RCD Magazine editie 5 Februari 2022

RCD

#5

ROTTERDAM-CENTRALDISTRICT.NL FEBRUARY 2022

R C D

1

M A G A Z I N E

“I FELL IN LOVE WITH ROTTERDAM BECAUSE OF THE ARCHITECTURE” Imola Bérczi from WOMO Architects

COLUMN:

UNILEVER:

IFFR:

“Give expats red pencils too”

“Our ecological footprint has to be all but non-existent”

“Translating stories to the big screen”

2

Jullie kantoor naar Rotterdam Centraal?

L E AS I N G @G H G . N L

R C D

3

M A G A Z I N E

Van der Stap Notarissen 4

specialists in real estate and corporate law

Rotterdam Millenniumtoren 14e verdieping Weena 690 3012 CN Rotterdam

Photography: Erik Brons

Arnhem Jansbuitensingel 29 6811 AD Arnhem

Contact 088 188 00 00 algemeen@vdstap.com www.vdstap.com

PREFACE

GREEN, GREENER, GREENEST

The ne xt i s su e i s sc h e du l ed for the 16th of May

I’m delighted that you’ve picked up this brand-new issue of RCD Magazine, with a special focus on sustainability! Sustainability has been a major topic for years now and one that various actors in RCD are responding to. They were glad to share their stories with us in these pages. Our editors also paid a visit to CIC in the Groot Handelsgebouw to ask tenants what sustainability means to them.

Gracing this issue’s cover is the ambitious Imola Bérczi, founder of WOMO Architects. WOMO Architects is currently developing the property that was home to Hudson’s Bay. The result is set to be an amazing green office building and a real eye-catcher for this city! Imola told us all about AIR Offices

R C D

and her vision on sustainability and RCD. As usual, we also called on a local RCD resident to ask what it’s like to live in this district. Laura has a

5

glorious green apartment overlooking Lijnbaan where she has created a haven all her own.

In the next issue of RCD Magazine we’ll be shining a spotlight on talent and education. Have you got a story to share about this topic? Please do! Get in touch with us at info@rcdpublishers.nl.

Happy reading!

Romy Lange RCD Publishers

Rob Ittmann Rotterdam Central District Association

THANKS TO

M A G A Z I N E

HOTEL NOT HOTEL OPENED ITS DOORS

6

Hotel Not Hotel opened its doors. Their concept is unique with rooms hidden behind art installations. The guests literally sleep in art.

The hotel also houses Jesus Malverde. The bar with some tasty tacos and cocktails. Looking for something special to accommodate your guest or a place to go for after work drinks. Hotel Not Hotel and Jesus Malverde is the new hotspot to check out.

www.hotelnothotel.com

INDEX

23

32

18

COLUMN:

UNILEVER:

IFFR:

“Give expats red pencils too”

“Our ecological footprint has to be all but non-existent”

“Translating stories to the big screen”

R C D

10 cove rst or y “I FELL IN LOVE WITH ROTTERDAM BECAUSE OF THE ARCHITECTURE” Imola Bérczi from WOMO Architects

9

What’s on?

30

Sustainability Special

32

Savills

Check the RCD Agenda 10

Imola Bérczi from WOMO Architects

Introduction with Arno Bonte

“I fell in love with Rotterdam because of the architecture”

Savills survey: sustainable offices not trend, but norm

15

RCD Up2Date

34

16

RCD People

“Our ecological footprint has to be all but non-existent.”

Are taking the stage

36

18

38

worlds and stories to the big stories.”

19

RCD Hotspots

22

Members

23

Column by Eduard Voorn

Coffee Break With Nick and Tamar Heesewijk, owners of Corekees

Interview

IFFR: “It’s marvellous to see how filmmakers translate their

Unilever

WTC Rotterdam A plan for the future

42

Architecture Groot Handelsgebouw

44

Give expats red pencils too

Successtory With Bas Faassen from PIKE

24

#RCD Online

46

Memoboard

26

Home Tours in Rotterdam Central District

49

Join the Rotterdam Central District Community

29

Interview

51

RCD Members & Colophon

“Building a better world together: “It’s important to help out wherever you can.”

7

M A G A Z I N E

“ THEY JUST GET SH*T DONE THE RIGHT WAY” 8

- 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.

AGENDA

DANCING IN THE STREET

Through the end of April @ various locations in Rotterdam Want to paint the town red – while exploring new places?

Come to Dancing in the Street!

These silent disco walking tours, held every fortnight, keep the festival vibe alive.

DE MAALTUIN

7-23 April @ Trompenburg Tuinen & Arboretum

Tours start from a different secret city hotspot each time, with details sent out shortly beforehand.

VALENTINE’S DINNER

12 February @ BIRD

Celebrate spring with De

BIRD believes love needs time

Maaltuin, an itinerant

to grow, so they’re getting a

restaurant offering guests a

head start on Valentine’s Day

gastronomic introduction to

with a delectable dinner. You

the stories behind the glorious

and your lover will be welcomed

venues it visits. Past editions

with a bubbly toast, followed

were at castles, museums and

by a romantic candlelit meal.

an air base. In Rotterdam, the

In the expert hands of Chef

restaurant is coming to the

Martin, you’ll be treated to the

exotic Trompenburg gardens

most sublime (and romantic)

and arboretum.

dishes all evening long.

DE LAATSTE TOCHT 21 February @ De Doelen

It’s the question all the Netherlands asks every year: Will it or won’t it?

The last time the ice was thick enough to hold the iconic Elfstedentocht long-distance skating tour was 25 years ago, on 4 January 1997. This unforgettable evening at De Doelen brings musicians, writers and scientists together to present their personal odes to that legendary race.

DE KLOKKENLUIDER VAN ROTTERDAM Through 13 March @ Hofpleintheater

Ever heard the rumour about the Euromast monster? De klokkenluider van Rotterdam (‘The Whistleblower of Rotterdam’) at the Hofpleintheater is the story of the notorious Quasimodo and all about the freedom to be yourself, wrapped up in an interactive, musical, play-along stage performance inspired by the age-old fairy tale and reinterpreted for Rotterdam.

R C D

9

M A G A Z I N E

COVER STORY

I fell in love with Rotterdam BECAUSE OF THE ARCHITECTURE

TEXT Romy Lange, Celine Boute & Tessa Burger

PHOTOGRAPHY Ruben Stam

10

Imola Bérczi has always had a passion for and a love of architecture. Four years ago, she and Wouter de Jonge teamed up to start their own firm and have been working together as WOMO Architects ever since. Their latest assignment is the AIR building, previously known as the Beursgallery and home to Hudson’s Bay, in the centre of Rotterdam. Imola is the lead architect on this project, creating a building which is sustainable and future-proof.

WHAT HAS YOUR WORKING CAREER LOOKED LIKE SO FAR? Well, I am originally from Canada. I had been here as a student before and made the decision to move to the Netherlands in 2008. What was originally meant to be a one-year experience soon became a fourteen-year adventure. Sometimes I joke that I came for the weather and stayed for the food, but actually it was all about the architecture. I fell in love with Rotterdam because of it.

IN THIS ISSUE WE’RE FOCUSING ON SUSTAINABILITY. WHAT DOES SUSTAINABILITY MEAN TO YOU? It is obviously an ongoing topic. We have thought a lot about it over the past years, and with the latest research I believe there is going to be a strong momentum towards improving buildings and cities in particular.

