I recently had the opportunity to visit Rotterdam as part of my Chartered Town Planner Degree Apprenticeship MSc at the University of Birmingham. As a Planner based in Birmingham, I found it particularly valuable to observe how the Dutch planning system responds to challenges familiar to the UK and Birmingham, specifically the housing shortage, climate change, urban regeneration and the need to reduce reliance on private cars.
Rotterdam, like Birmingham, is a city shaped by post-war reconstruction and an industrial legacy, but it has taken bold and proactive steps to reimagine its urban environment.
One of the most striking differences I observed was the culture of planning and development. In the Netherlands, where around a third of the country lies below sea level, managing land and water has long required careful and forward-thinking planning. This has fostered a system that is pragmatic, collaborative and focused on long-term resilience, but also ambitious and innovative.
Rotterdam in particular had a unique opportunity to rethink its urban form after the destruction it faced during the Second World War. The near total devastation left a blank canvas on which planners and architects were able to freely explore innovative ideas, and this spirit of creativity and experimentation still defines the city today.
Walking through Rotterdam, I appreciated the diversity and creativity of the architecture. From the Cube Houses, a set of distinctive residential buildings designed by Piet Blom, to the Markthal, an indoor market hall that combines food stalls with apartments under one dramatic arch, and the De Rotterdam skyscrapers, the cityscape is full of bold designs that reflect a willingness to embrace change and challenge conventional forms.
This innovative approach is not just about aesthetics. It goes hand in hand with the city’s focus on liveability, sustainability and climate resilience. The Rijnhaven regeneration, which I learned about directly from the scheme architects, Barcode, reflects this through an ambitious project to transform former port land into a vibrant mixed-use waterfront district.
It plans to deliver around 2,500 homes, new parks, floating buildings and flood-resilient infrastructure, all guided by a clear climate adaptation strategy with the goal of achieving climate resilience by 2030.
What also stood out to me was how effectively sustainable transport has been prioritised. In Rotterdam, cycling accounts for about a quarter of all trips, supported by an extensive and coherent network of cycle routes. Public transport is reliable and well-integrated, making it the natural choice for many journeys.
Meanwhile, private car use is actively discouraged in the city centre through limited parking, higher charges and design that puts pedestrians and cyclists first. It showed me that shifting travel behaviours is not just about good intentions but also about creating places where sustainable choices are the easiest and most attractive options.
Overall, the visit highlighted that while the challenges facing UK cities are similar to those faced in the Netherlands, including pressures to deliver sufficient housing, adapt to climate change, regenerate post-industrial areas and reduce car dependency, Rotterdam’s positive and forward-thinking planning culture combined with an attitude to innovate and take bold decisions has helped to shape a city that is resilient, vibrant and inspiring.
There are clear lessons Birmingham could draw from this, particularly around prioritising high-quality public realm, pedestrian and cycle-friendly environments, and integrated public transport. These themes align with the vision of the emerging Birmingham Local Plan, which seeks to make the city a global leader in inclusivity, innovation and sustainability, a model for zero carbon living, and a connected city where walking, cycling and public transport are the natural choice.
The emerging Local Plan’s emphasis on climate resilience, resource efficiency and creating places where sustainable travel is encouraged mirrors the kind of ambitious, integrated planning seen in Rotterdam and I am excited to see how Birmingham continues to evolve in the next few years.
