Some ideas initially feel almost unreal. Waves in the heart of a city without a sea. Surfing with a skyline view. And yet, RiF010 began exactly like this: as a personal dream of Rotterdam local Edwin van Viegen. Driven by his love for surfing and his belief that sport and the city can strengthen one another, the idea emerged to create a place where water, movement, and connection come together.
“We didn’t want to bring surfing into the city as something exclusive, but rather as something that becomes part of everyday life.”<br />
Not as a standalone attraction, but as part of everyday urban life. Open, visible, and accessible to all.
What followed was far from a simple journey. Building a surf pool in the middle of a city like Rotterdam requires more than a good idea. It takes courage, perseverance, and the ability to bring people along with you.
In 2014, the plan was submitted to the Stadsinitiatief (City Initiative). A unique moment, as Rotterdammers themselves decide which ideas move the city forward. Tens of thousands of residents cast their votes — and chose RiF010. In doing so, it became not just the initiative of a single entrepreneur, but of the city itself. A collective “yes” to innovation, sport, and making smarter use of Rotterdam’s identity as a water city.
But winning a vote does not mean a project is immediately realized.
The years that followed were dedicated to further development, testing, and reinvention. Technical challenges, permitting processes, and the complexity of building in a unique location made the process intensive. How do you create consistent, surfable waves in an urban environment? How do you ensure it is safe, sustainable, and accessible? And how do you ensure such a place functions not only as a sports venue, but also as a meeting place for the city?
“We had to reinvent the plan several times. That’s exactly what made it stronger in the end.”<br />
In 2019, the plans became more concrete and development of the wave installation began. Construction started in 2022. Step by step, the idea took physical shape.
Then, in May 2025, RiF010 officially opened.
With it, Rotterdam gained something truly unique: a surf destination in the heart of the city. A place where you can surf, bodyboard, SUP, or canoe — but also simply sit by the water with a drink from the Surfbar & Kitchen, watching the next wave roll in.
RiF010 is more than just sport. It is a place where the city comes together. Where energy is tangible. Where people linger, even if they never enter the water themselves.
“You might come here for the surfing, but you stay for the atmosphere and the people.”<br />
As surfers, the initiators are deeply aware of the vulnerability of oceans worldwide. Climate change, pollution, and overfishing directly impact the sport they love. This awareness is reflected in the way RiF010 operates. The ambition is clear: to achieve the smallest possible ecological footprint.
For example, 100% sustainably generated energy is used for both the wave installation and the beach house. The design continuously prioritizes energy efficiency, such as through the use of micro-sieves for water filtration — a system that consumes significantly less energy than traditional sand filters. The surf bar also consciously limits the use of plastic and disposable packaging.
RiF010 shows what happens when an idea truly aligns with its city. When it matches the mentality of doers, innovators, and perseverers. And when a city is willing to stand behind such an idea.
From a personal plan to a city initiative. From votes to construction. From dream to reality.
This is no ordinary wave.
This is a wave set in motion by the city itself.
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