The Park is the first city park in the Netherlands with its own director
In a unique collaboration between the Municipality of Rotterdam and Stichting Droom en Daad, the Park, the city park next to the Euromast, is the first park in the Netherlands to have its own foundation, director and programme. From November 2022, Nienke van Wijk will take on the management of the park together with the gardeners. “It just has to become the most beautiful place in Rotterdam, no, the Netherlands. With its own identity.”
The brand new director of the Park, Nienke van Wijk, is a Rotterdammer from the cultural sector. With a green education, a fascination for outdoor space and urban development. “I saw that vacancy and thought ‘A lot comes together here for me’. I can make a place meaningful, focus on cultural programming and all in green!” Nienke is happy with what she believes is a unique opportunity; “Not a single park in the Netherlands has its own director yet. They know that in New York and England.” After all, it is quite common for part of the public space to be managed by another party besides the municipality.
The renovation of the Park started in 2012, after the city green was given the status of a national monument in 2011. The specially established foundation, Stichting het Park with Nienke as director, must ensure that the park remains in good condition. This is done in collaboration with the municipality. It remains responsible for basic maintenance and issuing event permits, but Stichting het Park also produces its own cultural programming with an eye for nature. “There will soon be plenty to do in the Park; concerts, guided tours, workshops”, says Nienke enthusiastically. This is how Rotterdammers can get on Visit us on December 21 for the presentation of the poetry collection ‘Poezie in het Park’of which a new edition must come out every season.
Naturally, Nienke does not manage the park alone. She and the team of gardeners will work from the schools and the building still to be renovated in the middle of the Park, the Lighal. In addition to this core team, volunteers also work on the city green and are still very welcome!
More information about the programming and care of the Park can be found at the website!