On Tuesday the 27th of May, we had the pleasure of hosting a private screening of Een Kano Naar Zee, a documentary by André van der Hout about the history of the Port of Rotterdam. The film, which we were proud to co-fund as part of our broader commitment to exploring just and sustainable transitions, was shown to an audience of around 60 guests. Attendees included Henk Molenaar, former director of the Rotterdam Port Authority, as well as representatives from knowledge institutes, government, port authorities, and NGOs.

Setting the Stage for Transformation

Hans de Voogd, director at Resilient Delta, kicked off the screening by emphasizing that at Resilient Delta we aim to mobilize scientific perspectives to design real-world solutions for complex challenges in the Dutch Delta.

Vinzenz Bäumer Escobar, academic lead for port transitions at Resilient Delta, took the floor to explain that, in the face of ongoing social and ecological crises, ports face the challenge of transitioning away from historically established growth-centric models. In addition to technological and political retooling, this also requires a change of heart and bold imaginaries that go beyond business as usual.

A Fossil Past, A Future Unwritten

The documentary, based on the lives of two ‘port barons’—D.G. van Beuningen, who established his coal empire in Rotterdam from 1900 onwards, and Frans Posthuma, who managed to attract one oil giant after another to Rotterdam after the Second World War—reconstructs how the city and port have become deeply intertwined with the fossil fuel industry. Drawing from these historical insights, the film also looks ahead to shed light on the possible future of the port.

From Reflection to Dialogue

After the screening, André van der Hout was joined by Carola Hein (professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at TU Delft) and Paul van de Laar (professor of Urban History at Erasmus University Rotterdam) for a Q&A session with the audience. They explored key questions raised by the film, including: How can we mobilize political actors to work towards fundamental transformations of the port? How do historical narratives and the legacy of fossil fuel industries shape current decision-making? What roles can communities and civil society play in reimagining and co-creating the port’s future?

Planting Seeds of Hope

To conclude the evening, guests were invited to write down their hopes for the future on seeded paper and hang them in a tree sourced from the Trompenburg Arboretum. This “Toekomstboom” will later be planted in the Merwevierhaven area as a living symbol of collective imagination and future growth. The wishes reflected a shared desire for change and renewal: “A greener future,” “Focus the Port of Rotterdam’s mission on operating via thrive-economics within environmental boundaries,” and “Let the natural ecosystem take the lead again” were among them. One guest offered a simple but resonant hope: “I hope for wise and brave politicians.”

Looking Ahead

We hope that this event will spark further collaborations. Representatives from the Province of South Holland and the Environmental Protection Agency have already expressed interest in hosting in-house screenings of the film to encourage conversations about port transitions.