Tidal Park Keilehaven

The development of the Keilehaven Tidal Park is part of a larger strategy: 'The River as a Tidal Park'. Central to this strategy is the enhancement of the river's qualities as a central, green public space and a stronger experience of the dynamic Delta. For the M4H neighbourhood, the implementation of the tidal park means adding public space for recreational use and increasing local biodiversity.

The tidal influence is an important factor that gives us dynamics within an urban area. This makes parts of the park accessible at low tide, but not at high water. This results in a dynamic public space with a chance of an exceptional experience of nature; an encounter with a kingfisher, dragonflies or cormorant that are drawn to the rich underwater life.

The Tidal Park offers the possibility to increase the natural values ​​along the river by providing different gradients, which attracts various types of nature. This makes the river valuable as a migration route for fish species and other animal species in search of nutrient-rich areas or resting places.

The Keilehaven Tidal Park uses recycled materials that are released elsewhere from the city of Rotterdam, such as quay cobblestones and the filling of gabions. Transplantation of nature, an innovative way of developing vegetation, is also used to make the tidal park look like a fully-fledged park from day one and while also enriching the soil life

Over the past two years, construction work has taken place in and around the water of the Keilehaven. The harbor basin has been transformed from a rocky plain into a tidal park, a habitat for new ecosystems and a place where visitors can enjoy unique nature experiences thanks to daily change in low and high tide. The park is now open to visitors

The design was created in collaboration with the Municipality of Rotterdam and ARK Nature Development.