibliotheek
4 May - 30 June
In this exhibition Rachel Ofori shows what art means to her as an artist. Taking inspiration from her feelings, senses and perceptions around life events, art is her form of expression. Come admire her works and find your own inspiration.
@ Schouwburgplein | 25-29 July
Get ready for one of the city’s biggest street festivals! Returning at the end of July, Rotterdam Unlimited is one big party celebrating all cultures and featuring everything from musical parades to live acts to dance, plus a wide mix of music genres. Come and enjoy: there’s something for everyone!
@ Schouwburgplein | 20 May - 17 June
Aretha Franklin began pursuing her passion for singing from an early age and scored her first hit in 1957. In this special series of evening concerts, up-and-coming bands and singers keep her passion and legend alive and pay tribute to the Queen of Soul. Come enjoy the music and the talent!
After working in the banking sector for many years – in both the Netherlands and five years in his parents’ native India –Gurvinder Singh Chahal decided it was time for a career switch. He went from banking into biotech. His brother Dharminder Singh Chahal was already active in the Dutch biotech sector and his stories piqued Gurvinder’s interest. The two brothers started thinking about doing something in this sector on their own home turf in Rotterdam. And then, in February of 2021, an opportunity came by to take over stalled antibody research owned by a Seattle based public company. They acquired several sets of antibodies, targeted at fighting cancer, and some of these antibodies had huge potential. With an initial 17.5-million-euro investment from multiple backers, the pair launched Sairopa, restarted the research and very rapidly sealed a partnership deal with a California-based biopharmaceutical company pertaining one of these antibodies.
“My brother and I are complementary to each other, so that made splitting responsibilities easy. For a biotech investment in the cancer field with setting up clinical trials, that first 17.5 million was actually quite a small amount. The two of us began assembling a team of Dutch biotech sector professionals, all with specialized backgrounds in preclinical research, in human trials and other relevant areas in the field. Most of the professionals on the team were familiar with these antibodies as they were originally developed in the Netherlands but came in hands of an American company during multiple takeovers and mergers in the past. To be able to continue funding our research after the start-up phase, I worked hard to find a pharma partner who was willing to join us in the journey for this specific antibody research. Eventually, that brought us to where we are now.”
“Ultimately, our dream is that the antibody really works”
“Sairopa’s whole process was fairly unique, due to how fast we were able to move forward with a virtual set up initially. With the first investment we could start and continue for two years, not longer, so it was clear from the start that we could not sit back and relax. During the first year I travelled to the United States regularly, as it is still the largest market for pharma companies, visiting conventions, making connections and giving presentations of our assets to multiple pharmaceutical organizations. I had our first meeting with Exelixis in February 2022. It started with a Teams meeting in my attic office, then several face-to-face meetings at conferences in New Orleans and Chicago. We felt during these interactions that Exelixis was really interested and then two weeks later my brother and I flew out to San Diego to discuss a potential agreement over dinner. That resulted in the option deal which finally got the green light in November last year. It really is a fantastic deal: they’re pre-funding the clinical development based on specific milestones – having paid us already 75 million dollars, and, if it shows strong positive data in patients, will acquire the antibody for 225 million dollars. They’ll also contribute more than 35 million dollars over the next two years allowing us to finance the actual clinical research. For us, it’s amazing to be working with such a Pharma company and to be starting clinical trials, while remaining in charge of developing of our company and the antibodies.
Naturally, Exelixis did extensive due diligence before taking their decision and so saw for themselves that everything stacks up, including the science. They are convinced that our antibody is potentially best-inclass. Our antibody is about to be tested in humans, but we have high hopes for the results based on our preclinical research. Ultimately, our dream is that the medication provides benefit to cancer patients. We’re excited about the next research phase, which will be treating 120 cancer patients in a global trial with our antibody over the next two to three years.”
“We started out with several sets of antibodies, three of which clearly targeted cancer. One of these antibodies, based on the extensive preclinical work, quickly received interest from larger Pharma companies. The
first step in developing antibodies is always to test it in rodents. After that, research progresses to monkeys, and if the results show no safety issues, you can start human trials.
To the question what sets our antibodies apart, we’ve got a variety of existing cancer treatments – so, chemotherapy, surgical removal, and immunotherapy now as well. The simple explanation goes like this: you have cancer cells, and you have the immune system. Normally, our body recognizes cells that don’t belong there and fights them, but cancer is a disease that evolves continuously. Some cancer cells send a ‘don’t eat me’ signal to our immune cells, and that then gives a tumour more time to grow or replicate cancer cells. Our antibody works by blocking this ‘don’t eat me’ signal so that the cancer cell is recognized and attacked by the immune system. We believe we have a best-in-class potential with our antibody based on the characteristic of our specific antibody. Another big concern during development is that the side effects should be minimal. In our tests on monkeys, we found there are very few side effects. Also, we know that our antibody is built to work variety of human biological backgrounds and both sexes. That makes it what’s called a pan-allelic antibody.”
“In my opinion, the Netherlands should be focusing particularly on initial research and development. We have incredible labs at several universities and a brilliant ecosystem, like Pivot Park in Oss and Leiden Bioscience Park in close collaborations with medical universities. Our country has the knowledge and the capacity to set this up. Most biotech companies do development and then sell or enter a partnership. The tricky part is raising the massive funds needed in this sector if you’re only working with Dutch investors even though we have some strong Venture Capital firms. It’s a sector fueled by private capital. In Rotterdam, partnerships with life sciences industry could be significantly better, but we are talking with Mayor Aboutaleb about that. Bringing private capital and the city of Rotterdam together from an investment perspective would be a boost for the sector in our city.”
There’s no lack of urban renewal and development in Rotterdam Central District. On this page, we keep you up to date with the most important news about the place you work, live or come to visit.
The City of Rotterdam, BIZ RCD and the RCD Association have a joint ambition to make Rotterdam Central District a more attractive and diverse location. This involves boosting the kerb appeal of a large number of local buildings for pedestrians and cyclists, termed the ‘city at eye level’.
Many properties currently still have shuttered façades or vacant space at ground floor level. To improve the streetscape for existing users and future residents and visitors, the area needs more places where people can meet up, hang out and shop or browse. In some cases, this means remodelling ground floors and giving streets a facelift through additional planting and seating.
The City has commissioned strategy and innovation agency WYNE to examine measures that would make the Central District more pleasant at eye level. One important proposal has property owners working together to entice interesting tenants to the area and refurbish selected ground-floor spaces in the period ahead. The municipality completes the desired structures of facades with several playing rules to guide renovations or new construction work. It is also exploring ways to integrate and link up with neighbouring public spaces.
Lifelong learning and talent are the main themes of this issue – because there’s always more for us to learn! You can learn on all kinds of fronts, from taking on a new hobby in music or crafts, learning a new language or sport to taking courses or even a new degree. This time, we asked the people in Rotterdam Central District to share their passion, talent and views on continuing learning throughout life.
“I’m doing a bachelor’s in philosophy, politics and society. We’re learning a lot about conceptions of race and gender and I’m incorporating that into the paintings I make. Paintings of female bodies and protest images, for example. I got into this two years ago through other creatives in my social circle, and I want my artworks to make an impact.”
Instagram: @artisticl.aura
“I am good at solving problems. I am a building expert with my own company and know that clients appreciate my knack for problem-solving. Young people tend to get trained in theory, whereas I have a very practical outlook. It’s just how I’m put together – maybe from growing up in an entrepreneurial family. Almost all my brothers and sisters are also in business, so we know how to get things done.”
“I am always doing something creative. My main talent is painting. I don’t work according to any fixed set of steps but follow my mood and what I feel. Whatever comes into my head is what I put on paper. When I was little, I brought my imagination to life through drawings and crafts. Now that I’m older, I mostly make abstract art. I get tons of positive feedback on social media and that gives me energy to keep at it.”
“The Bible – I can talk about that for hours. Four years ago, my sister asked me if I wanted to go to seminary school. I have been sold on Christianity ever since I started delving deeper into the religion. Now, I want to share the Word with other people and help them understand it as well. I don’t know everything yet, but I will keep on learning and am urging other people to do the same.”
“Helping people is what I’m good at. For years I’ve had my own practice providing day-to-day support to people with mental disabilities who have been classed as beyond recovery by the GGZ. I help out with all kinds of basics like meals, bedtimes, daytime activities, socializing and finances. Technically, I’m retired, but I wasn’t ready to stop doing this. It’s immensely rewarding to be able to make this difference for another person.”
“Life is all about developing as an individual. At some point you no longer make the same mistakes you made in your teens and twenties. As you get older, you get wiser: I call that the ‘university of life’. Development is a conscious choice, though; some people prefer to stay dumb. I always keep my eyes and ears open and seize any opportunity to grow. Even at my age, there is always more to learn. You can learn until you drop dead.”
“My talent is my innate athletic ability. I grew up in Nigeria and have been doing all kinds of sports since I was a kid: tennis, table tennis, football, skipping rope, basketball, running and fitness. What I’m best at at any given time varies, mostly depending on what I’m putting my time and energy into. I’m always striving to get better and exploring new sports. This summer, I want to learn to skate.”
SThree is the global staffing partner specialised in the STEM sector – short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Stefanie Kolks joined the company as a rookie and grew from there to become their Head of Real Staffing in Dubai, where she moved last November. Stefanie told us how SThree has enabled her to take full advantage of their career opportunities.
A career without limits. That’s what defines working at SThree. In early March, the company’s efforts to be the best employer for their staff was rewarded with a Great Place to Work certification. As a house of brands, SThree consists of seven specialised brands, and offers plenty of opportunities for its people to grow both from brand to brand and across borders. Stefanie Kolks joined the company in 2016, starting as a recruitment consultant at Real Staffing. “I studied hospitality management and then worked on cruise ships for seven years. One criterion when I started looking for a job in the Netherlands was that I wanted the company to be active globally. That’s why I started at Real Staffing, part of SThree”, Stefanie recalls. She had no experience in recruitment at the time, but learned through their dedicated on-the-job training programme. “What I love about recruitment is that you’re always working with two sides. It’s not ordinary sales. You connect companies and specialists, both with their own views and needs.”
When an account manager role opened up at SThree, Stefanie seizes this opportunity to develop her career. This also gave her the chance to enrol in a MSC programme, next to her new role. SThree expressly encourages her employees to accelerate their careers and invests in an optimal learning and performance culture. For example, through the SThree Academy, an online platform with 16,000 training modules, and Elements, a digital onboarding programme that helps new employees to get up to speed as quickly as possible. SThree believes strongly in the power of interaction and therefore has multiple classroom trainings, peer-learning opportunities and a partnership
programme with Nyenrode Business University. “SThree believes that you are the driver of your own success. You have to be clear about what you want, but then the options are endless.” For Stefanie, that meant working abroad after completing her MSC.
Operating across 46 locations in fourteen countries, SThree has plenty of international career options. Stefanie chose Dubai, where she started as Head of Real Staffing in November, with the objective to make it a key player in the STEM sector in this part of the world as well. “I’m grateful for this opportunity and for SThree’s encouragement. The job really suits me and the location is ideal. There’s only a slight time difference with the Netherlands, and with multiple daily flights from Dubai to the Netherlands, I can be back at a moment’s notice.”
