Blue City

Since 2015, the BlueCity project has developed from a vacant swimming pool, located next to the Maas River, into a circular economy hub for the city of Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 2023, BlueCity became a model for circular and blue economy initiatives and home to 55 entrepreneurs and startups. The concept involves reusing the 12.000 m2 building Tropicana, a former tropical swimming paradise that lost its original function and is now hosting offices and events. It is a platform for exchanging and creating new ideas regarding a circular economy and a sustainable future. Moreover, it is a meeting place for pioneers and enterprising minds, where they develop a framework for action, whether to grow their impact, live a zero-waste life, or develop a future-proof material. BlueCity’s mission is to accelerate the transition from the linear to the circular economy through entrepreneurship.