Rotterdam: A City of Sustainable, Innovative, Historic, Future-facing Venues

Sustainability is no longer just a keyword or trend, it is becoming a necessary part of doing business. One of Rotterdam’s greatest strengths is the city’s commitment to sustainability.

Rotterdam is endorsed by the Arcadis Sustainable City Index as one of the most sustainable cities in the world, and is a member of the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities and last year the city joined the Global Destination Sustainability Index. In 2007, the city announced its ambition to become 100% climate proof by 2025, which will allow Rotterdam to be able to continue functioning economically and socially with minimal disturbance under any extreme weather situation. This ambition is well on its way to being realized, as the city learned just today that it has won the bid to host the United Nations Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation. 

As such, it comes as no surprise that Rotterdam offers multiple sustainable and innovative meeting facilities, all within walking distance or a short public transport transfer away, a true mark of a sustainable destination. 

Imagine a meeting on the Floating Pavilion, where your attendees are offered spectacular views of the city's Kop van Zuid district in an innovative and sustainable pavilion. Aside from its futuristic look & feel the Floating Pavilion is climate change resilient. The pavilion was a pilot project for floating construction in Rotterdam, and was re-purposed as an events location. It consists of three interlinked spheres, and can host meetings and events of up to 400 guests. Located in the Rijnhaven port, which is destined to be a future leisure port, the venue is well served by public transport, also over water.

A unique seminar can also be held overlooking the iconic Erasmusbrug, at the nhow Hotel, located in De Rotterdam, one of the city’s most stylish, but also sustainable, buildings.

Designed by Rotterdam's own Rem Koolhaas, the hotel captures his vision for hotel living, and the building features various sustainability markers, and has been included in the Rotterdam Sustainable app, a mobile guide to visit Rotterdam's most incredible climate adaptation projects. The app was devised to meet the needs of the growing number of international delegations visiting the city to witness our "living lab" of projects aimed at a resilient city in person.

Or you can hold your conference next door at Cruise Terminal Rotterdam, which was formerly the historic arrival/departure hall for the Holland America Line steam ships. The structure was re-envisioned into a functional industrial architecture space, where a play on light and structure across the 6 arches of the building, and a spectacular view of the city's Erasmusbrug are a perfect backdrop to any event.

The terminal is located on the Wilhelminapier, which was a thriving passenger area from the 1870's until the 1970's, and again in recent years, welcoming cruise ships from around the world. The former head offices of the Holland America Line are at the end of the pier, a historic building which has had a second life as Rotterdam's popular Hotel New York.

The entire area is a testament to the thousands of Europeans who made their way to the New World in past centuries, but also to today's Rotterdammers who dreamed of a rejuvenated south bank of the River Maas. Thanks to the Make it Happen mentality we all ascribe to, in roughly 20 years time we have seen the creation of the striking Kop van Zuid district, featuring hotels, theatres, and restaurants, which are also bundled under the concept of Congress Pier - Rotterdam's open air convention center.

The options are endless and are all possible in Rotterdam, because Rotterdam is always innovating.

Case in point: in 2020, Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Center will open the largest auditorium in the Netherlands with a maximum capacity of 2,750 seats and 38 breakout rooms, all with maximum flexibility. The current facilities already host such remarkable and varied events like the North Sea Jazz Festival and the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament, alongside international conferences and exhibitions. Nearing the 50 year mark of it's existence, the addition of the new purpose-built congress facilities and a headquarters hotel will launch both Ahoy, and the city of Rotterdam into a new era of conference business, while also being an important part of the urban development plans of the Rotterdam of the future.

In 2000, The De Doelen ICC Rotterdam also took the plunge, expanding its facilities to meet the demands of future conferences head on. The impressive concert hall (1755 pax) and graceful halls and foyers are complemented by the purpose built conference facility: the Willem Burger Complex. It features a highly professional plenary room (700 pax), a suite of 10 breakout rooms, and light and airy public space for exhibitors and catering. It is a good choice to set your conference in this state of the art facility, just a stone's throw from Central Station and within walking distance of multiple hotels.

If being located in the center of the city’s trade district is appealing to you, then you’ll want to consider Postillion Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam for your congress. The building is a National Heritage Site, with construction starting in 1935, and nearing completion when the city center was decimated during WWII. The building suffered limited damage, and in true "Rotterdam-Makes-it-Happen" style, once the war was over, construction of the original design was completed. Extensions and expansions were added in later years, including the glittering glass office tower, in the 1980s. Today's Postillion Conference Centre Green Key certified, and can accommodate groups up to 1,200 delegates, offering more than 37 different meeting spaces, all on one level, and complemented by 2400 m2 of exhibition space, all in the same area. These professional meeting facilities are combined with top notch hospitality and a creative approach to keeping your delegates energized: Brain Food!

At the Rotterdam Partners Convention Bureau, we bring the Make It Happen spirit to your event. Sustainable, innovative, historic, future-facing venues and so much more located just a 26 minute-train-ride away from the 2nd largest international hub in the world – Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

You can make an appointment at IMEX America to learn more about sustainable, innovative and inspiring event venues in Rotterdam. See you at Booth #C2230!