Although Stefanie’s employer hasn’t changed, working in Dubai is a world of difference. “I’ve acclimated now, but it took longer than expected. What I miss most is walking, bicycling and riding my scooter. All perfectly normal in the Netherlands, but here you do everything by car”, Stefanie explains. “What I like about Dubai is how open the people are. There are loads of different cultures living side by side, particularly expats, and the fact that most people didn’t grow up here means we all understand each other and connect more easily.”
Stefanie is working hard to establish Real Staffing in Dubai and is focused on the further development of this brand. “SThree offers so many opportunities. My mum is German, and I was raised bilingual. So, in the long run, being a large open market, Germany may be next on my bucket list.”
Enoma Amayo is an event planner at Motel Mozaïque. This past January, she received the IJzeren Eierbal Award, which recognizes emerging talent in the music industry. Her ambition? To make the creative industry more inclusive and diverse.
Enoma has been working full-time as an event planner at Motel Mozaïque – the organization behind the MOMO Festival, MOMO Fabrique and a host of major concerts in Rotterdam – since last October, and in various other capacities since 2019. “I had just finished my BA in art and economics, specializing in music management, and travelled abroad for a while, and I returned knowing I wanted to do something in Rotterdam’s culture scene. But where do you start? Motel Mozaïque’s Young Talent track gave me a chance to help out with organizing the MOMO Festival and get experience in the music world.”
Enoma initially had her sights set on marketing and production, but bit by bit she discovered that she enjoys planning events more. “I’m interested in the story behind the artists. Who are they? What shaped them? It’s really cool to connect with artists and talk with them about all the directions we can take a partnership. So, for the MOMO Festival, for example, I got artists like the UK indie band Black
Country, New Road to come to the Netherlands, and we created three awesome concepts together.”
Music has always played a big role in her life, Enoma affirms. Not so much making it herself – “I did play piano for a while, but that didn’t last long as instead of practising to be as good as Mozart, I wanted it to just happen” – but as a self-professed music aficionado. She spends a lot of time listening to music and says it has helped her learn a great deal about the world and herself in it. “Music feels like a glimpse into someone else’s world. It teaches me a lot about different perspectives in life and has also put me on a path to discovering who I am. I’ve resonated with different musical styles during different periods in my life and that has given me a deeper understanding of myself.”
In January, the Dutch Association of Music Venues and Festivals (VNPF) presented Enoma with its IJzeren Eierbal Award for promising young talents who are already proving themselves in the live music industry. Enoma certainly has a clear ambition for herself: “I want to make the creative industry more inclusive and diverse.” In her current job as an event planner, she’s doing this mainly by booking artists and collaborating with creators who represent and embrace these
themes. “There are so many different sounds in the world, and I want to give them all a stage to be heard. That’s how we can learn from each other and find common ground.” As well as striving for greater diversity and inclusivity through the programmes she puts together, Enoma also wants to be a changemaker in the culture industry as a whole. “We are making strides, but the industry could be way more inclusive. At MOMO, we’re working to contribute to that through our Young Talent Club and are also doing various studies looking at industry access and safety. Personally, I would love to do a lot more and think that knowledge transfer is a key piece. Motel Mozaïque gave me the chance to develop myself further in the music industry. That’s been incredibly valuable, because this isn’t an easy world to break into.”
For now, Enoma is happy with how her career is progressing, while acknowledging that she has plenty more to learn about the field. She is also busy investing in her personal development: “I’m taking courses to deepen and broaden my knowledge on everything from artistic entrepreneurship to graphic design. I’m also learning so much from the more experienced professionals I work with. As to where I’ll be five years from now, I’d rather not make any predictions. I respond intuitively to the opportunities life throws at me and trust that my career will unfold organically.”
“We are making strides, but the industry could be way more inclusive”
More and more people are drawn to personal self-development these days as a way to grapple with such questions as: How do I get to know myself? How do I figure out what I really want? How can I connect with others? These preoccupations are also filtering through into professional life in all sectors. Which is hardly surprising, because lifelong learning enhances our self-understanding and knowledge of our own capacities, thus helping us to make the most of our professional careers. We asked four prominent business innovators to share their development stories with us.
“Superscript offers business insurance for tech firms. They’re operating in a complex, emerging industry and the traditional insurance market is not equipped for that. The tech industry is a market that’s growing and evolving super-fast, and by developing at the same pace we can keep pivoting to respond to ever-changing demand. Another advantage we have is that a big part of our team has tech backgrounds, plus we ourselves are a tech scale-up that’s growing through the same phases as the companies we serve. We understand our clients’ challenges and needs. Superscript was founded in the United Kingdom and we’re currently expanding into Europe from Rotterdam. With all the insurance companies, start-ups and tech companies located here, this is an ideal base of operations for us.”
“Venture Café has been operating in the Groot Handelsgebouw since 2015. The concept started out in the United States, and Rotterdam became the first European location. Venture Café is a networking space for anyone interested in business and innovation. We connect everyone from successful entrepreneurs to people who are thinking about launching or investing in a start-up. And also students looking for work placements or jobs. I’m proud of the diverse mix of people we’re able to bring together here, which has resulted in many productive partnerships. On Thursdays we also host free networking get-togethers, based on our philosophy that innovation should be accessible to everybody. It’s something that makes the world better and there should be no barriers to that.”
