Rotterdam in development

21 R O T T E R D A M I N D E V E L O P M E N T | 2 0 1 8 for football stadiums set by international football organisations such as FIFA and UEFA. Van Merwijk has been calling for years for a new stadium that satisfies all new legislation, and one which is also more adaptable. “We have worked with each other, for each other, to get this far: both the municipality and private individuals. The idea is for the municipality to lease the site to us soon, which will allow the new stadium to be built. We have taken on this enormous challenge together, and in that regard we have a unique, unofficial public-private partnership.” Van Merwijk: “One of the key concerns in the construction of the new stadium is that there should be more transparency: that everyone can see what is going on and that the stadium isn’t closed off. It shouldn’t only be attractive when there’s a match on; with all kinds of recreational and commercial functions it should soon become the place to be for all of Rotterdam.” The challenge posed by the comprehensive area development is not a simple one. A lot of different pieces of the puzzle have to be put together. Elements such as a new stadium, housing, recreational facilities, new sports facilities and above all new infrastructure all have to be carefully aligned. Project Leader Frank Keizer: “The key idea is that the new stadium should play a bigger role in the city. That means that the new infrastructure has to offer solutions during events such as Feyenoord football matches, but also on an everyday basis, to make the homes accessible. For the ‘strip’, the central axis of Feyenoord City, we are already considering the question of whether to change the parking situation. You can already see some shifts taking place in that area.” FAVOURABLE CLIMATE Hans van Rossum, Area Development Adviser on the project, is responsible for finding The key idea is that the new stadium should play a bigger role in the city. Artist’s impression of the new Feyenoord stadium.