We are going to have to think about how a building will last not only through the lens of today’s users, but also those of the coming decades, in terms of what our sustainability principals will be. We have to focus on a building’s future and past potential, and think about how to unlock those so they don’t become stranded assets.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT, WHAT IS GOING WELL IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED? Personally, I have a lot of admiration for the Rotterdam Central District Association. I think there’s an incredible overlap of stakeholders between the city of Rotterdam, employers, social leaders and so on. That doesn’t happen in every city. What we saw throughout the process of

R C D

11

M A G A Z I N E

COVER STORY

transforming the AIR building is a real engagement at all levels to get the best result possible. Really integrating programmes in a way that facilitates more liveliness on the streets is also part of the sustainability agenda. That way, human-centred design actually becomes a real key to success. However, when it comes to greening, there could still be some improvement. Rotterdam is obviously known for its robust and bold architecture, but not always for its landscape. Even though this

12

“ I think there’s an incredible overlap of stakeholders between the city of Rotterdam, employers, social leaders and so on”

is a place where some of the best landscape architects have come from. So there’s much more opportunity to integrate landscaping into the roofs and sides of buildings and make green design a noticeable part of the architecture.

THE BEURSGALLERY IN ROTTERDAM, WHICH PREVIOUSLY HOUSED V&D AND THEN HUDSON’S BAY, IS BEING RENOVATED INTO AIRWITH SPACE FOR OFFICES, RETAIL AND HOSPITALITY. WHAT IS THE IDEA BEHIND YOUR DESIGN? Efficiency is really what is driving the success of the design: it’s unlocking what used to be this massive block. The building is seventy years old and in all that time it has never veered from the original retail purpose, so it has always been a very dark and enclosed space. To get the full potential from the structure, we designed an atrium which serves as a “building within a building” with a prominent roof skylight. This design will integrate old and new; something we think is important.

This can also be seen in the exterior, which will be a nod to the history of Rotterdam. The ultimate goals is to enliven the space and open it up to the street, so its lifespan reaches beyond the past seventy years and well into the next century.

THE OFFICES, SPANNING APPROXIMATELY 22,500 M² ALTOGETHER, WILL BE AMONG THE MOST SUSTAINABLE AND HEALTHY IN THE NETHERLANDS. WHAT WILL LOOK OR FEEL DIFFERENT TO USERS THEMSELVES? As architects, we are always looking to help set new precedents in sustainable building design and construction. And the best way to help reduce carbon emissions in the built environment is by renovating existing buildings instead of demolishing and starting construction from scratch. We actually calculated how many tonnes of carbon we are keeping out of the environment by preserving the building, which is an important component of our sustainability strategy. But there’s more, because that’s not what people will see when they enter the building ten years from now. What they will see, is a place that’s inspired by sustainability. Every space you walk into will have lots of greenery, natural and reused materials. Every floor is bathed in natural light. Interaction between nature and built space is something we always try to bring into our homes but rarely get to bring into our office environments. This dynamic is a crucial feature and something that will make this building a place you want to be.

R C D

13

M A G A Z I N E

Imola Bérczi with business partner Wouter de Jonge

Berend van Zanten - Groenemorgen

Sebastiaan Beekman - Lucie with the Six Punches

Changemaker, kickstarter, creative entrepreneur and driving force behind a slew of initiatives (DAK, Dus Wat Gaan Wij Nu Doen, Vrijheidsmaaltijdsoep, Vegan Food Festival), Berend is a man of many talents with a mission to make a ‘green tomorrow’.

In hindsight, turns out it wasn’t the best year to start a business, but luckily former Marine Sebastiaan can take some knocks. Who better to open a boxing club?

Ikram Mataich - Ziri

Marcus Groeneveld - Ciphix

Ikram and her sister are bringing traditional Moroccan cuisine into Dutch kitchens with their brand Ziri: funky tajines, fresh from Fez.

Ciphix is the digital workforce solution. For staff who don’t smoke and never fall sick. The firm grew from three to forty (real!) employees in no time.

Joep Klabbers en Catja Edens Zoarchitecten & Spatie

Linde Elsinga - Echo UrbanDesign

Mister Candlelight and co. – aka Joep and Catja – are a dynamic duo harnessing the forces of architecture and architectural history for the urban future.

Linde = ECHO Urban Design = Linde. This landscape architect has plenty of ideas for climate adaptive design in RCD. Let’s go for it!

Tycho Luijten - Dapper Rhinos

Anoesjka Imambaks - Barabox

His agency has just one mission: do whatever it takes to put your business on the fast track to growth. How, you ask? So did we. Tycho gave us a peek into the present and future of online marketing.

Anoesjka is a busy bee. Juggling multiple roles in Rotterdam, recently she also cooked up the ‘bara’ – Rotown’s own oliebol. Anoesjka tells us what it stands for.

14

Featuring conversations with entrepreneurs from Rotterdam Central District – the business district around Centraal Station – the RCD Podcast is an initiative of the RCD Association and District East. All podcasts are recorded in Time Is The New Space, the RCD clubhouse at Schiekade 185.

UPDATES

RCD UP 2 DATE 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.

SCHIEKADEBLOK URBAN PLAN Rotterdam’s ambition for the development of the Schiekadeblok is to create a lively, densely built and mixed urban hub that retains its unique character in terms of programming and public space. The recently adopted urban development

© De Urbanisten

plan illustrates what this might look like. The plan centres on integrating reconstruction-era and modern buildings around

HOFBOGENPARK DRAFT DESIGN

a green urban meeting place, and on harnessing the area’s intrinsic qualities to amplify each other. The next step in the

R C D

process is adoption of the zoning plan, which is expected to become available for public inspection in March 2022. For

In about two years we’ll be able to walk amid

more information, visit: rotterdam.nl/schiekadeblok.

lush greenery from the Hofplein station all the

15

way to the A20 motorway, in a new urban park © KCAP

being created along the almost two-kilometre roof of the old railway viaduct. Hofbogenpark

M A G A Z I N E

is being conceived as an inviting place for area residents and visitors to come together and keep fit in nature. The planting itself will encourage a wider diversity of animal life and have a cooling effect on hot days, while also helping to prevent flooding and drought. All these factors will support the city’s adaptation to a changing climate. To see the draft design, visit: rotterdam.nl/Hofbogenpark.

The Luchtsingel – Dutch for ‘air bridge’ – may well be Rotterdam’s best known pedestrian walkway. With its distinctive bright yellow colour, this winner of Rotterdam’s first urban initiative became an instant attraction. Currently, the Municipality is exploring options for the future of this landmark, which was originally built in 2012-2014 as a temporary structure for ten years. This year, the Municipality will assess how long the Luchtsingel can responsibly and safely stay up. It will also work out scenarios for the bridge’s partial or full replacement with a new raised walkway. With the opening of the Hofbogenpark and developments such as ZOHO and the Schiekadeblok, traffic across the Luchtsingel is only expected to increase further in future.

© Iris van den Broek

LUCHTSINGEL FUTURE

VOX POPS

TAKING THE STAGE

We kick off this first issue of 2022 with a special feature about sustainability.

Sustainability has been a hot topic for years – and will only become more so. We paid a visit to entrepreneurs based at the CIC in the Central District’s Groot Handelsgebouw to get their top sustainability tips.

ALEXANDER ONIA (42)

“We have to realize that what we do will affect generations after us. They should have a habitable world to grow up in, too. Personally, I try to make sustainable choices wherever possible. Using a reusable cup

16

at the office for coffee, tea and water, for example.”

CARLIJN GEERSE (26)

“I think more cooperation between the public and private sectors is crucial to make our world more sustainable. The government should be providing guidelines and parameters for businesses, which can then develop innovative solutions. As a sustainability consultant, I try to improve cooperation between the two sides.”

ANDREA BARRERA (30) “Sustainability is a way of life.

It’s linked to every choice you make. Where you buy clothes, what you eat and how you get around. I’m always on my colleagues’ case to not use plastic,

TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY Lysanne Wilkens

to take along their own mugs and recycle what they can.”

JEREMY RAES (37)

FATIH CINGIR (27)

“Sustainability always makes me

“A sustainable world means not

think about the future. For a long

destroying the next generation’s

time, no one paid much attention

future. It’s important to think

to the real impact our consumer

about the impact your choices

society was having on the planet.

have on nature and other people.