“I launched IKapitein in the summer of 2017. What started out purely with boat rentals has grown to become Rotterdam’s most impactful water-recreation provider, with a key focus on social impact, sustainability and innovation. Apart from boat, pedal boat and SUP board rentals, we also run an awareness-raising programme for primary school pupils in Delfshaven. We visit schools and get kids thinking about the history and landscape of where they live. One way we do that is by taking kids out on our boats and having litter-fishing contests to make them aware of the plastic soup problem. Besides that, we also teach them twenty-first-century skills like tinkering, hustling and circularity. All kinds of skills I would have loved to have learned at that age. This year I was nominated for Rotterdam’s ‘New Hero’ entrepreneur award on account of the positive impact we’re creating with IKapitein. I’m proud of that.”
“B-U-Fully is the company I started to coach people towards job satisfaction. That can be anyone from successful business owners to people at a disadvantage on the labour market. We recently launched a program for single parents on benefits to coach and guide them back to work. After successfully developing this program for the municipality Drechtsteden, my collaborator Leontine and I have improved the program and are offering to other municipalities as well. I think that a satisfying career hinges on a range of factors, not only the work itself. For example: What’s your financial situation? How is your physical health? Are you doing OK mentally? All of these things are important, and if you’re having issues on any of these fronts it can get in your way. I always look at the individual person and so I learn something from every coaching I do. My hope is that I can give everyone who gets stuck in their career or personal development a fresh perspective. Where they are in life doesn’t matter as much as that they have the drive to try to make something of it.”
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The new and improved Rotterdam Central station has been opened for almost 10 years. It was opened by our King Willem Alexander. Before the second world war Rotterdam never had a central station. They only had multiple smaller stations in and around the city.
Weena 695, Unit B1.052
This versatile design agency is specialized in shaping efficient spaces that work for people. Not just with furnishings, but the complete picture. Their team of experts are happy to advise, answer any questions and introduce you to their select group of first-class architects and designers.
Delftsplein 36
Atelier van Berlo is a design studio and research agency focused on the ever-changing and evolving world of architecture. In their own words, they’re a new generation of architects who are designing their own future.
Weena 686
The spectacular hotel opposite Rotterdam Central Station is perfectly situated for exploring the city and offers excellent links to the rest of Holland and Europe. Their dedicated team are available day and night to attend to every detail of your stay.
Eendrachtsstraat 8
Scapino is the place for dance. The company has a long history and started out with a mission to add colour to life through dance. Come see Scapino and be swept away by their marvellous modern ballet productions.
Eduard Voorn is a freelance journalist with a focus on economics, and first and foremost a Rotterdammer. He lives in the villagey outskirts of Rotterdam Central District, eats his pizza at BIRD, raises a pint at Biergarten or Weena, gets his caffeine fix at Lebkov, catches the latest flicks in Pathé Schouwburgplein and sees Scapino at Theater Rotterdam. His kids were born in the nowfamous Mecanoo architectural firm’s first project on Kruisplein.
Ad Scheepbouwer is the inventor of stacked schooling. Now 78, he started out as a waiter and barman aboard a ship. Decades later, he stepped down from the helm of Dutch telecom KPN, going from boss to financial backer. I interviewed him once. It was in the old KPN headquarters in The Hague, and the topic was the value of schooling. He made a fervent case for education. He himself became a captain of industry by spending his nights ploughing through textbooks. And as CEO, he wanted to fill all the ranks of his company with people (LGBTIQA+) who had studied for their credentials. No chest-beating about not needing an education to make it.
In the first week of April, I attended the soft opening of Garden of BIRD in Rotterdam Central District. There, co-owner Gaby van Kesteren introduced me to Michael van der Kroft, chef and co-owner of Tres in Rotterdam South. Having knuckled his way through culinary school, he started out on the bottom rung of the restaurant ladder and scaled his way to the top by dint of hard work. Michael, who has since made his name at home and abroad, actually wants his employees to finish their education. You won’t hear him blathering about how schooling is pointless, like a story that recently ran in the business magazine Quote. It was an interview, with the headline: Wealth without the degree: “If that economics lecturer knew anything, he’d be working on Wall Street”
Why am I starting my column this way? These are two examples of people who, each in their own way, ultimately made it to where they are by hitting the books. Even though it was anything but easy. Yes, they had talent, but it was amplified by education. This is the throughline in my own life as well: stacking my skills through schooling and working hard in order to accomplish something.
It is also why I have decided to help out Henk van der Beek, a prominent member of the football club Sparta’s governing board and director of Beroepentuin (Dutch for ‘garden of occupations’). Way back when, he started a training initiative in the catacombs of Sparta’s stadium, aka ‘the Castle’, for people who had ‘fallen between the cracks’. In one or two months they learn a trade such as electrical fitter or plumber and can subsequently continue their schooling in the SME sector. It gives them an invaluable leg up that family or other folks are unable to provide. I’ll be helping them to boost their Dutch language skills – a must for work site safety – and asking how things are going for them at home and just shooting the breeze about Sparta.
Since early 2020 Rob Ittmann played a vital role in the RCD Association as the district’s operational manager. With Rob leaving for a full-time post with the Municipality of Rotterdam as from the first of March, the search was on for someone to take his place. In midMarch, BIZ RCD appointed Leontine Oerlemans of Oerlemans Facility Management to be the new area manager on an interim basis.
Leontine Oerlemans has more than twenty years’ experience working in area management, facility advisement and advocacy. She helped establish the Leiden Enterprise Fund (Leids Ondernemersfonds), which paved the way for BIZ legislation. She also supported BIZ areas in Hilversum, Amsterdam and Leiden to set up sustainability, mobility, management and group procurement services for their local business communities. Having run facilities projects for numerous companies in central Rotterdam, she is also well-connected with the business community in this city.
