Rotterdam Make It Happen: Rotterdam mentality unites city, port and university

24-12-2014 – Press Release

The Municipality of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Rotterdam Partners have joined forces in order to put Rotterdam even more firmly on the national and international map. The joint efforts through the payoff ‘Make it happen’ reflects the typical Rotterdam mentality and showcases what the city, its port and its inhabitants are all about: pioneering, pushing boundaries and a general no-nonsense vibe. This unique collaboration aims to attract and retain highly educated people, companies, trade, visitors and inhabitants.

Ahmed Aboutaleb (the Rotterdam mayor), Allard Castelein (president-director of the Port of Rotterdam), Pauline van der Meer Mohr college chairperson of Erasmus University) and Ron Voskuilen (director Rotterdam Partners) officially kicked off the collaboration today at Central Station. Aboutaleb: “Rotterdam is an international city that pushes boundaries. We want to increase our cities international appeal. At the same time we have to tackle the challenges modern society faces, such as a rapidly changing society and a competitive economy. By joining forces we increase our strength and we can showcase all aspects of the city of Rotterdam.”

Unique in the world, typically Rotterdam

It’s a unique thing that four leading Rotterdam advocates join to reinforce the Rotterdam ‘brand’ this way. The collaboration and the payoff didn’t just come into existence out of the blue. ‘Make it Happen’ really suits Rotterdam. Take ‘de Nieuwe Warmteweg’, where residual heat from the port is used for city heating. Or SmartPort, a project where the Port of Rotterdam and Erasmus University collaborate in finding smart solutions. “Together we are going to develop and share these innovations with the world” says Castelein.

Enticing invitation

‘Make it happen’ represents what the city, the port and its inhabitants are about: pioneering, pushing boundaries and non-nonsense. It’s the typical mentality that make the Rotterdammers (Rotterdam inhabitants) proud. Van der Meer Mohr: “Make it happen is a promise and at the same time an enticing invitation: it’s all possible here, just come and do it. But it’s not meant as showing off. At the same time we can be proud of everything that is happening in our city. That’s what we as university want to express. We hope and expect that more parties will find themselves in this mentality and join our collaboration. Because you may might go faster alone, but you’ll  go further together.”