Now, we have to rediscover how

But still, I’m constantly wonder-

to live in harmony with flora and

ing: am I doing the right thing?

fauna. I got rid of my car at the

Sometimes what you think is a

beginning of this year and have

sustainable choice turns out to

been electric carsharing since then.

have all kinds of adverse effects

That’s good not only for the envi-

you wouldn’t expect.”

ronment, but also for my wallet.”

PUCK DEKKERS (19) “To me, sustainability means

consciously thinking about the

R C D

consequences of choices you make. What are the impacts on the climate? Growing up, that’s

17

something I learned to always keep at the back of my mind.

Not taking long showers, for example, or running the tap unnecessarily.”

GAEFAN ANTONIO BLANC POUGET (30)

“Sustainability is a big part of my work. I try to show companies that sustainable choices can also pay off financially. Using less fuel not only cuts pollution but is also cheaper. You generally have to invest in sustainability first, but in the end it saves money.”

HENRI VAN AVEZAATH (50)

“Sustainability, to me, is about how you interact with the world around you.

Consumption patterns play a big role. For me, that means buying ecological products where possible, keeping an eye on my energy use and on recyclability.

I order groceries from Pieter Pot, a package-free supermarket, for example, which cuts down on my waste.”

M A G A Z I N E

INTERVIEW

It’s marvellous to see how filmmakers translate their worlds and stories to the big screen.

The meetings with filmmakers and the experience of showing their work on a big screen is a defining element of the festival, which presents a wide spectrum of films from around the globe. Marjan explains that her team of fifty people do research year-round to develop a programme around the large pool of preselected films. “During the festival, more than a thousand people join the team as staff and volunteers. To ensure visitors from Rotterdam, the rest of the Netherlands and the world get the most out of it, we put together a packed programme every year. During the pandemic, we looked carefully at how to shape that online.” Looking ahead at the next edition of the festival, the IFFR team can’t wait to welcome filmmakers and visitors

PHOTOGRAPHY Vera Cornel

18

on location again.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam recently celebrated a successful 51st edition, albeit all online. Covid-19 measures notwithstanding, the team maximized every opportunity to showcase new films and talent.

Because that’s what this festival is all about: bringing films from around the globe to Rotterdam for local, national and international audiences to enjoy. IFFR’s managing director Marjan van der Haar has been a die-hard cinephile since her student days and went on to make her career in the industry. A few years ago she returned to her IFFR roots, in a job that lets her work closely with talented filmmakers.

EDUCATION AND SUPPORT Aside from the organizational aspect, supporting filmmakers is another key component. “In the run-up this year we did a lot of online sessions with all the filmmakers to ensure they’re able to make the most of the opportunity we offer them, and to help them connect with potential producers and directors.” IFFR also works closely with primary schools in Rotterdam to introduce children to stories from all over the world across different topics and genres, including politics, documentaries, drama and romance. According to Marjan, film is vital for reflecting on the breadth of life as well as for briefly escaping ourselves.

IFFR IN CINEMA This year we have even more to look forward to, with the Tiger Competition, Big Screen Competition and Ammodo Tiger Short Competition still in store. “These are films that have been screened online for professionals already, which constitutes a hugely important moment for many makers as it’s their world première. But we also want to offer these talented artists a chance to show their creations on the big

TEXT Céline Boute

screen, which we’ll be doing later this year.” In addition, the last day of the online film festival saw the launch of 25 Encounters, a project featuring 25 conversations between filmmakers and film fans in which they reflect on the past, present and future of film festivals and IFFR. This series is available on Unleashed through till May first.

HOTSPOTS

HOTSPOTS 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.

© Annette Behrens

DAKAKKER Fun fact: Rotterdam has the largest number of flat roofs in the Netherlands. A super-creative way to put all these square metres to good use is by

© Beers&Barrels

planting them with the country’s first large harvestable rooftop. Which is just

BEERS & BARRELS ROTTERDAM

THE TEA LAB

field’) on the seventh floor of the Schie-

When one door closes, another opens.

Tea, locally roasted coffee, cakes and a

and herbs, they also keep honey bees –

Beers & Barrels proves the old prov-

wide selection of other homemade del-

and yes, sell the honey, too! It’s a green

erb, opening the newest location of its

icacies – at The Tea Lab on Nieuwe Bin-

oasis of calm and tranquillity, with pan-

unique concept this spring in the former

nenweg you’re in for a treat. You’ll find

oramic views across the city skyline...

premises of Mad Mick’s Breakaway Café.

no stingy tea boxes or limited choice of

What could be lovelier?

A new hotspot for afterwork drinks,

pre-packaged bags here. Au contraire:

group dinners and nights out. Enjoy the

there’s almost too much to choose from!

best cuts of meat prepared on the Josper

36 kinds of tea and not a bag in sight.

grill, juicy burgers, hearty steaks, and

Loose leaf tea does take longer to steep,

delicious vegetarian dishes. Take a seat

but The Tea Lab swears the flavour is ab-

at the amazing cocktail bar or at the leg-

solutely worth the wait, so patience is

endary ‘tap tables’ where you can draw

well rewarded. Sample their sweet Funky

your own brew. In short, enjoy the com-

Flamingo blend or fresh Just Another

plete Beers & Barrels experience!

Lemon Tree. Prefer the classics? No wor-

© The Tea Lab

R C D

what they’ve done at DakAkker (‘roof block. As well as growing fruit, veggies

WWW.DAKAKKER.NL SCHIEKADE 189

19

© Karin Oppelland

M A G A Z I N E

ries, they’ve got plenty of those too!

© The Tea Lab

© Beers&Barrels

WWW.THETEALAB.NL NIEUWE BINNENWEG 178A

TEXT Tessa Burger

WWW.BEERSBARRELS.NL KAREL DOORMANSTRAAT 1

20

THE FUTURE IS AIR AIR Offices. Sustainable, healthy and innovative space in the heart of Rotterdam.

AIR-OFFICES.NL

R C D

21

M A G A Z I N E

RCD MEMBERS

ZUS SCHIEKADE 189 Van Boxel and Koreman and their firm ZUS (Zones Urbaines Sensibles) is specialized in ar-

GREENCHOICE

chitecture, urban planning and landscape design and research.

KRUISPLEIN 15 This Rotterdam-based enterprise is all about realistic renewable energy generated locally from the sun, wind, water and biomass.

22

DRIVE AMBER SCHOUWBURGPLEIN GARAGE Drive Amber is a carsharing platform powered by 100% sustainable rides and that leaves drivers free to choose their own times and destinations.

DAKAKKER ROOFTOP FARM FOUNDATION SCHIEKADE 189 (7TH FLOOR) DakAkker is a 1,000m2 farm on

RABOBANK ROTTERDAM WEENA 770 Rabobank works alongside customers, members and partners to build stronger communities and address the big societal challenges of our times.

the roof of the Schieblock in Rotterdam, where fruit, vegetables and edible flowers are cultivated and bees are kept.

COLUMN

GIVE EXPATS RED PENCILS TOO What are you doing on Wednesday 16 March?

An odd question to open a column with, true, but it’s a question I ask everyone living, working, hanging out or walking around Rotterdam Central District (RCD) and its surrounding streets, squares and neighbourhoods. I also pose it to the expats labouring like fugitive shadows on the other side of all those reflective office windows.

This question stems from a fury I’ve been feeling ever since 19 November. My girlfriend and I had just been to see The French Dis-

R C D

patch. We were strolling towards my house at the edge of RCD when we found ourselves in the midst of riots on Coolsingel. It was frightening. On my newly refurbished downtown boule-

23

vard, and elsewhere in RCD, an angry mob was going around doing – well, what?

After two years of Covid measures, we are all struggling. But that doesn’t give anyone the right to trash the neighbourhood where I live, work and go about my business or to hurl fireworks at poor police officers. A lot of talk in the days that followed centred on the silent majority. Expats are part of that © Ralf Emmerich

silent majority too, if you ask me, and they too are outraged. Yet we hardly see or hear from them in the public discourse. Is there anything they can do about it?

