At Rotterdam Ahoy, we don’t see sustainability as a destination, but as a way of working. Since our foundation in 1971, progress and responsibility have been part of our DNA. Today, we continue to build on that pioneering spirit — together with our partners, suppliers, visitors, and employees. Our long history in sustainability forms the foundation of who we are today. We continue to innovate, invest, and inspire to make a positive impact: now and for the future. Read the story of our origins and our ongoing journey toward sustainability. On this page, you’ll discover what sustainability means to Rotterdam Ahoy and which themes shape our strategy — enriched with inspiring examples that show how we put them into practice.
Leave a Lasting Impact
An event at Rotterdam Ahoy is more than just a moment — it’s an opportunity to create something lasting. Our Legacy Document helps organizers leave a sustainable, social, and economic legacy. Discover inspiring examples and practical steps to make your event more meaningful.
Download the Legacy Document
The five pillars are brought together in our visual roadmap, where we illustrate and explain Rotterdam Ahoy’s strategic direction for sustainability in the coming years.
Social Sustainability
At Rotterdam Ahoy, social sustainability is all about people. We believe that a strong society begins with connection, respect and equal opportunity. That’s why we are committed to creating an open, safe, and accessible environment for everyone. From our employees and suppliers to our visitors and the residents of Rotterdam South.
Our Approach
- Understand: We actively listen to the needs and experiences of different groups. This helps us learn what truly matters and where we can make a difference together.
- Connect: We support and develop initiatives that promote interaction, collaboration and mutual understanding. This way, we build bridges between people, organizations and communities.
- Sustain: We measure and monitor the impact of our efforts on inclusion, accessibility and social cohesion. This ensures our approach remains effective with a lasting positive influence on the city and its residents.
Examples
As a board member of Stichting Zie Hart van Zuid, Rotterdam Ahoy is actively involved in community initiatives in the Hart van Zuid area, focused on connection and social development.
Organization and support of accessible community events, such as the Fanzone during the Rotterdam Marathon and the Summer Festival, promoting unity and joy in the neighborhood.
Projects and collaborations that create opportunities for people with a distance to the labor market, such as Port of Opportunities.
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We invest in development, education, and employability by offering internships and learning opportunities for students.
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We participate in initiatives like AanDeBak Garantie and Maatschappelijke Diensttijd (MDT) op Zuid, helping young people from the area gain work experience and future prospects.
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We continuously improve our website’s digital accessibility to ensure a user-friendly experience for everyone.
Create Social Impact with Your Event
An event at Rotterdam Ahoy is an opportunity to make a difference beyond the experience itself. With our Legacy Document on Social Impact, we help organizers create lasting social value — before, during, and after their events. Discover how your event can contribute to local engagement, youth development, and social initiatives.
Our Approach
- Engage stakeholders: We actively engage in dialogue with our partners about sustainability. By exploring opportunities and developing initiatives together, we strengthen each other’s expertise and amplify our collective impact.
- Communicate transparently: We believe in openness. That’s why we share our results, ambitions and progress clearly and honestly. Fostering accountability, learning and continuous improvement.
Examples
Collaboration with waste processor PreZero for sustainable waste management.
Hosting and organizing sustainability-focused events such as Urban Future, World Energy Congress, World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition, and our own Recharge Earth. Visit www.recharge-earth.com for more information.
Rotterdam Ahoy collaborates with Just Diggit, an organization that restores degraded land in Africa by promoting natural regreening.
Sustainability and Inclusion at ABN AMRO Open
- Renewaballs, made from used tennis balls.
- Donation of leftover goodies (tennis balls, shirts, towels, etc.) to De Sportspullenbank Nederland and the Krajicek Foundation.
- Annual Sport Day organized by the Esther Vergeer Foundation for over 200 children with physical disabilities.
- ABN AMRO Foundation supports over 300 children for whom tennis is not easily accessible.
- Blind tennis clinic and blind audience section in cooperation with Komt het Zien! and Visio School Rotterdam.
- Tickets donated to Ticketbank for clients of the Rotterdam Food Bank.
- A special clinic for 160 elderly residents organized with Coalitie Erbij Rotterdam.
- A fully readable website for the visually impaired.
- A low-stimulus room for visitors during the tournament.
