Placemaking Week Europe 2024 - Rotterdam

There is no place like Keilewerf!

We’re celebrating our 10th anniversary, and to mark the occasion, we’re organizing a special program from September 21 to 27. This is part of both the Groot Rotterdams Atelier Weekend (September 21-22) and the Placemaking Week Europe (September 24-27).

We have an amazing program lined up for you:

- Exhibition: A showcase of the past, present, and future of Keilewerf.
- Discover Keilewerf: Explore the wide range of creations made at Keilewerf, from artworks and handcrafted products to innovative projects.
- Listen to Stories: Hear from makers and visitors—get inspired by their experiences and creations.
- Visual Showcase: View visual materials and products, providing an overview of the creations and developments at Keilewerf.
- Future Vision: Learn more about our vision for the future of Keilewerf and the M4H area—how we plan to keep growing and making an impact.
- Collaborative Artwork: Admire a collaborative artwork created by the current makers of Keilewerf 2.
- Hackathon: Watch as students from Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, specializing in Urban Development, Placemaking, Facility Management, and Urban Planning, collaborate with residents to develop new ideas for the Keilewerf 1 site.

Come and celebrate with us! Discover the stories, admire the creations, and see how Keilewerf contributes to Rotterdam.

Date:September 21 – 27
Location: Keilewerf 2, Keilestraat 5A, Rotterdam

Placemaking Collaboration On Location: Work will be done where it matters and where placemaking is applied. Meet future placemakers and co-create...

As part of a student-Placemaking-Hackathon session, daily meet-ups are organised - welcome anytime between 11.30 am till 14.30 pm - on the vacant site of the former Keilewerf. In joining, you will contribute to the development of this unique place in M4H, get to know parties that are active in the area and learn from the inspiring history of the Keilewerf initiative.

In the M4H district in Rotterdam, a collective of creative makers has been active in the Keilewerf for 10 years. A success story that unfortunately took a different turn as a result of a disastrous fire in June 2023. The story of the Keilewerf wille be shown in a retrospective exhibition called “10 years of Keilewerf”.

Approximately 100 students from the minor Urban Development and the minor FM & Urban Placemaking will engage in developing concepts for the Keilewerf site. Kunst & Complex location (Keileweg 28) is our homebase. The results of the collaboration between participants of the PMW and students will be part of the retrospective exhibition.

Capacity: 1 groups of 15 (first come, first served)

Starting point: City Hall, Coolsingel 40, 3011 AD Rotterdam
Ending Point: City Hall, Coolsingel 40, 3011 AD Rotterdam

The weather is changing. Rotterdam increasingly faces flooding due to heavy rainfall, but at the same time, summers are getting hotter and drier. How do we as a city deal with sometimes too much, and sometimes too little water. During this tour, you will be guided past various climate-adaptive measures that the city, with, for or by residents, has taken to keep the city liveable. In addition, you will also learn everything about the municipality's climate adaptation programme.

Capacity: 20 people (first come, first served)

Starting point: City Hall, Coolsingel 40, 3011 AD Rotterdam
Ending Point: Metrostation Leuvehaven

Why is Rotterdam so un-Dutch? This tour introduces you to the typical Rotterdam scene, with stunning modern architecture and social experiment. Countless cultures influence the vibrant urban life. Historian Ferrie Weeda explains how Rotterdam has been continuously reinventing itself for over 150 years. The result is a city of contrasts - often the product of conflict. Big scale icons like Erasmus bridge, Markthal and Cube Houses contrast with charming parks and picturesque districts like Delfshaven. Huge port industries on one side, alternative sustainable experiment on the other. In this tour you will learn about Rotterdam's strong civic pride, based on a history of struggling, adopting and resilience. 

Capacity: 2 groups of 15 people (first come, first served)

Starting point: Wilhelminaplein, under the bridge at the quay
Ending Point: Metrostation Leuvehaven

The Rondje Bruggen is a popular running route that runs along the north and south banks of the Maas and no fewer than three iconic bridges: the Erasmus Bridge, the Willems Bridge and the Koninginne Bridge. There are great opportunities to develop the area into a river park. Where you can relax for a while, with a beautiful view of the river. Where you can meet friends or meet new people. Where you can muse on a bench, exercise outside or just take a walk. Where you can eat your sandwich or drink a cup of coffee during the break. This is already clearly visible in some places and good use is also made of public space. In other places, a lot still needs to be done to make the space attractive for use. Take a 'bridging tour' and discuss your ideas and experiences with us and each other.

Capacity: 17 people (first come, first served)

Starting point: Metrostation Delfshaven, 3026 RE Rotterdam
Ending Point: Metrostation Delfshaven, 3026 RE Rotterdam


The tour will be provided by the Neighbourhood Collection Foundation (stichting Wijkcollectie). They provide a platform for neighbourhood stories in Rotterdam and preserve them as the city's ‘intangible neighbourhood heritage’. In this way, stories are made visible, preserved and shared. Not with a large collection of stories as an end goal, but precisely to learn from those stories and use them to initiate connection and cooperation. Stories can inspire others, spark ideas and bring people together, that's why!  

On this tour, be inspired by the local heroes of Bospolder-Tussendijken, a Rotterdam city district where everything comes together. What do they experience here? What ideas do they have for the neighbourhood? And how do they make sure these ideas become reality?

We officially invite you to our Official Opening Celebration for Placemaking Week Europe 2024 - Rotterdam edition!
Welcome to Placemaking Week 2024 – Rotterdam (6th) Edition! This session will kickstart the week in the beautiful venue of OASE with an introductory speech by Rotterdam local placemaker Maurice Specht. This will be followed by a formal welcome from Vice-Mayor Chantal Zeegers and venue representative Berend van Zanten . We'll introduce our keynote speakers for the week and provide important information about the upcoming events.

Goals of the Session:

• Formal welcome from Rotterdam and Placemaking Europe
• Highlight the key themes and objectives of Placemaking Week 2024.
• Foster connections among participants and set the tone for a collaborative and productive week.
• Give out important information to the participants for the upcoming week

Check-in at the registration desk at our opening celebration to receive your wristband for access into the festival, as well as other relevant information for the week.

Keep the Vibe Going @ OASE! Global Beat with Luciana Renner & DJ Carmix

19:00-20:30: Luciana Renner
Architect, radio host, and music selector. She explores the relationship between musical expressions and the urban spaces where they emerge. Her sets are characterized by nostalgic soundscapes and melodies ranging from soul and global groove to folk, downtempo, and ambient.

20:30-23:00: DJ Carmix
DJ Carmix, based in Amsterdam, emerges from the global beat scene, blending tunes and beats from various cultures, genres, and eras. His music brings people together on the dancefloor, creating a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. Carmix (Rotem Carmi) is also a member of the Placemaking Europe network. He began his journey as a placemaker by co-creating neighborhood and street festivals, fostering community and connection using his skills as a DJ, event planner, and community facilitator.