Eduard Voorn is a freelance

I’d be happy to answer that. I’m going to vote on 16 March. How about you? In

journalist with a focus on

the Netherlands, we vote with red pencils and not by torching electric scooters,

economics, and first and

no matter how recklessly they may be parked on the pavement. Will everything

foremost a Rotterdammer.

come up roses after we tick a box red? No, because we live in a land that forges

He lives in the villagey outskirts

coalitions to work together in a process of give and take.

of Rotterdam Central District, eats his pizza at Bird, raises a

But right now, I’d like to single out the expats. There are quite a few working in

pint at Biergarten or Weena,

and around RCD. Rotterdam is an international city, after all. Give them a voice.

gets his caffeine fix at Lebkov,

Maybe they can inject some novel perspectives in our deadlocked public and po-

catches the latest flicks in Pathé

litical debates. The handful I know are engaged, intelligent and have a different

Schouwburgplein and sees

angle on our problems (or should I say challenges?). I propose setting up a special

Scapino at Theater Rotterdam.

red ballot box for them in the creative heart of RCD (Biergarten) in which to drop

His kids were born in the now-

their ideas, written in red pencil, about what could bring us all closer together.

famous Mecanoo architectural

Sans fireworks, but over a round of frothy Gulpeners. That way, we could genu-

firm’s first project on Kruisplein.

inely get everyone involved in RCD and Rotterdam as a whole.

M A G A Z I N E

#RCD ONLINE

SHARE YOUR VIEW ON #RCD

@salty_squats

@plantbased_dennis

@fly.to.get.high

24 @ kloeskloes

@dreamer007girll @dailyrotterdam

@plaatjesvanuitdetrein

@weiatan @kirstengorter

@bukman.i

@cicrotterdam

@scapinoballetrotterdam

@cicrotterdam

@travel_with_sas72 @dailyrotterdam

@poing_arcade

R C D @michiel_c_

@yogamelis

25 @lifeimprovements_coaching

M A G A Z I N E @outdoor_ne

@julianklop

@ralf_emmerich

FOLLOW US! Do you want tag us in your posts on social media? Here’s how to find us! Use the hashtag #RCD.

@centraldistrict /rotterdamcentraldistrict Rotterdam Central District / vrcd @itsme.gabo

@micks.photo

LIVING IN RCD

HOME TOURS

IN ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT Laura Klaassen has lived in her apartment overlooking Lijnbaan for 16 years.

From the sofa of her living room – packed with plants – the view stretches from city hall to the shopping thoroughfare, encompassing everything in between.

She invited us to take a look around her home, which is a veritable green haven amid the walls of urban concrete.

26

HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE HERE?

designs for Schouwburgplein and Hofplein, amongst others,

“My love of Rotterdam needed time to take root. I was born

and I really am looking forward to see those plans come to

in Brabant and somehow always had a negative view of Rot-

life. I have loads of plants in my house and even though the

terdam, growing up. But I think the city was also very differ-

view from my apartment is amazing – like a painting that’s

ent back then compared to now. The station didn’t feel safe

constantly changing with the light or the weather – it’s a

and I just didn’t like any of it. I definitely didn’t have dreams

shame that there’s none of that amid all the buildings.”

of moving to Rotterdam. After graduating university I was offered a job here. I got to know the city better and, bit by

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPOT?

bit, I fell in love. Less than a year later one of my colleagues

“Since it was renovated, I’m a big fan of the station. I might

sent me through to view this flat. I remember walking down

not be Rotterdam native, but I’m still proud of our station. It

the gallery in the dark and seeing all the city lights, and the

feels like something that belongs to all of us, that we all can

idea that I could ever be lucky enough to live here felt out of

enjoy. It’s a really cool spot with an original and eye-catch-

reach. But the dream came true and now it really feels like

ing design. But as far as naming one favourite spot...? I take

home. It’s a lovely place.”

evening walks through the city sometimes and marvel at ev-

PHOTOGRAPHY Carlijn on behalf of Meisje met de camera

erything, and above all I just love the city’s energy. There’s so

CAN YOU EVER SEE YOURSELF MOVING?

much going on, and it’s all close by. I do have a bike, but that’s

“Well, I am getting on a bit, haha. There could come a point

really more for show, because I hardly ever use it, haha.”

where all the commotion of the city, which is still so exciting now, may eventually get to be too much. I’m starting to reach that phase where I need some more peace and quiet.

But I don’t even want to think about actually leaving this place behind. If I could choose, I’d love to have another small house in the woods or by the sea to escape to whenever I need quiet. That would really be the best of both worlds.”

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU FEEL IS MISSING IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT?

TEXT Tessa Burger

“I know people are working hard on this, but we really need more greenery. The centre is basically a big mess of concrete with five trees. That needs to change; the lack of plant life is really out of step with our times and something I do miss in the city. I know the municipality is working hard on new

R C D

27

LAURA KLAASSEN

M A G A Z I N E

CREATE YOUR CORPORATE VIDEO WITH RCD PUBLISHERS

• CORPORATE VIDEO • IMPRESSIONS • PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT • INTERVIEWS • DRONE SHOTS 28

Including a professional director and crew

REQUEST A QUOTE NOW! info@rcdpublishers.nl • +31 (0)20-3620993

Director of Sales and Marketing Cato van den Bent and Marketing Executive Renée van der Toorn

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD TOGETHER:

“it’s important to help out wherever you can”

R C D

29 The Rotterdam Marriott Hotel belongs to the vast Marriott International chain. As just one of 7,000+ hotels, its societal Sales and Marketing Cato van den Bent and Marketing Executive Renée van der Toorn to learn about the many projects to which Rotterdam Marriott Hotel is contributing, and why this is so important. The team are tackling a variety of initiatives at the Marriott International, Benelux and Rotterdam levels to make a difference, especially in societal and climate-related issues.

One initiative at the Marriott International level is ‘Serve

Foundation. I know from past jobs at these institutions how

360’, a platform founded on four pillars and designed to help

big the impact is behind the screens and how important it is

make the world a little better. Cato explains: “Four Pillars

to help out wherever you can.” The Sophia Children’s Hospital

Serve 360 consists of: Nurture (Nurture Our World), Empower

campaign contributes to projects to enable innovations in

(Empower Through Opportunity), Sustain (Sustain Respon-

healthcare, so that the Sophia retains a leading position as

sible Operations), and lastly Welcome (Welcome all and ad-

a children’s hospital in Europe. “By promoting this campaign

vance Human Rights). In Rotterdam, we used to work with

in our hotel, we’re also trying to create awareness among our

Too Good To Go, for example, to stop food waste. We’re also

guests, and even that can make a difference.”

ket and show them some tricks of the hotel trade.” Beyond

MAKE A GREEN CHOICE

that, Marriott Rotterdam served hamburgers to homeless

In addition to social engagement, the team is also working

people on ‘Spirit to Serve Day’, donated linen packages to the

on ways to raise awareness among its hotel guests about

Salvation Army and Marriott Benelux Business Council partic-

sustainable choices. Cato: “At the international level, we’ve

ipates to the success of the Kids Olympics.

set sustainability targets that each hotel has to meet, to

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

eliminate single-use shower toiletry bottles with larger, pump-topped bottles. We offer our guests a choice of not

Alongside large-scale initiatives, Renée emphasizes that it’s

having their towels laundered daily and they can separate

also very important for them as a leading hotel to play an ac-

their own plastic waste.” Each of these ideas in turn aligns

tive role in the community. “We are closely involved with the

with the vision of working as part of a larger whole to help

Sophia Children’s Hospital and the Giovanni van Bronckhorst

achieve the objectives.

TEXT Céline Boute

doing projects with JINC to introduce youth to the jobs mar-

M A G A Z I N E

PHOTOGRAPHY Roxanne Wilm

impact may seem small, but in fact its global impact is tremendous as part of that larger whole. We caught up with Director of

SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

SUSTAINABILITY INTRO WITH ARNO BONTE We kick off this first issue of 2022 with a special feature on sustainability. Sustainability is an important topic at both the individual and the organizational and business levels, and the interviews in the following pages get you up to speed on developments in our district.