In recent months, work was ongoing on the 2023 Annual Plan, outlining projects for quality of life, mobility and climate adaptation in RCD. Improvements targeting liveability centre on joint efforts to revitalize shop and building fronts in the commercial district. Investments in planting, fitness and recreation, and art will bring more life to public spaces. Mobility is expected to change in major ways in the coming years, impacting how we get from A to B. Urban infrastructure has to be adapted accordingly. The problem of careless bike and scooter-parking will be addressed, and new mobility services will be set up and offered. Climate adaptation is the third dimension of plans for RCD, providing for more public green spaces, retrofitting buildings and planting small parks to combat urban heat and make conditions more pleasant.
If you would like to learn more, please send an email to Leontine@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl or visit www. rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl
The Rotterdam Central District Association has been active since 2009 with a mission to connect public and private partners in efforts to promote district development. Besides area development, the Association also works to build community among local players and raise the profile of RCD in the Netherlands and abroad. However, as it does this with very modest resources, it cannot always realize its ambitions.
Stichting BIZ Rotterdam Central District was established to give the Association more clout by requiring active participation by all local property owners. BIZ is
short for ‘Business Investment Zone’ and all BIZ members take part in developing a five-year district revitalization plan. In RCD, the major concerns needing to be addressed are: liveability, mobility and climate adaptation. Property owners pay a compulsory contribution with which these plans can be realized.
The RCD Association and BIZ RCD foundation will henceforth be working jointly as twin organizations, with the Association to focus on community-building and BIZ RCD on area development, and both together on district promotion and marketing.
This spring brought blossoms bursting forth on trees lining Spoorsingel once again, on which Björn Plooster’s living room window offers a splendid view. In 2010, his family was lucky enough to land this gem in Rotterdam-Noord, and straightaway they started bringing the community together by throwing a party. These days, Björn raises a flag outside to let neighbours know whenever they can drop in for a slice of home-baked pizza. He also connects people through his own radio show, which airs from his home studio. Björn says he couldn’t ask for anything more.
“As it happens, I updated my LinkedIn profile just the other day to ‘film, music, video, podcast and pizza maker’. This spring we started broadcasting our own daily morning radio show called ‘Radio Paradijsvogel’ [in English: Radio Bird of Paradise, ed.], on which we like to showcase or interview Rotterdam-based artists. I also recently produced a video series for the Natural History Museum. A lot of the time I do everything myself, so directing, filming and editing. Most of my partnerships are in the Rotterdam region, which is a big plus too.”
“I studied and lived in Haarlem and Amsterdam. Both cities have their attractions, but for different reasons neither really fit me. I grew up in Spijkenisse and so Rotterdam was my stomping grounds. Back when we decided to leave Amsterdam and return to Rotterdam, it wasn’t popular the way it is now. The city has changed massively in the last fifteen years, which is also what makes Rotterdam such an exciting place. For people living here, it took some adjustment, but in the end the changes are all positive.”
“Officially this area is called Rotterdam-Noord, which sounded bizarre to us at first because we’re still within walking distance of the centre. But at the same time it’s
also ideal and part of what makes this neighbourhood unique. Theoretically you can walk to Paris or London: just five minutes and you can hop on a train going to some other world capital. And with my season tickets to Feyenoord, it takes me only ten minutes from doorstep to stadium.”
“I would say so. There’s so much going on here. We organize a block party once a year for everyone on Provenierssingel and Spoorsingel. There’s a real neighbourhood feeling. Last year I also took it upon myself to start bringing people together through pizza. Whenever I raise an Italian flag outside my front door, neighbours know they can drop in for a slice of homemade pizza. I think it’s wonderful to get people engaging with each other more this way.”
“I think that if you want to stay in the city, you need to be open-minded. Folks are quick to grumble, but a lot of things come with the territory. And, in a way, this is also part of the city’s charm. You can’t get away from the fact that it will simply be busier here sometimes, there will be more litter in the street and bikes parked everywhere. It’s a fairly quiet area and everything is close by. I occasionally browse on Funda to see if there’s anything better or nicer, but frankly I haven’t come across anything in all those years.”
Hobbies: my work, listening to music and playing guitar.
Favourite spot at home: my recording studio and the cinema seats – from the old Zuidplein theatre – in our living room, where I enjoy listening to my records.
Favourite spot in RCD: Rotterdam Centraal Station – a place where many people depart from or pass through but represents homecoming for me.
WTC Rotterdam is located in the bustling heart of Rotterdam. The (inter)national business community comes together here and you will find various shops and high-quality facilities including Vondelgym, Postillion hotel & convention centre, Brasserie Jules (brother of the famous Brasserie Pierre) and the brand new company restaurant The Hub. We rent high-quality office spaces on the Coolsingel, Meent and in the iconic green tower directly at the Koopgoot.
We offer modern offices starting from 250m2 in a vibrant international environment. Work in an historic building or rent a renovated office with views of the city. WTC Rotterdam leases to companies in various sectors and offers a wide range of services.
“WTC Rotterdam’s vision of sustainability in the future fits ours seamlessly”
“WTC Rotterdam’s strong character and corporate identity is very attractive, and certainly so in the financial world”
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
In early June a statue by British artist Thomas J Price will be installed in the middle of the square outside Rotterdam Central Station. The four-metre tall artwork, titled Moments Contained, invites us to rethink the history and legacies of sculpture.
