Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

(Please also check the Terms and Conditions)

Who’s behind the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit?

The Rotterdam Branding Toolkit is an online platform that is developed and run by Rotterdam Partners on behalf of the Rotterdam Make It Happen Brand Alliance, which besides Rotterdam Partners itself includes the City of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam Topsport, Rotterdam Festivals and Erasmus MC.

What is the Brand Alliance and how do Brand Alliance Partners and Brand Partners relate?

Rotterdam Make It Happen Brand Alliance Partners are the City of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Partners, the Port of Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam Festivals, Rotterdam Topsport and Erasmus MC. Brand Partners are other prominent and strong Rotterdam organisations and companies who commit themselves to Rotterdam Make It Happen. Currently, the list of Brand Partners consists of: Cruise Port Rotterdam, Diergaarde Blijdorp, Euromast, Feyenoord Football Club, RDM Rotterdam, Rotterdam Ahoy, The Rotterdam Philharmonic, Rotterdam Port Promotion Council, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, and Spido. For specific purposes and for a limited time, usage of the Rotterdam Make It Happen logo can be allowed for other organisations and companies. We call them ‘Brand fans’ (example: Delta Cycling Rotterdam). Any updates to this structure will be published on this website.

What is the idea behind the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit?

The Rotterdam Branding Toolkit is intended to make photo, video, and other resources available for use in communications and content used for the promotion of Rotterdam.

Does the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit work like a stock photo agency?

No. Although the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform does indeed offer a database of images and videos that can be selected and downloaded by third parties, the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit is not a stock photos agency. Images are therefore not sold by the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform.

Will I be charged for the use of resources from the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform?

No. Using resources from the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform is entirely free of charge, provided the resources are used in line with the terms and conditions. If you want to use resources in a way that is not consistent with the terms and conditions, you will have to contact the photographer/copyright holder directly yourself. In such cases, you may mutually agree on a fee for the resources in question. Rotterdam Partners and the Brand Alliance Partners will not be a party to such negotiations and transactions.

I am looking for a specific image, but I cannot find it on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform. What do I do now?

If you cannot find an image on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform, it is not or no longer available. But if you see similar images on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform, you could contact the photographer/copyright holder directly to ask whether he or she can help you get the image you need. Rotterdam Partners and the Brand Alliance Partners will not be involved in that.

Can I share / transfer resources from the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform with / to third parties?

No, you cannot. By downloading resources, you obtain the right to use the resources yourself under the terms and conditions of the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit. The terms and conditions do not allow you to transfer the resources to third parties.

What does direct product or service promotion mean?

By that we mean commercials, advertisements, campaigns, etc. that are intended to generate sales of a specific product or a specific service.

What is the difference between permitted promotional use, direct product or service promotion, and merchandising?

Example of permitted promotional use: the use of a photo in an article about Rotterdam in a corporate magazine published by, for example, a housing corporation, a hotel or an event organiser on a corporate website, in a brochure, or in an (e-) newsletter.

Example of prohibited direct product or service promotion: the use of a photo by, for example, a housing corporation, a hotel, or an event organiser in an advertisement, advertorial, commercial or product/project brochure that is intended to promote or sell a house, construction project (housing corporation), rooms, overnight stays, hotel or other travel package deals, parties, or tickets (event organiser).

Example of prohibited merchandising: the use of a photo on, for example, a T-shirt, mug, flag, calendar, or other product that is sold in the open market.

Here are some fictitious examples to further clarify this:

How do I know whether or not I am a Rotterdam Partners-affiliated partner?

Rotterdam Partners works with officially affiliated City-Living Partners, Convention & Tourism Partners, Economic Partners, and Knowledge Partners. These partners have all entered into an agreement with Rotterdam Partners (see website www.rotterdampartners.nl).

If I want to use Rotterdam Branding Toolkit resources for purposes other than those specified in the terms and conditions, what should I do?

In that case, you would have to contact the person who made the photo or video, or the copyright holder, yourself. The name of the person who made a specific photo or video is always stated with the resources in question. You can then deal with them directly to agree on other forms of use, possibly for a fee. Rotterdam Partners and the Brand Alliance Partners will not be involved in that.

I have my own material that I think would be a good addition to the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit. What should I do?

Please send an email to info@rotterdambrandingtoolkit.nl, specifying what kind of material you have, whether you are the producer/owner of the material (we cannot accept material and/or add it to the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform if you are not the producer/owner/right holder of the material), whether you agree to the possible transfer of the material under the current Rotterdam Branding Toolkit terms and conditions, and please also attach good-quality and clear samples of the material. We will then assess whether the material is eligible for inclusion in the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit and get back in touch with you to let you know what we have decided.

I am a photographer/videographer and believe that material I own has unlawfully ended up on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform? What should I do?

Please contact us on info@rotterdambrandingtoolkit.nl and clearly specify the material in question and why you believe it should not be on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform. We will then get in touch with you as soon as possible. 

I am a photographer/videographer and I have noticed that my name is not / incorrectly cited on my material on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform. What should I do?

We have taken great care to ensure that all photographers/videographers/right holders are cited correctly on all RBT resources. If you think we have made a mistake, please let us know by emailing us on info@rotterdambrandingtoolkit.nl. We always try to rectify possible inaccuracies or missing information as quickly as possible and report back to you.

Where can I find the name of the photographer/videographer/right holder who I have to credit?

On the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform, you will find the name specified with each object (photo or video resources). Aside from that, the name is included in the file name of the object you download, generally between underscores (_). If you are still unsure as to whether you have the right name, please contact us, preferably by email on info@rotterdambrandingtoolkit.nl.

What about rights and liability in case of improper/unlawful use of resources?

Both the resources on the Rotterdam Branding Toolkit platform and what is depicted in these resources may be subject to rights such as the copyright of the maker, image rights/right to privacy of persons in the photo/video, the right of the maker of a work of art/architecture etc. that features in a photo/video. The user is personally responsible for ensuring proper use of the resources. This means, among other things, that the user must adhere to the conditions regarding proper editing/cropping, not using the resources along with social, religious, political messages, not using the material for advertising, commercials, merchandising, and other practices/communications that are intended as direct promotion of a product or service.

In case of any kind of improper and/or prohibited use, the user will be liable for possible third-party claims in relation to copyright, intellectual property rights, privacy breaches, and other forms of loss or damage caused by the improper/unlawful use. Rotterdam Partners and the Brand Alliance Partners cannot be held liable for such loss or damage and are not a party in (the settlement of) such cases.

I have a question that is not answered by the terms and conditions and FAQs. What do I do now?

Email your question to us on info@rotterdambrandingtoolkit.nl. We will get in touch with you to answer your question as soon as possible.