The man who knows all the sustainable ins and outs of this city is Arno Bonte, Vice Mayor for Sustainability, Air Quality and Energy Transition. Coming from 12 years as a Municipal Council member, his position as Vice Mayor presents an opportunity to implement his ideas for greening the city – and pursue his lifelong passion to make the city, where he was born and raised, even healthier and more beautiful.

30 ARNO, CAN YOU TELL US HOW SUSTAINABLE

transport network even better. These elements can be linked

ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT IS?

to greening the district, which in turn ties in with the Munic-

“Compared to how it was ten years ago, there has been a tre-

ipality’s seven urban projects to make Rotterdam greener,

mendous improvement in the Central District. Weena was the

three of which are in or adjacent to the Central District – such

dirtiest roads in the Netherlands, with really terrible air qual-

as Hofplein and Hofbogenpark.”

ity. Fortunately, that’s changed, and these days the square in front of the station is the city’s calling card. It’s sleek, open,

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MAKE ROTTERDAM A

green and there’s much less traffic than there used to be.”

SUSTAINABLE CITY RIGHT NOW?

TEXT Céline Boute

PHOTOGRAPHY Gemeente Rotterdam

“Air quality has improved considerably. Four years ago, multi-

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE THERE TO BE TAPPED?

ple city streets were consistently exceeding European health

“The Central District has the potential to be absolutely incred-

standards for air quality. By specifically targeting efforts at

ible, but there are still some gaps in terms of optimizing and

those streets they all meet the standards now. Twenty hect-

creating a denser mesh of public transport links. There are also

ares of green space have been added throughout the city,

a number of residential and office construction projects in the

and Coolsingel now has the country’s widest bicycle lane. In

pipeline. And the area lacks attractive green spaces. It’s most-

addition to that, we have launched the largest project of this

ly stone, so there are still some gains to be made. The quality

decade: the energy transition from fossil to renewable fuels.

of the station area could be extended outward to the rest of

Rotterdam is making tremendous strides with this, conserv-

the neighbourhood. Also, a climate team has been set up with

ing a million tonnes of CO2 altogether, which is incredibly mo-

a number of businesses in the Central District and they’re

tivating and encouraging.”

exploring further opportunities to make it more appealing, green and climate adaptive.”

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH READERS OF RCD MAGAZINE?

AND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?

“I urge everyone in the Central District to stay active and work

“The main challenge is how we can best harness opportunities

on enhancing this district themselves. There’s nothing better

for greater sustainability. Think circular construction, ensur-

in the end for all residents, users and businesses than to make

ing all new buildings are climate neutral and adaptive and

a dream district come true. And the Municipality is eager to

also making this ultra-connected part of the country’s public

contribute.”

“ My ideal city is above all healthy, green and a place where people enjoy hanging out.”

R C D

31

M A G A Z I N E

DEMAND FOR A-RATED OFFICES UP 50% IN TEN YEARS

Savills survey: sustainable offices not trend, but norm

TEXT Romy Lange

PHOTOGRAPHY Carlijn on behalf of Meisje met de camera

32

Iris Kampers, Thom Kepel & Scato de Smit

RCD MAGAZINE PARTNER

Sustainable offices are no longer a passing trend but the new norm, a survey conducted by real estate consultancy Savills reveals.

According to its analysis, demand for office spaces rated with energy labels of ‘A’ or higher has doubled in the past ten years, from 24 per cent in 2011 to 53 per cent in 2021. On top of that, more and more companies and organizations are prepared to pay more for sustainable premises. Where greening office real estate is concerned, Rotterdam faces the greatest challenge of all four major Dutch cities. We talked to Savills Research Consultant Scato de Smit, Associate Director of Property Management Thom Kepel, and ESG Consultant Iris Kampers.

“This is something RCD is going to have to factor in, as an analysis of 12,000 user transactions in the Netherlands from 2011 to the present shows that companies want to pay higher leases for low-impact offices. That’s significant proof that greening offices pays. Not only that, property investors who choose not to invest are penalized. Our analysis shows tenants are less willing overall to pay for non-sustainable offices rated ‘B’ or lower”.

FIRST In RCD, Savills manages the First building (which has the Energy A label and BREEAM Excellent certificate) on Weena, among others. Thom: “First has big tenants that are committed to sustainability, so this raises the bar even higher for this property. Sustainable features here include thermal energy storage, a green rooftop with solar panels, rainwater that is captured for flushing toilets, and a smart building manage-

DEMAND FOR SUSTAINABLE OFFICES HAS SKY-ROCKETED

ment system gathering a lot of data that is used to operate the building as energy efficient as possible.”

For the survey, Research Consultant Scato de Smit analysed

TENANTS’ ROLE

sustainability developments in the Dutch office property

Savills assists tenants to find sustainable office premises

market. The numbers speak for themselves, he says. Demand

and owners to set out the best strategies to attain their sus-

for offices with at least an ‘A’ rating has doubled in the past

tainability targets. ESG Consultant Iris Kampers: “Not only

ten years in the Netherlands. “That demand for sustainable

at building level, but whole investment portfolios. We work

offices has sky-rocketed. We do see big differences between

together to get buildings in those portfolios Paris Proof by

markets though. Rotterdam was bombed during the Second

2050 and to ensure new acquisitions align with that philoso-

World War and consequently its office stock is very different

phy.” According to Iris, tenants can play an instrumental role.

to that in places like central Amsterdam. The city was redevel-

“When owners invest in greening a building, it’s every bit as

oped at a furious pace between 1945 and 1970, and that left it

important that tenants do their part to achieve sustainabil-

with office buildings that are not always of the best quality.

ity targets. We can help by putting that down in black and

Eight per cent of office buildings in RCD don’t satisfy the re-

white or thinking about how to communicate with and edu-

quirements for a ‘C’ rating. While that sounds low, it’s two per

cate tenants about sustainable use.”

cent in Zuidas, one per cent in The Hague’s Beatrixkwartier and zero in Utrecht CBD. RCD thus faces the greatest sustain-

PRACTISE WHAT YOU PREACH

ability challenge of all, in comparison to other CBD’s in the

With an MSc degree in ecology and natural resource man-

G4” Associate Director of Property Management Thom Ke-

agement from Utrecht University, Iris joined Savills in Oc-

pel adds that, “There have been investments in this through

tober 2021. “I want to use my background to make the right

transformations and refurbishments in the past ten years,

impact. How can we utilize natural resources in a way that is

but the percentage is certainly high compared to other CBD’s

future-proof and ensure generations to come enjoy the same

in the G4. Bringing existing building stock in RCD up to a ‘C’

standard of living that we do? I see that same passion and

rating at least will be a tremendous challenge for the district.”

sense of responsibility throughout Savills. Everyone is moti-

HAPPY TO PAY MORE FOR GREENER OFFICES

vated to not only talk the talk but walk the walk. We practise what we preach.”

Sustainability is becoming an increasing priority across the

Want more insights from the Savills survey?

board, and more and more companies and organizations are

Iris, Scato and Thom would be happy to tell you more!

prepared to pay more for sustainable premises (which the

Get in touch on +31 (0) 20 301 20 00.

survey defines as an ‘A’ rating or higher). Scato explains,

www.savills.nl

R C D

33

M A G A Z I N E

RCD MAGAZINE PARTNER

UNILEVER:

“OUR ECOLOGICAL. FOOTPRINT HAS TO BE ALL BUT NON-EXISTENT” Sustainability impacts our daily lives more than we may realize. From shampoo bottles to food packaging, a great deal of thought goes into figuring out how to produce every item we use as sustainably as possible. That is Unilever’s mission.

Joris van der Heijden, strategy manager for the Benelux, and Thor Tummers, External Affairs, share what their company is doing to make the difference.

