The Changing Landscape of Cool Zuid: A Story of Heritage, Community, and Urban Development

Situated in the city center of Rotterdam, the neighborhood of Cool Zuid can be seen as a space of resilience and transformation. Historically one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, it has witnessed numerous changes throughout the years. From its near destruction during World War II to more recent gentrification and urban development, Cool Zuid reflects the continuously evolving identity of Rotterdam itself. Despite ongoing shifts in its urban fabric, the area continues to maintain its sense of community, particularly anchored around its many church communities.

In this post, we’ll explore Cool Zuid’s ever-changing landscape, focusing on its relationship with church communities, urban development, and social cohesion. We’ll also take a closer look at our recently published PodWalk, Houses of Worship and Placemaking in the City: PodWalk Cool Zuid, now publicly available online in both Dutch and English after its launch during Placemaking Week Europe 2024.

A Neighborhood Shaped by War

Cool Zuid, like much of Rotterdam, was profoundly affected by the bombing of 14 May 1940. Though not entirely destroyed, parts of the neighborhood suffered significant damage, leading to a long period of post-war reconstruction. During the mid-20th century, new buildings replaced remnants of the old, and the area became known for its diverse community, consisting of both higher-income households and working-class residents. The neighborhood centered around 't Landje, originally part of the city fortress which was transformed into a square where hundreds of children played daily.

Image of fire box in the area of Witte de Withstraat after the May 1940 bombing. The tower of the Bijenkorf on the Schiedamse Vest can be seen in the background. (Photograph courtesy of Stadsarchief Rotterdam)

Despite the bombings, Cool Zuid retained some of its most important landmarks, including several historic church buildings. Houses of worship  have long been central to the neighborhood’s identity, serving as both spiritual spaces and hubs for social and cultural interaction. Many international residents, including religious refugees, have been drawn to the city and to Cool Zuid, thanks to Rotterdam’s status as a major port city.

By the late 20th century, Cool Zuid gained a reputation as one of Rotterdam’s rougher neighborhoods, often referred to as a ‘rosse buurt’—an area associated with crime and social challenges. However, the late 1990s marked a turning point. Efforts to revitalize the area, driven by both the municipality and local residents, gradually transformed the neighborhood. Witte de Withstraat, one of Cool Zuid’s key streets, transformed into a cultural hu known for its galleries, bars, and restaurants.

Recent changes have been more structural. Since the late 1990s, the municipality has designated parts of Cool Zuid for high-rise developments along a specific axis. Large residential towers have since been built, significantly altering the skyline and nearly doubling the population. These developments have brought new dynamics to the community, engaging both excitement and concern about the neighborhood’s future.

Houses of Worship and Placemaking in the City: PodWalk Cool Zuid

An integral part of Cool Zuid’s community are its churches, which have historically served as more than just places of worship. They represent the neighborhood’s history and the stories of the people who live there. These churches—such as the Eendrachtskapel, Waalse Kerk, Schotse Kerk, and Alexander Nevsky Russisch Orthodoxe Kerk—have long served as spaces of cultural exchange and community support. 

Now, as new residents move into Cool Zuid and the skyline changes, the role of these churches is evolving. They face new challenges in maintaining their physical spaces while continuing to serve as places for community building and cultural preservation. The churches have the potential to act as bridges between the old and new residents, fostering social cohesion during a time of rapid urban development.

Our recently launched PodWalk, Houses of Worship and Placemaking in the City: PodWalk Cool Zuid, developed in collaboration with de Kervernieuwers and supported by Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie, delves into the intersection of neighborhood change, church communities, and urban development. Available online for the public in both Dutch and English, the PodWalk offers a digital storytelling experience that takes listeners through the streets of Cool Zuid, highlighting four of the neighborhood’s churches and exploring how they are adapting to the transformations happening around them.

Abdel Salemi (SENS Real Estate) being interviewed by Emma Egberts (MAE Heritage) for the PodWalk

In creating the PodWalk, we interviewed local residents, church leaders, and urban planners to gain a better understanding of how Cool Zuid’s built environment affects its social fabric. One of the key themes investigated is the role of these churches in maintaining community ties amidst the influx of new residents. How can these spaces continue to be relevant, not just for long-term residents, but also for newcomers? How can church buildings serve as focal points for social interaction and cohesion? What role do these churches hold in discussions about urban development?

By involving various stakeholders, from church communities to developers, the PodWalk highlights the importance of collective action in shaping the future of the neighborhood. The full PodWalk is now accessible online, allowing anyone to explore Cool Zuid at their own pace, while listening to the stories that investigate the connection between these churches and the ongoing urban development of the neighborhood.

Bridging History and Modernity through Placemaking and Community Stories

Placemaking Week Europe 2024 served as the official launch of the PodWalk. This event is Europe’s largest placemaking festival, which brings together over 400 practitioners to network and learn from one another. This year’s festival took place in Rotterdam and engaged urban planners, architects, cultural workers, and community activists from across Europe to discuss the future of placemaking in rapidly changing cities. The theme of this year’s edition was ‘Creating better cities together’, a theme that highly resonates with the ongoing collective efforts to better Cool Zuid.

As part of this event, a neighborhood tour based on the PodWalk was hosted by Sander Ummelen of de Kerverniewers. During this tour, Ummelen led a group around Cool Zuid, sharing the history of the area, listening to the PodWalk, and discussing the future of this neighborhood. In spite of the persistent rain, the stories of the churches further came to life on site as the blend of historic and modern architecture was visible throughout the walk.

A tour group member, shielded by their umbrella, listens to the PodWalk while viewing the Waalse Kerk. A large residential tower and construction equipment are visible in the background.

Transformatie Cool Zuid provides another way in which to experience and learn about the neighbourhood. Created by residents, local photographer Jan Nass, who also serves as the sexton of the Waalse Kerk, and DIGITUP, this exhibition visually explores the changes taking place in the neighborhood. Presented in collaboration with Stadslab Cool Zuid and DIGITUP, the exhibition documents the tension between the old and the new—highlighting both the physical transformations and the social changes occurring in the community. Located at Schiedamsedijk 57, the exhibition is open every Friday and Saturday from 14:00 to 17:00, offering a visual counterpart to the stories captured in the PodWalk.

Photograph of Cool Zuid featured in the exhibition Transformatie Cool Zuid

Cool Zuid is a neighborhood in flux, but it is also a place where history and modernity intersect in complex and complicated ways. As the population grows and the skyline changes, the role of church communities and historic buildings within conversations about urban development becomes more important than ever. Through the PodWalk, exhibitions like Transformatie Cool Zuid, and collaborative community efforts, this transformation is captured and a wider audience is engaged in the ongoing conversation about placemaking, social cohesion, and urban development in Rotterdam. Together, we can reflect on how diverse members of the community can come together and collectively imagine futures for local communities like the Cool Zuid.