Kralingse Plas – Urban Habitat

Most Rotterdammers know the park around the Kralingse Plas lake as the place to be for a summer BBQ (or ice skate if it’s a good winter). It is my usual running route, one that I nowadays enjoy even more, as the lake and the park around it have been revitalized as an Urban Habitat.

Being a geoscientist working in environmental engineering, I have a special affinity for such projects. The works were done to make both the park and the lake more nature-friendly. This transformation goes unnoticed by the most visitors, but the influence on the habitability of the area is nevertheless quite significant.

The new, improved Kralingse Plas features a spawn ladder and marsh areas along the banks, a fish-friendly pumping station, a diversified fish population and a dephosphatation installation on the water inlet. Although I’m probably one of the very few visitors who get excited about the last one. Bottom line is – Kralingse Plas now has even more to offer. And you don’t have to be a geoscientist to enjoy it.