34

CLOSING THE PRODUCTION CHAIN

and specifically with the material chosen. “We only use

“The important thing is closing value chains”, Thor says.

one type of recyclable plastic in the bottle, not several,

As the person in charge of relations with authorities, civil

so the packaging is easier to process down the line. Then,

society organizations and other external bodies, he sees

through our brands we need to support consumers to dis-

how vital it is to continue working towards a circular econ-

pose of packaging materials properly. After collection,

omy every day. “There’s an incredible range of different

packaging material goes to the sorting- and recycling cen-

challenges to deal with. We try to use the most sustain-

tre and is transformed into a material that we can reuse.”

able raw materials, to recycle all waste products, prevent

Thanks to advancing technologies, this process is improv-

litter... Basically, our objective is to bring our ecological

ing all the time, but extensive collaboration with other

footprint to net zero by minimizing the

actors on all fronts remains essential. “We

environmental impact of our products and

are not recyclers or collectors, nor are we in

operations, while having a positive climate

the plastics processing business. These are

impact by reaching ambitions as collecting

things we handle collectively with other or-

more plastic than we sell and investing

ganizations so we don’t have to do them all

over 1 billion euro in climate and nature.”

individually, and that cooperation in itself

TEXT Romy Lange

COLLABORATION REMAINS ESSENTIAL

is making us more sustainable.”

Given this mission, how does Unilever en-

THERE ARE STILL STRIDES TO BE MADE

sure that something like that familiar pur-

Nevertheless, this system can still be en-

ple shampoo bottle is properly recycled

hanced in all kinds of ways, the two say,

instead of ending up in an incinerator? It all

and they are working hard to optimize

starts with product design, Joris explains,

it, according to Thor. “Sure, compared to

Andrélon bottle, now made from 100% recycled coloured plastic

Joris van der Heijden

“ The growing Thor Tummers

awareness here about the importance of sustainability

other countries, the Netherlands is doing very well, at the same time we have a much higher level of ambition, there’s still plenty of room for improvement. In recycling, plastic used to be weighed and paid per kilogram, regardless of the quality, but that is changing now.” The shift in focus towards quality means recycled material will increasingly be reusable in new products. “A whole raft of new innovations will be needed”, Thor explains. “We don’t want a situation where we’re using recycled plastic but meanwhile the quality of our packaging declines. Sustainability and quality have to go hand in hand.”

GROWING AWARENESS One of the great aspects of being part of a big company such as Unilever, both men stress, is that you have the potential to make a big impact. And where better to do that than in a city like Rotterdam? “The growing awareness here about the importance of sustainability is attracting very interesting companies with big ambitions to this area, which can be interesting for us to team up with. By leading the agenda with partners, we believe a positive impact on the environment will lead to superior business results. We continue to play a pioneering role.”

Unox kleintje rookworst packaging is now also recyclable

is attracting very interesting companies with big ambitions to this area, which can be interesting for us to team up with”

R C D

35

M A G A Z I N E

INTERVIEW

COFFEE BREAK WITH NICK AND TAMAR OF COREKEES

Greening the world and making a profit in the process – it sounds too good to be true. To Nick van Heesewijk it seemed like a perfect concept, so he invited his cousin Tamar van Heesewijk to come on board and help bring a greener world within closer reach. This was the beginning of Corekees, a family firm whose mission and vision is to create a more sustainable world by making sustainability financially viable on retail level.

36

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR COREKEES?

WHAT MAKES THIS METHOD OF ‘GIVING BACK’ TO

Nick: “In 2017 I was in Paraguay, next to Brazil, where our

THE PLANET SO REWARDING?

fathers are from. My dad had to go back for business and to

Tamar: “Other initiatives are based mainly on donations.

visit family, and he asked me along as a graduation gift. We

People tend to see giving as something finite; you have a lim-

went to our uncle’s tree factory, which became our first proj-

ited budget for that kind of thing. We’re offering an invest-

ect. We got a tour of the place and I learned about the work

ment in which CO2 is compensated and you get something

and the philosophy behind the enterprise. I fell in love with

in return: a financial return. You don’t need to put a limit on

the idea then and there, and with the impact it could make

that. There are also companies which pay returns on timber,

on the world as an alternative to fossil fuels. I wanted to

but we don’t do that because we keep the trees for the nuts,

make this tangible act of planting a tree available to people

so you get an annual return. We firmly believe that life is too

back home. I shared my enthusiasm with my uncle, and in no

short for dull investments.”

time, we had this concept for Corekees – a form of private in-

N: “This concept hardly exists yet at the retail level. It costs

vestment where you can plant a tree for yourself or someone

only 20 euros to buy one of our trees, and that’s fairly new.

else and at the same time compensate your CO2.”

In time, we want to be a platform that enables people to

TEXT Céline Boute

PHOTOGRAPHY Ruben Stam

profit from contributing to a sustainable world. At the mo-

COULD YOU EXPLAIN HOW INVESTING THROUGH

ment, we are considering a tree with nuts that can be used

COREKEES WORKS?

to make oil for the cosmetics industry. Or something for the

N: “Corekees is a sustainable investment platform where

food industry.”

people can invest in sustainable projects around the globe, making the world a little greener whilst also creating econom-

WHAT POSITIVE RESULTS HAVE YOU SEEN SO FAR?

ic value. The first project, which we’ve been doing for several

T: “We are working very hard on creating a new project, most

years now, is with Pongamia trees. These are trees that pro-

likely with trees as well. The Pongamia project launched in

duce small nuts which are harvested annually and pressed to

2018 and those trees are three or four years old now. We

extract raw oil, similar to peanuts. Big oil companies buy the

have closed a full circle of the harvest, distributed the first

oil and refine it into biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels.

proceeds of the oil and shared out the first financial returns

Corekees then pays out the profits to the tree investors or let

to our investors. This was a real milestone moment for us,

them reinvest to plant new trees. So, every year, your tree is

and it feels great. At this stage more than 800 investors have

both producing an oil for fuel and compensating CO2.”

put money into almost 25,000 trees.”

R C D

37

M A G A Z I N E

“Life is too short for dull investments” TAMAR VAN HEESEWIJK

NICK VAN HEESEWIJK

Age: 31

Age: 30

Hobbies: Football and cycling

Hobbies: Running, cycling and golf

Favourite spot in RCD: Wijnbar Janssen

Favourite spot in RCD: Groot Handelsgebouw & Witte de Withstraat

TEXT Tessa Burger

PHOTOGRAPHY Carlijn on behalf of Meisje met de camera

38

Tim Venneman, Berber Veenstra and Jan Willem van den Besselaar of Cushman & Wakefield

RCD MAGAZINE PARTNER

A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE World Trade Center Rotterdam is, because of smart renovations, very sustainable. Owner of the building Bouwinvest, is a pioneer in the field of sustainability and this is part of their strategy.

Though part of the building is on the national heritage list Bouwinvest has hired a dedicated team of developers to unravel any and all challenges and green the building. Jan Willem van den Besselaar, head of WTC property management and Senior Account Manager Asset Services at Cushman & Wakefield Nederland, is directing this demanding mission. We talk to Jan Willem, Berber Veenstra (sustainability advisor) and Tim Venneman (project manager) of Cushman & Wakefield Project & Development Services and part of this team about how they have drafted an extensive sustainability plan to ensure the building is fully future-ready.

R C D

MORE THAN REAL ESTATE Sustainability matters more than ever, all three agree. “I have three kids, and that makes me increasingly aware of what I am passing down to the next generation”, Jan-Willem explains. It’s important precisely for this reason to look at sustainability as going beyond

39

just aspects you can implement in real estate, Tim says. “We have to take a broader line and apply it in all facets of our lives. It’s great to see this is improving thanks to all sorts of initiatives, and that things such as waste management and transport are being addressed as well.” This is also their mission at WTC: to make both visible and invisible adaptations, with the final objective of creating more sustainable and healthier workplaces for tenants.

