Rotterdam scores high in Cities of the Future-ranking
Financial Times takes a closer look on secondary cities
fDi Intelligence is the Financial Times' specialist service for global investment professionals and institutions. The Tier 2 Cities of the Future ranking recognizes second cities like Rotterdam. It ranks 16th overall and is the best in Connectivity.Riva acknowledges growing potential
Traditionally country capitals get the most attention. But more and more the attention is shifted to other city's as capitals become to crowded and expensive. Riva can concur. Expats and international students want to come to Rotterdam for more acceptable housing rates. 'Rotterdam has 15% lower living expenses than Amsterdam." EU-Startups recently published in an article praising the city.
The raw working mentality, challenging Amsterdam, is another reason to come to Rotterdam. Rotterdam people are direct and don't slack!
That attitude is part is partly responsible for the inclusion in the list of best second cities. The new fDi Tier 2 Cities of the Future 2020/21 aims to take a closer look at the non-capital cities capturing investors’ attention and excel in a spectrum of categories around economic, social, educational and technological characteristics. The ranking defines secondary cities as non-capitals with a total population of under eight million.
Rotterdam ranks 16th globally in ranking, making it the highest ranking Benelux city. San Francisco took the inaugural Tier 2 Cities of the Future crown, followed by Montreal and Houston.
Rotterdam occupied the first spot globally in the Connectivity ranking, which measures the city's connectedness by land, air, sea and the internet.
Recently Rotterdam occupied 15th spot for FDI strategy in ‘Tech Cities of the Future 2020/2021’ ranking, also by fDi Intelligence.
Rotterdam is best in Connectivity in fDi’s new secondary city ranking Photo: Danny van der Sluis
Connected with the world
As an harbor city Rotterdam knows the importance of connection. It's important for the municipality to get all connections right. Recently KPN and the municipality signed a agreement for the installation of fiber optic. Together they want to provide Rotterdam with better, faster and more secure internet. The aim is to connect 285,000 homes and businesses to the fiber optic network within five years.
The increase in internet traffic has led to the people of Rotterdam becoming dependent on a good, stable network. The current connections in the city cannot always provide the required speeds and quality. A high-quality fiber optic network enhances the connectivity of residents and businesses and makes the city future proof.
“Nowadays, the internet is taken for granted, just like your water and electricity supply at home,” says alderman Barbara Kathmann. “It’s a basic need. So the people of Rotterdam must be able to rely on a fast, secure and reliable connection and a wide choice of internet services, especially in neighborhoods where that is not yet available. The installation of a fiber optic network is good for employment and for the city’s economic recovery. The partnership with KPN is an important step in our ambition to make Rotterdam the exemplary digital city in 2025.”
KPN regional director Anja de Vos-Biemans and alderman Barbara Kathmann (Economy, Neighborhoods and Small Centers) confirmed the partnership by laying the first connection between the KPN headquarters and the new network. Photo: Jan van der Ploeg
Directly to London, Brussels and Berlin
Public transport is also connectivity. The connection with London will become uninterrupted as Eurostar confirms October start for direct London service. In 2018 the train service was introduced. But passengers had to transfer in Brussels for a passport control. From october checks will be carried out by border officials from the departure and arrival countries prior to departure. British Border Force officials will be stationed in Rotterdam, where they will check passports and travel documents before passengers board. Travel time is just three and a half hours (3 hours and 29 minutes) from Rotterdam to London, with a stop in Brussels.
Of course Corona will still affect connectivity. But as Roger van Boxtel, CEO of NS, says: “The direct high-speed train takes you quickly and without hassle from the center of Rotterdam to the heart of London, making it a strong competitor for aircraft. Due to corona we have had to wait longer for the start, but the number of international travelers will gradually increase again. It is great news that we can therefore offer travelers between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom the choice of the sustainable train.”
In the near future the connections with Brussels and Berlin will also be approved. Train passengers will travel faster to Berlin and Brussels from 2024. NS is currently working on plans to drive faster on the Amsterdam-Brussels and Amsterdam-Berlin routes. In 2024, new trains will start running on both routes, which will take travelers to the Belgian and German capital much faster and more comfortably. Half an hour is gained to Berlin and travel time savings of up to half an hour to Brussels also seem possible.
Connections such as these make Rotterdam a perfect location to live and travel Europe as a businessman or to just explore The Netherlands and our surrounding countries. Next to an airport, a harbor and a stylish train station there is a great infrastructure around the city with perfect roads leading to the rest of Holland and Europe.
Riva has a lot of apartments for rent in the city near public transport hubs and exit roads. If you're intersted in renting a house in this up and coming city you can contact us.
