Swimmable Cities Summit 2025 - Rotterdam

LET’S CREATE A NEW WAVE OF URBAN REGENERATION!

You’re invited to be part of the movement, and a rare opportunity to connect with some of the world’s leading experts, actors, activists and decision-makers at the forefront of urban swimming.

Swimmable Cities is proud to be teaming up with the City of Rotterdam to host our inaugural Summit, June 22-24 2025, as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

Set in the Rijnhaven, across three days you’ll witness their urban waterway transformation first hand, while connecting to the latest trends, insights and breakthrough innovations from cities around the world. Our collective mission is to raise awareness about the potential for urban swimming to regenerate waterways, improve liveability and grow climate resilience!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN - UNTIL WORLD WATER DAY (MAR 22)!

OUTCOMES:

1. We'll be launching a NEW Cities Program for 'Flagship' and 'Next Gen' cities. 

2. We'll be creating the conditions for exciting new partnerships and collaborations between Actors.

3. We're planning to publish a SC Summit 2025 - Summary Report / Toolkit.

PARTICIPANTS: 

From grassroots to global, we’ll be welcoming 100 changemakers and thought leaders from diverse backgrounds – Community Organisers, Architects, Landscape Architects Urban Planners, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Environmental Managers, Youth Leaders, Policy-makers, Developers, Engineers, Scientists, Researchers, Sports enthusiasts & more.

We'll be inviting representatives from Charter Signatory Municipalities - City of Rotterdam, City of Yarra (Melbourne), Alsergrund District (Vienna), City of Annapolis (US), as well as emerging municipal Signatories from Eastern Europe and North America. We'll also warmly invite colleagues from the City of Paris, Greater London, City of Helsinki, City of Amsterdam and many more, including in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

SUMMIT INNOVATION STREAMS:
- GOVERNANCE - Balancing the Right to Swim with Nature Rights, Sport, Tourism & Trade
- WATER HEALTH - Stormwater, Sewage, Safety, Tech & Ecosystem Restoration
- POLICY REFORM - Regulatory Innovations, Local to International Policy alignment
- INVESTMENT - Partnerships, Impact Enterprise & Development
- ARCHITECTURE - Designing and place-making for fun, inclusive Access & Equity
- COMMUNITY - Quality of Life, Swimming Culture & Climate Resilience
- WATER LITERACY - Youth, Learning to Swim & Leadership

SUMMIT PRE-PROGRAM

March 19 - Session 1 (online, linked to World Water Day, Round 4 Signatory announcement) - Coming Soon

April 23 - Session 2 (online) - Coming Soon

May 21 - Session 3 (online, linked to International Biodiversity Day) - Coming Soon

June 22-24 - Swimmable Cities Summit, Rotterdam

* Note: an additional workshop series will run for municipalities and government organisation as part of our new Cities Program for ‘Flagship’ and ‘Next Gen’ cities. More info: hello@swimmablecities.org

PROGRAM (indicative):

VENUE: Rijnhaven, Rotterdam (more details to follow)

Tickets (more details at Registration):

Early Bird – General (non-Signatory) - 200 Euro 

Early Bird – Municipal (non-Signatory) - 225 Euro 

Early Bird – Signatory Organisation - 175 Euro 

Early Bird – Municipal Signatory - 200 Euro

Hand Up - 100 Euro 

Sponsor a Participant - Flexible 

We’re committed to making this event as inclusive and accessible as we possibly can. If you’re unsure of which category best suits your position or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our team: hello@swimmablecities.org

Cancellations:

We understand that plans can change, so we aim to be as flexible as possible. Refunds will be available for cancellations made up to 1 month before the event. Unfortunately, cancellations made less than 1 month before the event will not be eligible for a refund.

Tickets are transferable up to one month before the event. If you need to transfer your ticket to someone else, please email us at hello@swimmablecities.org, and we’ll guide you through the process.

In the unlikely event that unforeseen circumstances—such as natural disasters, epidemics, or other events beyond our control—require the event to be adjusted, we will do our best to accommodate attendees. However, refunds may not be possible in these situations. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.

ORGANISED BY:

Swimmable Cities (Convened by Regeneration Projects, B Corp & Actor in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration)

City of Rotterdam (One of the founding municipal Signatories of the SC Charter)

SUPPORTED BY:

Learn more about our Partnership opportunities, contact hello@swimmablecities.org

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

(Coming soon)

FINANCIAL PARTNERS

(Coming soon)

MEDIA PARTNERS

(Coming soon)

KNOWLEDGE PARTNERS

(Coming soon)

TECHNICAL PARTNERS

(Coming soon)

MORE INFO: www.swimmablecities.org

CONTACT: hello@swimmablecities.org