MONUMENTAL Through countless modifications the monumental building has become more sustainable than the team could have ever hoped for. The age of the property is actually also its strength and can be seen as a positive feature, according to Berber. “When something can carry on being used for a long time, like this building, that’s its own kind of sustainability.” And all the adaptations being made now are helping to progressively extend that life. “We’re tackling different aspects and giving the building an upgrade each time”, Tim says. “Granted, with this master plan we are doing a rather expensive upgrade, but it is a valuable investment in the future. The building was immediately given a Label A++ instead of label F.”

LOADS OF POTENTIAL One complicating factor is that the building’s value as listed heritage has to remain intact. It would be simple to just add insulation and wall everything up, but, Tim points out, the trick is to work in a way that conserves the value, appearance and significance of the historic building. It is unique in kind and size in Rotterdam and deserves to be conserved, and the master plan now in place will ensure that. “It is a lovely building and in fact will only get better”, Jan-Willem thinks. Just in the past year, all the façades on Coolsingel were replaced with sustainable facing, the insulation was optimized and solar panels were installed. During these complex activities the various specialisms within the Cushman & Wakefield team complement each other optimally. There is plenty more work to be completed. “Everything we’re doing will make it more pleasant and healthier for us and for tenants, and in an ecological way. That is a very vital aspect of our work.”

M A G A Z I N E

PHOTOGRAPHY Guido Pijper

40

HAPPY DAYS AT BIERGARTEN, SCHIEBLOCK This picture is BC (Before Covid) – as if that wasn’t obvious! Can you imagine being in such crowded company again?

And are you as thrilled as we are that bars and restaurants have reopened?

R C D

41

M A G A Z I N E

© Guido Pijper

ARCHITECTURE

42

GROOT HANDELSGEBOUW Rotterdam is continually evolving. The city is famed for its great diversity of 20th-century architecture as well as its newer ultramodern buildings.

In each issue, we shine a spotlight on one of Rotterdam Central District’s iconic buildings. This time on the Groot Handelsgebouw (GHG). The monumental building forms a unique contrast to the modern architecture of Rotterdam. The icon of the reconstruction of the city, an open and outward-facing, multitenant building. The design was huge, especially by Dutch standards: 220 x 85 metres and 43 metres high. The grand scale of GHG was symbolic for the new dimensions of the city: this is what the

Marlies Lageweg TEXT PHOTOGRAPHY Romy LangeAntimPHOTOGRAPHY Photography

‘new’ Rotterdam ought to look like.

FACTS & FIGURES ARCHITECT: IR. W. VAN TIJEN & H.A. MAASKANT COMPLETED: 1953 OFFICIALLY OPENED: 3 JUNE 1953 BY QUEEN JULIANA OF THE NETHERLANDS

ROTTERDAM’S DECISIVENESS 14 May 1940. Rotterdam’s inner city was bombed and 388,000 m2 of com-

RENOVATED IN 2005:

mercial space was lost.

BY BURO VAN STIGT

Many entrepreneurs could not afford new offices. World War II was not over, but entrepreneur Frits Pot conceived the idea to combine forces and

COMPANIES

made a first rough sketch of a multi-business building. Shortly after World

THAT CALL GHG HOME:

War II, these plans were realised. Architectural office Van Tijen en Maaskant

> 450 BUSINESSES

was instructed to design the GHG. GHG owes its success to the visionary design by Huig Maaskant (1907-1977). For the design of the largest multi-

MONUMENTAL STATUS:

tenant business building in the Netherlands, he drew inspiration from the

NATIONAL MONUMENT

largest multi-business building in the world. He travelled to Chicago to visit the Merchandise Mart. This building was exactly what Maaskant was

FLOOR AREA:

looking for; impressive architecture, its own transport system and a design

> 120,000 M²

aimed at wholesalers.

SIZE: 220 METRES BY 85

MULTI-TENANT BUSINESS BUILDING

METRES AND 43

The building was completely renovated in 2005. Despite its impressive exte-

METRES HIGH

rior, GHG has proven to be a multi-purpose building.

Spaces that once housed wholesalers (groot handelaren) are now occupied

7,000 M² ROOFTOP

by Kleinhandel; a co-working space focused on small creative and tech en-

TERRACE

trepreneurs (klein handelaren). The Cambridge Innovation Centre (CIC) also established their first European office at GHG in 2016. The ground floor

120.000 M² OFFICE,

houses several dining experiences, including Lebkov & Sons, VINN Rotter-

F&B, RETAIL

dam, De Nieuwe Poort, The Poke Box, Altijd In De Buurt, Ellis and a new food

AND STORAGE SPACE

hall concept in the making.

11 LEVELS

3 COURTYARDS

7 KILOMETRES OF HALLWAYS AND OUTSIDE CORRIDORS

1.5 KM IN LOGISTICS ROUTES ACROSS THREE LEVELS

R C D

43

M A G A Z I N E

PIKE SUCCESS STORY

SUSTAINABLE PARCEL DELIVERY BY BIKE

44

Have you seen the bright green e-cargo bicycles speeding by? That’s not just any bike delivery service, but one that brings parcels to your door at a time convenient to you. This all in a sustainable way. Bas Faassen is always on the lookout for innovative ideas, and his concept for PIKE – your parcel whenever you like – fills a gap in the market.

in the app when we’ve received it and then you can tell us what time you’d like it to arrive. You can enter the specific time you want our bike delivery person to come to your door.” After building his own demo website and app, Bas quickly attracted his first investor. In November 2020 he found

‘Your parcel will be delivered between 12.30 pm and 5.00 pm.

premises off Hofplein and in late December PIKE went live.

We tried to deliver your parcel but you weren’t home, so we’ll

“We’ve been in business for a little over a year now. Launch-

try again. You can collect your parcel from your local service

ing during lockdown forced us to get creative again, because

point.’ Do these scenarios sound familiar? Whilst searching

suddenly everyone was at home all the time. Now we’re also

for his passion in life, Bas noticed how fed up people around

working with companies in Rotterdam for which we’re their

him were with these recurring delivery problems. And that

local parcel delivery service.”

TEXT Céline Boute

PHOTOGRAPHY Ruben Stam

inspired him to come up with a creative and sustainable solution. “After doing a graduation work placement for sport

SUSTAINABILITY FIRST

marketing at Red Bull, I stayed on in their E-sport market-

What mattered most to Bas himself was organizing the de-

ing department for another three years. It was perfect for

livery process to be as eco-conscious as possible. That’s easy

me, because it was a new unit and I got loads of freedom to

to do in big urban areas, he says. “We have a reach of five

structure it. After closing that chapter, I started working for

kilometres, from Hofplein to Kralingen, Kleiweg or to Rot-

a property agent in Rotterdam. It was in that time that I had

terdam-West and Zuid. That’s all very doable for dropping

the idea for PIKE and started researching the market and

off parcels by electric bike, and it saves a ton. Plus, with

setting up pitches.”

PIKE, parcels don’t go from a distribution centre out to a

CONSUMER-FOCUSED

smaller centre to then be sent back to the same city again.

So you’re contributing to multiple facets of sustainability.”

From his research, Bas learned that the parcel market has

In future, Bas hopes merchants will do more of their own dis-

little regard for individuals or consumers. Enter PIKE: a ser-

tribution so that the largest share of deliveries can be done

vice that delivers parcels to your doorstep – and lets you

sustainably. He’s also dreaming of expanding to other dense-

choose when. “The idea arose by approaching it from the

ly populated urban areas in the Netherlands, where there is

consumer point of view. When placing an order, you enter

still plenty to be gained. If there’s one tip he’d like to share

the PIKE address as your delivery address. We let you know

with everyone, it is: “Go ride electric!”

R C D

45

M A G A Z I N E

“ You can enter the specific time you want our bike delivery person to come to your door.”