Thomas J Price has made his name with large bronze statues of modern-day figures. Themes of power, representation, interpretation and perception in and by society and the art world are important in his work. Moments Contained portrays an imaginary young black woman standing with hands in her pockets, contemplatively looking out over the crowd. Public sculptures tend to be raised on a pedestal, however Price uses no pedestals and only places his works on a plinth. This is a deliberate choice, enabling his statues to share the space they inhabit and thus both literally and figuratively creating a common ground.
Moments Contained is about the experience of being ‘othered’ and ties in with Price’s interest in making pieces that explore the space between how people perceive themselves and how others see them. The artwork is about the embodiment of emotions and our identification with them, and it is precisely this ability to express shared feeling that gives Price’s works such resonance. Because of the figure’s size, people can’t help but look at the statue, think about it and talk about it. Price hopes this work will help people realize what they are missing in terms of representation and inclusivity. Rather than dictating our response, however, he wants viewers to come away with their own understanding of what the statue means. He also hopes it will become an integral part of the location and community.
Moments Contained was first exhibited at Art Basel 2022 and has been donated to the City of Rotterdam by the Droom en Daad Foundation in honour of International Women’s Day. The artwork forms the starting point of the Rotterdam sculpture trail. “Rotterdam has the most marvellous public sculpture collection in the Netherlands. This statue proclaims that you’re in Rotterdam”, summed up Wim Pijbes, director of the Droom en Daad Foundation. The sculpture trail runs from the sculpture terrace along Westersingel to Rotterdam-Zuid. With this new addition, it makes a strong statement about the position of women.
“Rotterdam has the most marvellous public sculpture collection in the Netherlands. This statue proclaims that you’re in Rotterdam”© Stefan Altenburger Photography Zürich
New in the district: Square ’47 is the place to go for a fresh-brewed coffee and home-baked treat in the morning, a light lunch to break up the day, tasty drinks and nibbles later in the afternoon and a fullcourse dinner in the evening. There’s also a private dining room with a bar and rooftop terrace available to hire for special functions.
The name is a nod to the year that the Schouwburgplein was built, but could easily be confused with the wealth of options on the menu. Because at Square ’47, guests are spoilt for choice. After all: so many patrons, so many palates. Which is why this upscale establishment run by restaurateur duo Arnold van Strien and Alex Wolf doesn’t limit itself to merely one cuisine. From steaks to sushi and from green curry with seasonal veg, coconut, sweet potato purée and tempeh to scallops with different variations of cauliflower to grilled lobster with tomato-basil butter, what all the dishes share in common is their meticulous preparation by a passionate kitchen crew with all premium-quality products. Added bonus: the Square ’47 kitchen is open till midnight, making it the perfect place to grab a bite after a concert, show or film. The private dining room is equipped with high-quality technology including a projector and retractable screen for company presentations and product launches.
Square ’47 kitchen is open till midnight, making it the perfect place to grab a bite after a concert, show or film
Square ’47 refuses to put itself in a box.
That means the options are endless. Come savour a romantic dinner for two, pull out all the stops for a big birthday bash or confer quietly with colleagues in a friendly setting, either inside or out on the large terrace. And all that seven days a week. So: be there AND be square!
Square ’47
Karel Doormanstraat 286
3012 GP Rotterdam
010-7200022
info@square47-rotterdam.nl
www.square47.nl
- OUR CLIENTS -
We aren’t going to argue with our clients. For over 15 years we’ve been helping them out with everything related to design or communication. Websites, logos, business cards or complete branding cases. No matter what you throw at us, we will make sure it gets done the right way. On time. Within budget. We promise.
On Tuesday 11 April, the municipality organized an informational fair at Timmerhuis to present plans for Rotterdam Central District.
Residents of RCD and neighbourhoods north of the city centre were invited and more than 200 showed up to learn more and ask their burning questions about developments that are in the pipeline for this part of the city.
A large scale model had been set up to give a clear picture of all the City’s plans for new buildings. The model was a central feature and big draw at the fair and showed how the plans aim to strengthen RCD as a mix-used location for living, working and leisure. Around it were drawings and
more scale models of both these building plans and others to green the district. For example, by revitalizing Hofplein and replacing paving with planting elsewhere in RCD.
In one part of the fair the municipality informed residents about
its vision on high-rise development and criteria used for assessing the sun exposure impact on existing residential buildings. Previous resident feedback singled this out as an important factor and many visitors were interested in this. Kees van Oorschot, Procesmanager RCD, explains it is of high value for the municipality to organize meetings and events such as this. ‘’The municipality regularly informs local residents and the interested public about projects in RCD, and we feel it is important to present an overview of ongoing and planned projects to show how this part of the city is developing. The informational meeting held on 11 April drew a large number of visitors. In future, we will be hosting more such gatherings in RCD and other districts.’’
This city is sizzling with all kinds of hotspots. In the Central District, too, there are loads of colourful, delicious and fun places to go. For this issue we’ve lined up three unique places that are well worth a visit, each with its own story and style.
Poké Box isn’t just any poke bowl place. The team prepare poke bowls with the freshest, high-quality, sustainably-sourced ingredients. You can even put together your own poke bowl to enjoy all your favourite flavours. Poké Bowl is also available to cater large business or private functions. All their bowls can be delivered at scale, so you can deliver your guests a delicious lunch.
This is the place to show your dance moves! Salsability is an innovative dance school with a passion for Salsa and for over 22 years has been bringing people together for dance lessons and fun on the dance floor with its Salsa parties. The dance instructors have a sharp eye for posture and movement and help you build confidence with every step. They offer a range of different types of lessons and the school is also available to hire as a venue for your own sizzling dance bash!
Enjoy fine dining in the Millennium Tower on the first floor of the Rotterdam Marriott Hotel. Led by executive chef Wim Severein, The Millèn serves dishes that are distinctive, elegant and exhilarating. The team works with only the best ingredients and products. The Millèn serves lunch and dinner and also offers options for business guests and private dining. Come sample their tantalizing menu!
