Impact investor Don Ritzen picks Rotterdam for €240m ‘new world wonder’ to spark climate action
25 nov. 2025
16:44
With a €240m “world wonder” in Rotterdam, Dutch investor and founder Don Ritzen aims to turn awe into action on climate change – and test the limits of his ambition.
Dutch entrepreneur Don Ritzen is taking on one of Europe’s boldest architecture projects. His startup, Shift, has confirmed Rotterdam’s Waterkant neighbourhood as the site for a €240m “world wonder” designed to drive action on climate change. The landmark is expected to welcome up to 1 million visitors annually once open, scheduled for 2031.
Ritzen, co-founder of the startup accelerator Rockstart, has spent years building companies and ecosystems that scale. Now he’s applying the same founder-first approach to Shift – which aims to be a massive, immersive space showcasing climate heroes, green initiatives, and sustainability-focused art...