Future-ready events in Rotterdam, sustainable and impactful
Ranked 2nd in the 2024 Sustainable Cities Index by Arcadis, Rotterdam is a leader in green innovation and resilience. This commitment to sustainability extends to its events, making it an ideal destination for those prioritizing progress in key areas: planet, people, and future.
Residents and entrepreneurs in Rotterdam tackle challenges head-on. Wicked challenges such as plastic soup and the climate crisis demand change worldwide. We do our part across our key industries, as well as the events industry which supports them, hosting international events sustainably. Whether it’s a hotel stay, dinner, walk or afternoon shopping: in Rotterdam, you’ll find plenty of innovative and friendly alternatives to make a big impression with a smaller footprint. And for the event organizers facing the challenge of producing events with as low a CO2 footprint as possible, we support you by providing innovative solutions for sustainable event planning too.
Eco-friendly travel
Rotterdam’s strategic location and accessible waterways make eco-friendly travel a breeze. Enjoy a good (high-speed) train connection from several countries with Eurostar or sail from Hull and Harwich (U.K.) to Hoek van Holland with P&O Ferries and Stena Line. The ultimate way to explore the city is on foot or by bike, as Rotterdam is home to over 500km of bike lanes. Rotterdam provides you with plenty of options to walk, cycle, or drive green. The city’s sustainability efforts also include its public transport system. Local public transport company RET is transforming its fleet to be fully electric by 2030. A number of water taxis are already powered by electric and green hydrogen, with a goal set for an emission-free fleet by 2030.
Sustainable venues
Rotterdam’s 3 purpose-built and state-of-the-art congress venues, the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, De Doelen ICC, and Postillion Hotel & Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam are passionate about making environmentally conscious decisions and leaving a positive social impact. Congress and event delegates can experience this commitment for themselves, with everything from blue, green and yellow rooftops to thoughtful dining menus that avoid waste and showcase locally grown produce.
Rotterdam, greenest city in the Netherlands
Rotterdam is not only known for its port, art, and architecture, but is also the greenest city in the Netherlands! In addition to popular parks such as Kralingse Bos, the Park near the Euromast, Vroesenpark, and Zuiderpark, the city has dozens of other large and small parks. Looking for green in Rotterdam? We have listed the 10 most beautiful parks here.
Sustainable accommodations
Many climate-adaptive measures such as green roofs and water plazas are visible in the city. The fact that Rotterdam also stimulates conscious, local and socially responsible entrepreneurship is not immediately apparent, but is equally important. Sixteen Rotterdam hotels have joined forces with the Green Leisure Group, BlueCity, Rotterdam Partners and the Municipality of Rotterdam on the Hotel Neutral Project. Together, these parties are taking steps towards a CO2-neutral and circular future for the Rotterdam hotel sector. This means not only saving costs, energy and water but also reducing rubbish and food waste.
Team Convention Bureau
Want to organise congress or a business event? Rotterdam Partners, our city's official Convention Bureau, is your starting point. We will share our broad expertise and network, dedicated guidance and up-to-date knowledge of Rotterdam. Get in touch with us:
