Press Release
First full-scale water square opened in Rotterdam
The Benthemplein, the world’s first full-scale water square, was opened on
Wednesday 4 December. Constructors, neighbours, church-goers and students
from the surrounding schools joined in the festive opening. Activities and an
artificial shower showed the square’s function perfectly.
Led by local administrator Nils Berndsen, Deltacommissioner Wim Kuijken started the
festivities, along with watercommissioner Chris van der Velden and vice-mayor
Alexandra van Huffelen.
The unique square helps the Rotterdam Agniesebuurt to keep its feet dry during heavy
rainfall. When necessary, the square can retain nearly two million litres of water. When
the weather is dry, the square proves the local residents’ and students’ input: the
square can host a number of activities in sports, theatre and relaxation.
Local input
As the city and the district water board searched for a suitable spot for the first water
square, students of the adjoining Zadkine school asked the city for a nicer, more
agreeable square. Perfect conditions for the development of a water square. The
URBANISTEN architects led a participation programme that enabled local residents and
students to provide input and share their opinion on the square. A valuable form of local
cooperation.
As a result, the former – rather boring – square with standard pavement now hosts
more green and facilities for skateboarding and basketball. The Zadkine school can
programme outdoor activities as well. The value of the local input was proven even
during construction. During business hours, construction was in full swing. On the
weekends, skaters and bootcampers made it their playground.
Dry feet
During heavy rainfall, the water square can retain 1,700 cubic meters of water. An
important contribution to cities such as Rotterdam: the abundant buildings and
pavement guide rainwater to the surface waters and sewers. The increasingly intense
showers prove to be too much to handle, resulting in flooded streets and basements.
The area around the Benthemplein was one of the zones with an high flood risk.
Innovations such as water squares help prevent these floods. It is one in a range of
smart solutions applied in Rotterdam, together with the Rotterdam green rooftops,
water storage facilities at the Museumpark parking garage and the Kruisplein (to name
a few) and the Bellamyplein, the Benthemplein’s little brother.
International example
Many of these innovations are initiated by the City of Rotterdam and the Schieland and
Krimpenerwaard District Water Board, and good examples of the Rotterdam approach to
addressing water and climate issues. The Rotterdam approach started in 2008 as
Rotterdam Climate Proof and is now part of the Rotterdam Climate Initiative (RCI). A
major RCI goal is to sustain the city’s position as a climate proof delta city.
The Rotterdam partners strive to combine every possible aspect: a nice, attractive city
to live and work, water safety and business opportunities. Rotterdam has become one
of the international examples, through innovative concepts as the water square. Dozens
of international delegations visit the city each year. The approach has led to commercial
projects for Dutch companies in cities such as Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and New
Orleans (USA).
About the water square Benthemplein
The watersquare Benthemplein was constructed by contractor Wallaard for the City of
Rotterdam. Construction was financed by the City of Rotterdam, the Schieland and
Krimpenerwaard District Water Board, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the
Environment and the European Commission’s European Regional Development Fund.
The Benthemplein was designed by DE URBANISTEN and contributes to the RCI goal for
Rotterdam to be 100% climate proof in 2025. Rotterdam will be protected and
reachable, and resilient to more extreme weather conditions.
For more information, images of the construction and the live webcam, please visit
www.rotterdam.nl/benthemplein.
Breaking: Rockefeller Foundation includes Rotterdam in top 100
The Rockefeller Foundation announced yesterday, that Rotterdam is one of the first 33
cities to join the ‘100 Resilient Cities’ network, at the decision of a jury with former USpresident Bill Clinton. For a complete overview of all 33 cities, please visit:
http://100resilientcities.rockefellerfoundation.org/cities
Quotes
Wim Kuijken, Deltacommissioner:
“Both the City of Rotterdam and the Schieland and Krimpenerwaard District Water
Board are active partners in the Dutch Delta Programme. Concrete innovations such as
this water square are important to the Delta Programme. They put spatial adaptation to
practice and add to cities’ resilience.”
Chris van der Velden, Watercommissioner with Schieland and Krimpenerwaard
District Water Board:
“Rotterdam provides challenges to water specialists. Located in the Dutch Delta and
highly urbanised, the city has no ‘natural’ relief system for peaks in waterfall. Keeping
dry feet in this area requires appropriate measures, such as water squares, which we
aptly provide with the City of Rotterdam.”
Alexandra van Huffelen, vice-mayor (sustainability, city centre and public
space):
“The Rotterdam approach to climate change has grown into a movement of change over
the last five years. It spans everything from city improvement in the social sense and in
water safety, to economic growth. Smart combinations and actual experimentation have
rendered us successful, inside our city and all over the world.”
Nils Berndsen, administrator sub-municipality Rotterdam-Noord:
“The water squares is a double success for residents and students. The square is a
major improvement and allows for numerous activities with local students and children.
The participation programme was exactly as it should be and it shows: many people
that participated earlier on, took the time to join us today.”
Note:
This press release is part of the press kit for the Benthemplein opening, and available online through
www.rotterdaminitiative.nl/benthemplein. Please visit this page for high-quality images and video.
For more information, please contact:
Anna Feiner (+31 6 220 496 57)
Spokeswoman vice-mayor Alexandra van Huffelen,
Marco Maréchal (+31 6 512 232 37)
Spokesman Schieland en de Krimpenerwaard
City of Rotterdam
District Water Board