Tropicana

On the banks of the Nieuwe Maas stands a striking glass building with a remarkable past. Designed by architect John Fahmel for Center Parcs, it opened in 1988 as a tropical water park and drew thousands of visitors. By 2010 it had closed and was abandoned. Entrepreneurs Siemen Cox and Mark Slegers saw potential. They proposed transforming it into a circular economy hub—growing mushrooms on used coffee grounds from local cafes. The idea thrived. Today, BlueCity hosts around 30 eco-minded startups, united in creating a waste-free future. It has become a beacon of reuse, innovation, and green collaboration in Rotterdam.