Carola Hein, Professor of History of Architecture and Urban Planning at Delft University of Technology (Netherlands) and 2024-2025 research-fellow at the Paris IAS, is the director of the PortCityFutures project, and the driving force behind the film Port Cities and Health - Part 1: Rotterdam.

Three quarters of humanity live on coastlines, or on the banks of rivers flowing into them. Not surprisingly, port cities are among the most bustling and creative human hubs in the world. Port cities are hubs of energy and innovation and engines of economic, social and cultural growth. They are gateways for global trade and human migration and an endless stream of exciting new ideas. As transport hubs, port cities host global flows of goods and people. Located at the edge of sea and land they face huge challenges: Air, land and water pollution, infectious disease, economic disparity and poverty. As Earth warms and sea levels rise, port cities face a daunting challenge; their historic role as spaces of resilience can also make them models for innovation.

This film is the first in a series on port cities and health. It was first broadcast on Dutch channel ONS TV on 12 January 2025. The film takes you to Rotterdam, Europe's largest seaport and shines a light notably on the question of air pollution as related to industry and shipping. It addresses the city’s colorful history, the often troubled, invariably complex interplay between city, people and port, and how people come together to make the city economically, socially, culturally and environmentally sustainable.

By BonteKoe Media.
In association with Inbetween Video Productions and LDE PortCityFutures.