Sustainable Initiatives at Gastvrij Rotterdam
- 7,050 m² Rewind® carpet: lightweight, latex-free, and 100% recyclable. Fully collected after the event for recycling — a concrete step toward a more sustainable fair.
- Food surplus donated to Stichting Shareaty, which distributes it to social organizations in the region.
- The Dit Smaakt Naar Meer! pavilion focuses entirely on sustainability.
- Sustainability featured prominently throughout the program — in exhibitions and competitions such as Green Chefs Hat and Gaia Green Awards.
Our Approach
- Reduce: We continuously monitor energy use and invest in efficient installations and technologies. We also promote energy awareness among staff and partners.
- Green: We transition to renewable energy sources and move step by step toward a fully sustainable energy supply.
- Exchange: Through systems like thermal energy storage (TES), waste heat and smart grids, we share energy intelligently with our surroundings — creating a flexible, efficient and future-oriented energy network.
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Street and parking area lighting use inductive technology, a highly sustainable lighting option.
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Refrigeration systems in our hospitality operations use CO₂, a natural refrigerant that consumes 10-30% less energy.
Our Approach
- Waste prevention: We prioritize low-packaging and reusable materials and avoid single-use plastics wherever possible.
- Waste separation: Clearly marked collection points inside and outside Ahoy ensure optimal recycling of valuable resources in collaboration with specialized waste processors.
- Re-use: Furniture, decorations and banners are repurposed within our organization or donated to local initiatives extending product lifespans and reducing environmental impact.
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We collaborate with PreZero, treating waste as a raw material for new products.Did you know?
We use Apicbase, a catering order system that improves efficiency and reduces food waste.
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Our disposable catering materials are made from 100% recycled materials and FSC-certified wood.
Our Approach
- Efficient use: We continuously monitor water consumption and use water-saving systems. We also raise awareness among staff and partners to encourage responsible water use.
- Smart processes: We reuse water where possible, for example in cleaning and irrigation.
- Sustainable outdoor design: With permeable pavement and rainwater collection systems, we reduce runoff and make optimal use of rainwater.
- Climate adaptation: We create water storage areas and protect our premises from flooding contributing to a resilient and future-ready cityscape.
Examples
The Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre (RACC) features a 1,713 m² moss-sedum roof, reducing CO₂ by approximately 5.71 tons annually.
The Urban Waterbuffer allows up to 30 million liters of rainwater to be reused annually without a wastewater treatment plant. The filtered rainwater is used for cleaning windows and floors.
The 33 planters at Ahoy’s entrance are filled with plants from the Charlois Historical Botanical Garden, located in the city’s largest park, Het Zuiderpark.
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Rainwater from our exhibition and event halls is directly connected to the Zuiderpark, bypassing the sewage system
Moving Forward Together
With these five pillars, we are building a sustainable future for our visitors, our city and the world around us. Rotterdam Ahoy aims to be more than just an event venue: we are a platform where inspiration, innovation and responsibility come together. By working closely with our partners, visitors and the city, we take steps every day toward a fairer, greener and more resilient future. Real progress can only be achieved together.
History: Sustainability Before It Had a Name
Rotterdam Ahoy has traditionally been a paragon of sustainability, even before the term became commonplace. Ahoy's roots lie in the rebuilding of Rotterdam after World War II. In 1950, the exhibition 'Rotterdam Ahoy!’ was organised to celebrate the rebuilding of the port and the city. For this purpose, a temporary exhibition hall was built at the Land van Hoboken. This hall, which later became known as the Ahoy' hall, was not simply demolished after the exhibition, but remained in use for various events and exhibitions. This was reuse on a large scale, long before circular economy was a household word.
When the old halls finally gave way to the current Ahoy complex in 1971, multifunctional use was rethought. The Sportpaleis, originally designed as an indoor cycling track, soon became a venue for concerts, trade fairs and top sports competitions. From the Zesdaagse van Rotterdam to legendary performances by Queen and Prince, the venue's flexibility allowed Ahoy to adapt to the changing needs of the city and its visitors.
Social sustainability was also invested in from the start. The event Jeugdland was set up in the 1950s to give children from less fortunate families an unforgettable holiday. With activities such as a recycling park where children could disassemble computers, an explorer village and a survival camp in cooperation with the scouts, the focus was on both education and fun. This event grew into one of the largest children's events in the Netherlands and continues to inspire Ahoy's social commitment.
