In 2022, Erasmus University Rotterdam launched a research project entitled Mijn Stad Rotterdam (My Rotterdam) under the motto ‘Don’t talk about Rotterdammers, but with Rotterdammers’. The researchers conducted personal interviews with fifty locals to ask them how they felt about the city’s problems and opportunities.
In the media, Rotterdam is often painted as a city of extremes: attracting praise for its vibrancy and stunning architecture on the one hand, while being condemned for its terrible poverty and crime statistics on the other. How do Rotterdammers themselves feel about this? Do they feel a connection with their city? What are their concerns? And do they see opportunities to make Rotterdam more liveable?
Out of a series of fifty interviews with Rotterdammers from all walks of life, the researchers distilled six perspectives that the locals had on their city. They presented their findings at the In gesprek over vooruitgang (Discussing progress) event held in February 2023. The findings will serve as input for recommendations to the municipal authorities and other civil-society organisations.
Karel Slot: give people more room to manoeuvre!
One of the Rotterdammers who took part in the survey is Karel Slot, 74, a retired teacher and social worker. “The interview was very lively”, he recalls. “The researcher let me speak without interrupting and was very encouraging. They even sent me a final report.”
“Even though I don’t have the accent, I feel like a true Rotterdammer”
Karel Slot
Participant in the survey
“I moved here when I was 24”, Slot says. “It was the ‘lefty seventies’, with at least one demonstration a week. We distributed communist-leaning newspapers and had the odd scuffle with the police. Rotterdam had – and still has – a reputation as a city where people are unpretentious and get on with the job. These days, we’re seeing ever more skyscrapers joining its skyline and the revitalisation of districts like Delfshaven and the Kop van Zuid. There’s always something going on.” With a smile: “Even though I don’t have the accent, I feel like a true Rotterdammer.”
Slot lives in Zevenkamp, a district with its fair share of urban decay. Slot: “Social problems like youth crime, litter and evictions have now reached the suburbs. Poverty and joblessness have clearly gone up. Support comes mainly from the charity sector. The Salvation Army, for instance, provides free meals and a sympathetic ear. I haven’t noticed much action from the municipal authorities, but I’m not really in a position to judge. Fighting poverty is a politically charged subject, leading to discussions about health care allowances, child allowances and so on. However, I think it’s precisely important that people are given more room to manoeuvre, so that they can enjoy culture and do nice things.”
Slot himself is active as a city ambassador, participates in theater performances for the elderly and works in the Neighborhood Food Garden Taka-Tukaland. “We’re trying to bring people together and help them lead healthier lives. The average Zevenkamp resident gets his veggies from the supermarket – if he eats them at all. They're barely even aware that these are grown rather than manufactured, except for the neighbors of Turkish and other foreign extraction, who are familiar with horticulture. We give workshops in primary schools about growing and picking your own ingredients and preparing healthy meals. Sadly, poverty often goes hand in hand with an unhealthy lifestyle. As you can see, we have plenty of initiatives but no long-term solution.”
Natascha Collins: it all starts with young people!
“I’ve lived all over Rotterdam, know the city well and am very active in the community. That’s why I really wanted to take part in this survey.” Those are the words of Natascha Collins, 46, a ground stewardess. “I love Rotterdam. It’s a cultural melting pot, which is reflected in the Summer Carnival, reggae concerts and theatres. Things have improved greatly since the old days. Feyenoord winning the league is the icing on the cake!”
At the same time, Collins observes that the city is still a long way from paradise. “Living in Zuid, I see the problems every day. The coffee shops and the litter are having a dramatic effect on the quality of life. Young people are losing their way and poverty is widespread, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic. I know people who can no longer afford to pay their utility bills. And although the construction sector is booming, its main focus is building expensive houses. My 23-year-old son can’t find an affordable place to live, even though he isn’t asking for much. I believe that inequality leads to a hardening of society. People become increasingly selfish when they’re struggling to survive. Some of us still care, though. When somebody posts about a problem on Facebook, it doesn’t take long to raise money. Quite remarkable when you think about it.”
What should be done? According to Collins, the solution lies partly with the municipal authorities and partly with the locals themselves. “Ahead of everything else, we should take greater care of our young people. Make sure that children can experience nice things. For a start, we should reopen our community centres. And even though we’re fortunate to have plenty of after-school activities, there’s still room for improvement. We should also teach our children how to resist the lure of crime.
“We should continue to look after each other – and above all ourselves"
Natascha Collins
Participant in the survey
Some of them embark on a life of crime when they’re only eleven or twelve years old, which breaks my heart. Discipline has broken down completely. Who’s raising these kids? Parents need to take responsibility. However, those that do often see their requests for support fall on deaf ears. The youth care system is in crisis.”
Collins maintains a positive outlook: “We should continue to look after each other – and above all ourselves. The municipal authorities should come up with the right policies. The Zuidplein is already much improved. It’s less busy, more beautiful and cleaner. I say: let’s tackle the surrounding districts next, and pay more attention to young people. I’m convinced that this will make Rotterdam a better place.”
Personal experiences as input for policy
Rotterdam Mijn Stad has yielded many insights, which will serve as a basis for further research. Researcher Seline Westerhof: “The interviews have highlighted people’s concerns about poverty and inequality. For the In gesprek over vooruitgang event, we brought people together to share the personal experiences recounted in the interviews, and we sat down with Rotterdammers to discuss the city’s problems and opportunities. We also spoke about their expectations regarding the municipal authorities and the role the university could play.
Was there anything the locals were able and willing to do themselves? Again, huge differences emerged. Some people are ready and waiting to implement their ideas, while others don’t know where to turn or feel ignored. Not for the first time, we found that ‘Rotterdammer’ is a multifaceted concept. Everyone has their own personal experiences. It’s precisely that diversity and multitude of experiences and ideas that makes them good input for policy.”
“Erasmus University Rotterdam has a lot of experience with this type of research”, communications adviser Britt Boeddha says. “Think for instance of the Reyeroord+ project and the knowledge workshop Leefbare wijken (Livable districts). In follow-up research, we want to focus on an area of Rotterdam to be determined and pick up what is happening there locally. The idea is to use locals as ‘community researchers’. This will see us train locals to conduct their own research. They possess the local knowledge that is necessary to reach vulnerable people and make sure that they’re seen. We’re already using this model in Kenya.”
Natascha Collins and Karel Slot believe this is a good idea. Slot: “Like I said, there are plenty of community-based initiatives already. It would be good to channel these better. I live in a Centraal Wonen project that I jokingly refer to as ‘the reservation’. We look out for each other here. After all, liveability and solidarity start on your doorstep.”
- More information
A lot of scientific research about city life speaks about citizens rather than with citizens. The research project 'My Rotterdam' wants to change that. Read more about this research project.
This research project is part of the Erasmus Initiative 'Vital Cities and Citizens'. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the quality of life within cities.
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