Eco District Leonidas

In the shadow of the Van Brienenoord bridge, alongside the river, there is a remarkable urban development taking place. On the former terrain of hockey club Leonidas in what is known as the Esch, the municipality of Rotterdam started a project in which individuals can, under certain conditions, design and create their own sustainable dream house. Slowly this new residential area with a fully green character is forming and expanding itself.

As long as the houses meet with all the sustainability requirements that were set by the municipality, almost everything seems to be possible in the new eco district Leonidas. That way, a totally new and truly unique part of Rotterdam is being formed. With its wide diversity in styles and various sustainable building solutions in a relatively small surface, Eco district Leonidas is a true showcase of contemporary innovative architecture!

On the other side of the dyke, you’ll find the former DWL-terrain. The striking character of this former drinking water pipeline zone was what saved it from destruction back in the seventies. Instead of tearing it down, the government decided on transforming it into a residential area, with the refurbishment of the iconic water tower as the centerpiece. Back in those days it was a remarkable choice, because the historic value of industrial heritage wasn’t always appreciated as it is now and a lot of precious buildings got lost over the years.

In a walking tour, UrbanGuides will make you acquainted with this futuristic district. Our guide will tell you about the urban developments of earlier times as well as the contemporary ones. From our architecture professional, you will learn about the history and transformation of the former DWL-terrain and go on an exploring trip through the eco district Leonidas.

On request this tour can be combined with the bicycle tour Rotterdam, City of the Future. Or you can rent a bike for a nice and easy way to get from the city center to Leonidas.