Join us at [venue] for an inspiring evening as we celebrate the launch of the Urban Circle. This first edition marks the start of a new Circle for alumni who are curious about how the city is built, how it changes and how we can help shape it. Together we begin with a subject that connects it all, the bridges of Rotterdam.
For the first Urban Circle event we will look at bridges. Rotterdam and its bridges are hard to separate. Spanning the Maas and the many harbours, they connect neighbourhoods, people and economies, and they shape how the city works every day. In 2026 we celebrated 30 years of the Erasmus Bridge during the World Port Days, and in 2027 the Hef turns 100. They are two of Rotterdam’s most iconic bridges, but countless others matter just as much. That makes them a fitting place for the Urban Circle to begin.
Bridges make things happen. What did the Erasmus Bridge set in motion? What are Rotterdam’s plans for the future? And what do bridges mean for a city socially, including the small ones in the neighbourhoods? Join us for an evening about the bridges we cross and the ones we still have to build.
Programme
19:00 | Doors open
19:30 | Welcome and start of the programme
19:45 | Panel discussion on Rotterdam’s bridges and the city’s 2040 vision
20:30 | Networking drinks and interactive activity
22:00 | Joint closing
Place your sticker
During the drinks you’ll find a map of Rotterdam and a set of coloured stickers. Place your stickers where you think a bridge, a connection or a new idea belongs. Think in neighbourhoods and areas, not street by street. At the end of the evening, a few of you can share where you placed a sticker and why.
Speakers
komen we nog op terug
Who is this for?
All Erasmus alumni interested in cities, architecture, mobility and policy, or simply curious about how Rotterdam is built and where it’s heading. No prior knowledge needed.
Tickets & registration
This event is free to attend, but registration is required. Spots are limited, so make sure to register in time.
About the Urban Circle
The Urban Circle is the newest Circle of the Erasmus Alumni Club. It brings together alumni who care about the city and want to understand how it works, from the buildings and bridges that shape its fabric to the people and policies behind them.
Through events, conversations and activities, the Circle explores how Rotterdam is changing, what that means for the people who live here, and how each of us can contribute to the city. Whether you work in urban planning, architecture, policy or business, or simply live in Rotterdam and are curious, you are welcome.
The Circle opens with an evening about bridges, but its theme is the city as a whole. It is organised by (namen van de members)