MEMOBOARD

46

WALK DURING YOUR WORKDAY On 7 April, workers across the Netherlands are urged to take a break from their laptops and step outside their (home)offices for a stroll on Walk During Your Workday 2022. As well as a great excuse to soak up some spring sunshine, there are all kinds of other benefits: walking for half an hour significantly enhances concentration, energy and creativity. Since its launch in 2016, this initiative has become a national event with growing participation among employers and employees. This year the name has changed, however, from ‘Walk to Work Day’ to ‘Walk During Your Workday’, to encourage walking from every kind of workplace. Rotterdam is making this year’s edition extra festive with the official celebratory unveiling of the ‘Weetingroute’ (walking+meeting route) around Rotterdam Central District, offering a creative diversion plus fun facts about the district for your workday stroll.

TAKING THE STAGE Theater Rotterdam is teaming up with a number of the city’s secondary schools to organize a special programme introducing youth who are new to the Netherlands to theatre. Under the supervision of director, theatre instructor and culture coach Jasper Vaillant, pupils enrolled in ‘international transitional classes’ will work together to create a production about a specific issue. This year, the group will tackle the question: how important is it what others think of you? During the creative process, pupils are asked to share their personal experiences and ideas around this topic, and their stories form the heart of the final production. Several months of rehearsals will culminate in public performances of this year’s play Image on 8 and 11 March.

HEAD OUT CLOSE TO HOME Alongside fabulous architecture, Rotterdam also has spectacular murals that add interest to its buildings. Discover them all on seven

R C D

47

routes through different parts of the city – including one in the Central District. Featuring old and new works by mainly local artists, there’s loads to admire along our city’s streets. A big part of what makes street art so fascinating is its ephemeral nature: works disappear as quickly as new ones are added. In other words, these are routes to keep on (re)discovering! The accompanying app, Rewrite, offers details about all the street art, pointing you to the latest murals but also including pictures of works that can no longer be seen. There is always something new to discover.

DON’T MISS A THING! Hey, are you following us? On Instagram, that is (@centraldistrict)!

That’s where we post our favourite hotspots in the Central District daily and take you behind the scenes of the magazine. We also keep you up on all the latest local news, and you’ll be the first to know when the next magazine issue is out.

If you have any suggestions, questions or want to post a message or ad, drop us a line at info@rcdpublishers.nl. We’d love to hear what you’d like to read about in RCD Magazine!

M A G A Z I N E

INTERVIEW

48

INTERVIEW

JOIN THE ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT COMMUNITY 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 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.

R C D

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

49

good reputation of the district.

To achieve this we have:

M A G A Z I N E

• 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

© Iris van den Broek

• 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

© Hester Blankestijn

QUESTIONS OR REMARKS?

NG sel

10

JA

R IG

JU

Am

B IL

st el

EU

k w ar

ti er

orisc

hist ts en tspo en dy ho gebouw Tren

H et

E ef

“Dit

M

In te

ri eu

rt re

nds

201

8

ie en

man onen , patr roze

fort

Com

zoet

21 COM BER 20 DA S. CEM OZUI R • DE HELLVEMBE NO

58

he

o o gd ke dag je V el

t mij rras ep ve eer” w

bero

ULD SHOTHE E W AT G BE AWIN DR ARD BO OM E FR Y ON DA

S

-2021

van ukje geland Vro Slin ten Oos ING

st Ern Jan root e de G elhaiz ld D A ho

HZ58

dd

leet.in

Comp

17:06

19-10

AN EN V K AR BOOM DEN OF LUX CEO T BENE SIX

10

J

IG AR H et

1

JU

Am

dy Tren

st

B IL

EU

ar el k w

M

ti er

orisc

st en hi pots en hots uw gebo

In te

ri eu

rt re

he

o o gd ke dag je V el E ef mij

“Dit

eert de W ek en

t rras ep ve eer” w

bero

R 20 COM DA S. CTOBE OZUI R • O HELL EMBE SEPT

21

57

50

S TO UTE ING TRIBER LIVNT N O C ET T ME A B VIRON EN

Partner up with RCD Publishers and create your top-quality company, client or city marketing magazine or glossy.

Y WINAS MA R NDE FOU CO- MVRDV F O HZ57

• Magazine Management & Editing • Citymarketing • Company Video’s & Photography • Branded Content & Advertorials • Online Marketing

Strawinskylaan 15

Weena 710

1077 XW Amsterdam

3014 DA Rotterdam

www.zuidaspublishers.nl

www.rcdpublishers.nl

dd

leet.in

Comp

1

nds

201

8

ie en

man onen , patr roze

fort

Com

zoet

MEMBERS

MEMBERS VERENIGING ROTTERDAM CENTRAL DISTRICT If your company isn’t on this list, please contact info@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl

3MP online video

Eneco

Rabobank Rotterdam

AKRD

Eurekon

Roodkapje

Alticom B.V.

Gemeente Rotterdam

Rotterdam Festivals

Amber

Greenberg Nielsen

Rotterdam Marriott Hotel

Arconiko Architecten

Greenchoice

Rotterdam Partners

ASR

Groot Handelsgebouw

SaM& doethetgewoon.

Atelier van Berlo

High Potential Academy

Sanderdebreukconsultancy bv

Bar Rotterdam bv

Holmris B8

Scapino Ballet Rotterdam

Big Room B.V./Reverse/Mykech

Humanoids BV

Spaces Hofplein

Broodje Q

JLL

Steel Rides

Carthago Consultancy

LaatBloeien

Stichting De Nieuwe Poort

CBRE

Lebkov & Sons

Stichting Theater Rotterdam

CBRE global investors

Loer Architecten

Studentflex

CIC Rotterdam

LS&H Lawyers

Time is the new space

Ciphix BV

LSI Ontwikkeling BV

Unilever NV

Codarts

Lucie Group B.V.

Urban Minds B.V.

Colliers

Maarsen Groep

Van der Stap notarissen

Conix RDBM

Mess

vanStijl

Cromwell Property Group

NS

Vereniging Rotterdam Central District

Cushman & Wakefield

Ooms Makelaars Bedrijfshuisvesting B.V.

Vereniging Verenigd Schouwburgplein

DakAkker rooftopfarm foundation

Pike Delivery

Workspot

De Mik Bedrijfshuisvesting

Pluq Studio

Wrap Maniacs

District East

PPF

WTC Rotterdam

DVDW advocaten

Premier Suites Plus Rotterdam

ZUS

Echo

Provast

COLOPHON Association Rotterdam Central District

Our goal: With an excellent business climate, world-

Editor-in-chief: Romy Lange

Weena 690 (14th floor)

renowned educational institutions within reach,

Editors & Sales: Céline Boute & Nicole Pak

3012 CN Rotterdam

and leading companies in many sectors from many

Advertising: Please send an e-mail to

info@rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl

countries, RCD has huge potential. Association

info@rcdpublishers.nl for questions

www.rotterdam-centraldistrict.nl

Rotterdam Central District contributes to the RCD

about advertising.

by realizing a well functioning area. The goal is to

Art Direction and Graphic Design: vanStijl

promote a district that has international appeal, and

Translation: Taalcentrum-VU

high quality working and living conditions.

Final Editor: Ellen Josée Westrik

Magazine RCD is issued by: RCD Publishers

Printed by: NPN Drukkers

Premier Suites & Offices Rotterdam

Circulation: Free for the RCD district. It is be

Weena 710 (14th floor)

distributed by promo teams, loose circulation, HRM

Do you have a message for the editorial team

3014 DA Rotterdam

departments of companies within RCD to guarantee

or would you like to place an ad? Send us an

+31 (0)20-3620993

reaching the (sub) target groups of RCD.

e-mail at info@rcdpublishers.nl.

info@rcdpublishers.nl www.rcd publishers.nl

Frequency: four times a year

Copyright © 2022 RCD Publishers.

All rights reserved. Nothing appearing in this magazine (information, pictures, images) may be copied or reproduced, in any manner whatsoever, unless explicit permission has been given in writing.

R C D

51

M A G A Z I N E

The Modernist, 12.500m² office space and 369 apartments in Rotterdam Central District.

A location beyond compare for people who live big.

For brands that aim for the stars. For companies that embrace the future. Don’t make history, make the future The Modernist

52

The Modernist is an initiative by

TheModernist.nl