On the afternoon of April 20, 2026, a seminar was held in the auditorium on the first floor of building G3 at Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE). The seminar brought together geography and urban planning experts from the Urban Studies Department of Utrecht University (Netherlands) and faculty and students from HUCE, Hanoi University of Architecture, and postgraduate students in urban spatial planning and management. The seminar was chaired by the International Training Faculty and coordinated with other specialized faculties at HUCE.

The topic of the seminar was “The Dutch experience in mitigating and adapting to climate change, strengthening urban resilience: The case of Rotterdam,” presented by Professor Leo van Grusven, lecturer at the Urban Studies Department of Utrecht University (Netherlands).

This presentation focuses on how the Netherlands, particularly the city of Rotterdam, is responding to climate change through mitigation and adaptation strategies. With approximately 40% of its land area below sea level and many areas at high risk of flooding, the country faces serious risks such as flooding, heatwaves, and land subsidence. The government aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, while implementing policies to reduce emissions and store CO₂. Rotterdam is considered a global model for urban adaptation, integrating climate issues into spatial planning and infrastructure development. The city adopts a “Living with Water” approach, combining engineering solutions and green infrastructure such as water plazas, green roofs, and permeable surfaces. Additionally, floating housing models, multi-level governance, and community participation contribute to increased resilience. Despite still facing high costs and uncertainty, Rotterdam demonstrates that climate adaptation also presents opportunities for economic development.

Many questions and shared opinions were raised by Vietnamese lecturers to the Dutch expert regarding the applicability of green infrastructure solutions and climate change-adaptive surface water management in Vietnam. Examples and solutions from the city of Rotterdam will serve as practical lessons for Vietnamese cities to cope with the impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. The seminar concluded successfully and opened up avenues for future cooperation with Dutch partners.

Here are some photos from the seminar:

Professor Leo van Grusven, lecturer in the Department of Urban Studies at Utrecht University (Netherlands), and his presentation.

Experts exchange views at the seminar.

Give gifts to the speakers.

Taking a commemorative photo at the seminar.

Nguồn: Khoa Đào tạo quốc tế