Best practicesCreated on: 2 April 2026

Rotterdam (Netherlands): Floating facilities and attractions in the port of Rotterdam

Goal 8.3

Developing public spaces and recreational or cultural amenities in City Port interface zones to create an appealing new area.

Challenge(s)

How can the waterfront be used to address the spatial needs of the city in innovative ways ?

Best Practice

Instances of waterfront urban attractions like floating restaurants, cinemas, houseboats, and more have become enduring features in numerous port cities. Often, these attractions are situated on formerly industrial port areas that have been transformed into urban spaces, yet they maintain a distinct maritime character. By expanding the available mooring locations within the port and enabling mobility, they facilitate the reintegration of the city with its port, revitalizing the waterfront. Moreover, this shift of urban functions to the water presents an opportunity to conserve land space, which may be limited or in short supply.

This good practice also includes objectives 4.4 (Developing collaborative approaches, drawing on scientific and technologic knowledge from the scientific community and civil society to support decision making) and 6.1 (Developing all types of promenades and other open spaces in City Port interface zones, to promote a better understanding of port and logistic activities) of the AIVP’s 2030 Agenda.

Case Study

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