Water Square in Rotterdam Zuid

Part of the Hart van Zuid area development is a unique circular water system that connects buildings, public space, and the Zuiderpark, resulting in an urban water buffer. In this system, rainwater is collected, filtered, stored, and reused, allowing 20 million litres to be recycled without the need for a sewage treatment plant.

To make this possible, a crate storage facility has been created under the Gooilandsingel, which collects rainwater from the roof of the Zuidplein Shopping Centre and Gooilandsingel. Just one heavy downpour is enough to collect 2.4 million litres of water. After the water is collected, it is purified with plants at the edge of the Zuiderpark and then stored deep underground, from where it can be pumped up during periods of drought.

The water will be used by a newly built Pathé cinema and Rotterdam Ahoy, which is also a participant in the project alongside the City of Rotterdam. The project is part of the Hart van Zuid area development, which includes a redesign of Gooilandsingel to turn it into a green city boulevard especially for pedestrians and cyclists. Ahoy will use the water from the water buffer for cleaning windows and floors. From 2024, the water will be used at the new Pathé cinema for flushing toilets, which will save a total of 15,000 m2 of drinking water annually. If the ‘quantity’ is large enough, the water can also be used to flush the Zuiderpark in the summer if the water quality of the ponds is at threat of deterioration.

The filtered water is also being reused in the fountains of the water square at the Annie M.G. Schmidtplein. The water square temporarily buffers water when it rains, and fills the underground basins. This water can be drained off at a slower rate, which relieves the sewer systems during heavy downpours. When it’s dry, the square can be used to rest, walk, and play. It’s the first square in the Netherlands where the water fountains are supplied with locally filtered water.

The square is a work of art, with flowing organic forms cut with impressive precision from various types of natural stone. The design is an ode to Rotterdam's talent for reconstruction. The elegant shapes are accentuated by the use of different types of stone and finishes. The square has different fountains, forming a harmonious whole with the organic structures of the stone. The link with Rotterdam, the port, and the period of reconstruction is also reflected in the poem written by poet Derek Otte especially for the Waterplein. Four lines of this poem are physically integrated into the square: In this moment I seek safe haven / between what has been and what will be/ I take a moment to drop the anchor / and in that moment I am free.