WEENA 686 WWW.RESTAURANTTHEMILLEN.NL
For the fourth year in a row, the campaign is ready to call on all residents, entrepreneurs and companies to exchange tiles for more green wherever that is possible. Under the guise of creative Rotterdam slogans such as: ‘plant by plant, comrades!’ the NK-season started. The photos show one of the first projects – around De Schaatsbaan in Rotterdam Central District - where more greenery has been achieved.
Hofplein proved a complex proposition from the outset. Not only did multiple roads converge at this point, but Delftse Poort – the massive old city gate –also stood on this spot. The city had its sights set on making the intersection more efficient as well as attractive, however, that meant an overhaul. A number of architects were asked to submit designs for a new square. But the city took its time weighing the options, and not until seventeen years after receiving the first design a decision was finally taken. The winning design called for repositioning Delftse Poort: a risky operation with a steep price tag. Work on dismantling the gate started in 1939, but then in 1940 a section was damaged as a result of WWII bombings. What remained could only be demolished, but this also left the city more leeway to resolve earlier bottlenecks.
Approval of the new square’s design was contingent partly on what would be erected at the centre of the intersection. A variety of ideas were submitted, from an obelisk to columns to any number of monuments, but ultimately it was decided that a splendid fountain should take pride of place at the heart of Hofplein. Encircled by a low edge, the design allowed for unobstructed views from all sides of no fewer than sixteen spectacular water jets. A generous gift from the Phs. Van Ommeren N.V. shipping firm made the pricey project possible. This extra financial support enabled the city to enhance the fountain with beautiful sculptural work as well. Rotterdam native Cor van Kralingen was given the honour of creating relief carvings for the fountain, which can still be admired in all their glory.
Today, the future of Hofplein and its fountain are part of the latest redevelopment of Rotterdam Central District. Plans are to turn it into an extension of a greener Coolsingel with wider bicycle and footpaths and more terraces, trees and landscaped planting.
NAME: HOFPLEIN FOUNTAIN
ADDRESS: 3125 BA ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
ARCHITECT: MUNICIPAL ARCHITECTS
J.R.A. KOOPS AND C.J. VAN KRALINGEN
BUILT: 1955
USERS: EVERYONE IN ROTTERDAM
COMPLETED: 1955
DIAMETER: 31 METRES
• Where the Hofplein fountain stands today was originally an intersection where 14 roads, three waterways and two railway lines converged.
• In all, 80 architects had a hand in the square’s design.
• The fountain is nicknamed Flipspuit (‘Flip Spray’), after Philippus van Ommeren, whose company donated the funds to build it.
• On festive occasions, residents and visitors have been known to take a dip in the fountain.
• On holidays or other special events, the fountain sprays coloured jets of water. Such as orange on King’s Day.
To read more about this building, visit wederopbouwrotterdam.nl/en
Looking for a way to decompress on your lunch break after a hard morning’s work? These lunchtime recitals are just the ticket! De Doelen are offering free lunchtime recitals on 24 May and 7 June, where you can enjoy condensed concerts and take a breather from the rat race. Escape for 30 minutes at 12.30-1pm, revitalize all your senses and refuel for the rest of the day!
Rotterdam Architecture Month is the country’s biggest architecture festival and is all about the urban future. Organized annually in June, the heart of the festival is based in a different location each year. This year, it’s a floating heart in Maashaven. In the run-up to Architecture Month, Platform Opbouwdagen is organizing a weekend in May (17-21 May) devoted to all things post-war reconstruction. Travel back in time with a ’40s-era bus ride, catch a neighbourhood art show, go on an architecture walk or guided tour and attend one of many lectures or public discussions. Rotterdam Central District will also be hosting various activities, including a public discussion at the Independent School for the City in the Boekman Building and guided tours of the Hilton Hotel, old railway station post office and the Groot Handelsgebouw, which will be hosting an exhibition as well. All events are open to the public –no architectural knowledge or experience necessary!
Margriet Colenbrander, director Motel Mozaïque, looks back on another great edition of MOMO Festival: ‘’There are so many great things to look back on. One of my fondest memories is of MOMO Playground, this years’ free accessible festival site at a new location on Westersingel. While enjoying a Kaapse MOMO beer in the sun, people could watch bands, do tours through the city and attend one of our talks. Our new locations Baanhof and Perron were a hit for me personally! On Saturday I saw Vogue Dancers in the basement of Baanhof, which was a new discovered spot in the city for me as well. Besides, I knew the ballroom-scene (where Vogue Dancing originated from) only from series and films. It was a great introduction to a new form of performing arts for me. And the Cavemen show in Perron was my personal favorite. I already look forward to MOMO Festival 2024!’’
Come experience HipHopHuis’ second Make A Scene festival on Saturday 24 June, a festival bringing a mix of hip hop communities together for one big dance battle. Everyone’s invited to enjoy dance moves and performances by professional dancers, and maybe even learn some of your own in one of the workshops delving into hip hop dance and culture. Make A Scene will be held at De Doelen on Schouwburgplein.
This year King Willem-Alexander celebrated his birthday in our port city. All of Rotterdam turned out to honour the 10-year anniversary of his kingship. And where better to throw him a party than in 010? Mayor Aboutaleb welcomed the Royals in Rotterdam-Zuid and from there they made their way to water taxis that shuttled them across the river. Performances were staged all along the route, showcasing everything from dancers to circus acts to athletic feats. Capping the procession, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima ascended the main stage on the festival grounds, where the king spoke about pulling through tough times together, but also about the difficult times ahead. In closing, he said: “You are all kings and queens. Because you are open to others. Actions speak louder than words.”
