THE EVENT PROGRAMME

70 sessions, 30+ field trips and 20 side events!

There’s a reason Urban Future is known as Europe’s most inspiring event for making cities sustainable.

We have arranged a multifaceted programme for the 2,000 enthusiastic attendees, with a focus on story-telling, polarising discussions, and unfiltered know-how. To check out our 275 incredible speakers, have a look at their profiles here.

 

275 SPEAKERS

A line-up you loved.

International, national and local CityChangers entered the stages, talking about the highs and lows of making projects like the Barcelona Superblocks or the greening of the Champs Elysée happen.
We hope you enjoyed the game-changers and specialists from fields such as urban planning, architecture, mobility, energy, real estate and construction. 

 

FIELD TRIPS

Adventure Rotterdam!

The third day of Urban Future is traditionally dedicated to exploring the city in various ways. To fully understand what the sustainable projects of our host city are all about, attendees are invited to see, feel and experience them first-hand, in exclusive, small groups with great guides.

Options for our audience:

🌙 Rotterdam by night
🚶🏻‍♀️Climate Adaptation Walk
🚀 Rotterdam the next 100 years
💯 Rotterdam the past 100 years
🎮 Explore the CitiVerse
☀️ Morning rooftop hop
🧑‍🌾 Afternoon rooftop hop
🏙️ Urban regeneration 1: Rotterdam South
🏊‍♀️ Hangover morning swim
🌆 Urban regeneration 2: Merwe-Vierhaven
📦 IKEA’s multifunctional hub in Amsterdam
🌲 Sustainable timber tour
👚 Sustainable garment tour
🐮 Circularity to taste: milk & beer tour
🔎 Public space detective tour
🔝 Rotterdam’s top attractions
🚲 Pedelec tour to Rotterdam’s fields and farms
🌃 Urban regeneration 3: Katendrecht
🏖️ Building a city beach
✊🏼 Urban resilience tour
🛒 Upcycle Paradise
🤜🤛 Social entrepreneurship & inclusion tour
✏️ MVRDV: yes! In my backyard
🏃🏻‍♂️ Two bridges morning run
🎨 Touring Rotterdam’s world-famous street art
🙋🏻‍♀️ Buildings by Women
🌊 Floating City tour
🔬 BlueCity morning and afternoon visit
💧 Building sustainable and resilient cities
🔄 Second Life for buildings

SIDE EVENTS

Making Memories and Connections

Our promise to you was: you will get to know like-minded changemakers from all over the world! So, did you?

The side events are always a good opportunity to connect. And if you’ve attended those, we’re sure you made new friends.

… Welcome reception at City Hall
… Rotterdam’s biggest dinner in Foodhallen

5 TRACKS

1. CLIMATE ADAPTATION

We hear how climate adaptation can be integrated into general urban planning, how key actors communicate to make sure politicians opt for, stakeholders collaborate on, and citizens get involved and have their say in adaptation measures.

2. BUILDING SUSTAINABLE CITIES

Big changes are needed to transform the way we build our cities. Let’s unpack who needs to do what and let’s learn how to do it: How to create a sustainable, liveable, and healthy built environment.

3. SOCIAL ASPECTS OF TRANSFORMATION

To understand how “social” and “green” can go together, we’ll learn how to rally enough people behind “green”, and how to talk to those who won’t. Because if the transformation benefits the few, the many will crush it.

4. PERSONAL GROWTH & LEADERSHIP

This track focuses on the personal experience of those who drive change, on how to make change happen – and how not to. We will share highly inspirational stories, provide workshops on personal skills for change-making and offer in-depth engagement to help build resilience and grow as leaders.

5. CITYCHANGER SKILLS

Whether you are starting out, building influence, or aiming to make a bigger impact, Skills for CityChangers offers vital expertise to help you progress. Discover key skills for driving change and learn from the best.

Rotterdam