In order to realize our ambitions and to optimally develop the potential of the district, we have been bundling all the knowledge and interest groups in the area into an association since 2009: Rotterdam Central District.
Not only are we aware of and familiar with all of the developments in the area, we are also joining forces in the neighborhood to create a good reputation for the district. We are a catalyst for positive change. We discover, connect and take action to make this happen. In collaboration with organizations, both small and large, investors, residents and the municipality, we are building a more social, green and sustainable area with an authentic and robust reputation. Our association stands up for the interests of your organization. Together we develop the area, we put it on the map. Join our community.
The association keeps you informed of developments of and stories from the neighborhood. We also host various events for the community, from lunch concerts to neighborhood drinks and substantive sessions. In this way, we stimulate connections and possible collaborations, good for expanding or maintaining your network. We join forces to work on area development and a good reputation of the district.
To achieve this we have:
• RCD Talks: knowledge sessions about and from the district
• RCD Events: network drinks, events and lunch concerts
• RCD Q&A: source of information and a brainstorming day for the neighborhood
• General meeting: meeting regarding the realization of the area plans
• News & updates: various substantive articles, interviews and news updates
• Magazine: 10,000 circulation, 4 times a year. RCD members advertise with a discount
• RCD Podcast: conversations with entrepreneurs from the area
• Various active social media channels: Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook
• Monthly online newsletter featuring the latest news from RCD
Please contact Rob Ittmann (06 222 42 177) or mail to: info@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl
Association Rotterdam Central District
Weena 690 (14e verdieping)
3012 CN Rotterdam
For more information about RCD, please visit: www.rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl
MEMBERS
If your company isn’t on this list, please contact info@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl
3MP online video
AKRD
Alticom B.V.
Amber
Arconiko Architecten
ASR
Atelier van Berlo
Bar Rotterdam bv
Big Room B.V./Reverse/Mykech
Broodje Q
Carthago Consultancy
CBRE
CBRE global investors
CIC Rotterdam
Ciphix BV
Codarts
Colliers
Conix RDBM
Cromwell Property Group
Cushman & Wakefield
DakAkker rooftopfarm foundation
De Mik Bedrijfshuisvesting
District East
DVDW advocaten
Echo
Eneco
Association Rotterdam Central District
Weena 690 (14th floor)
3012 CN Rotterdam info@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl www.rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl
Magazine RCD
by:
Eurekon
Gemeente Rotterdam
Greenberg Nielsen
Greenchoice
Groot Handelsgebouw
High Potential Academy
Holmris B8
Humanoids BV
JLL
LaatBloeien
Lebkov & Sons
Loer Architecten
LS&H Lawyers
LSI Ontwikkeling BV
Lucie Group B.V.
Maarsen Groep
Mess
NS
Ooms Makelaars Bedrijfshuisvesting B.V.
Pike Delivery
Pluq Studio
PPF
Premier Suites Plus Rotterdam
Provast
Rabobank Rotterdam
Roodkapje
Our goal: With an excellent business climate, worldrenowned educational institutions within reach, and leading companies in many sectors from many countries, RCD has huge potential. Association Rotterdam Central District contributes to the RCD by realizing a well functioning area. The goal is to promote a district that has international appeal, and high quality working and living conditions.
Circulation: Free for the RCD district. The magazine is distributed by promo teams, loose circulation and HRM departments of companies within RCD to guarantee reaching the (sub)target groups of RCD.
Frequency: Four times a year
Rotterdam Festivals
Rotterdam Marriott Hotel
Rotterdam Partners
Salsability
SaM& doethetgewoon.
Sanderdebreukconsultancy bv
Scapino Ballet Rotterdam
Spaces Hofplein
Steel Rides
Stichting De Nieuwe Poort
Stichting Theater Rotterdam
Studentflex
Time is the new space
Unilever NV
Urban Minds B.V.
Van der Stap notarissen
vanStijl
Vereniging Rotterdam Central District
Vereniging Verenigd Schouwburgplein
VPS
Workspot
Wrap Maniacs
WTC Rotterdam
Yogaground
ZUS
Editor-in-chief: Romy Lange
Managing Editors: Céline Boute & Brigitte Oosterhuis
Intern: Isabel Kok
Advertising: Please send an e-mail to info@rcdpublishers.nl for questions about advertising.
Art Direction and Graphic Design: vanStijl
Translation: Taalcentrum-VU
Printed by: magazine-masters.nl
Do you have a message for the editorial team or would you like to place an ad? Send us an e-mail at info@rcdpublishers.nl.
Thanks to: Gurvinder Singh Chahal, Groot Handelsgebouw, Jamestown, Rotterdam Central District, Maarsen Groep, Savills, Tuesday, Gemeente Rotterdam, World Trade Center Rotterdam, Miranda van Spengen, Kees van Oorschot, Hans de Jonge, IT4Kids, Enoma Amayo, Motel Mozaïque, Leontine Oerlemans, Eduard Voorn, Björn Plooster, Ralf Emmerich, vanStijl, Wim Pijbes, Time Is The New Space, Square ’47, Stefanie Kolks, SThree, Wederopbouw Rotterdam, Mark van Hout, Steven Gajadhar, Anoesjka Imambaks, Wesley Dos Santos, Amelia Sealy
Work or live in an environment that impresses. That gives energy. That boosts ambition and stimulates the senses. Dynamism. Transparancy. Large surface areas. Flexibility. The Modernist is unique, whichever way you look at it The Modernist
