Marking the middle: Cool Cities Midterm Event in Middelburg

This edition was particularly special, as it was organised jointly with the Cool Neighbourhoods project, marking the first time two Interreg programmes (North Sea Region and North West Europe) hosted a combined midterm event. Project advisors from both programmes were also present to share insights on collaboration across programmes and the opportunities this creates for projects and cities.

The Midterm brought together partners and interested professionals for a day of inspiration and knowledge exchange on urban climate adaptation. The event was moderated by Tako Popma and opened by Jeroen Louws, Vice Mayor of Middelburg. Several keynote speakers shared their insights on climate adaptation and urban heat. 

• Tim van Hattum inspired participants to think towards 2120 and the future shape of climate-resilient Europe. 
• Stephanie Erwin from the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences presented how heat mapping helps cities identify and prioritise areas most vulnerable to urban heat. 
• Emma Westerduin from Except Integrated Sustainability emphasized the power of community-driven climate action and the importance of involving local actors in climate solutions.
• Eva Gheselle from the City of Bruges shared practical local experiences. In her keynote Better health begins at your front door.
• Inge Maria van Wijk from BoschSlabbers Landscape Architects showed how greener streets can improve public health and outlined concrete steps to create cooler, more resilient neighbourhoods.

The event also received attention beyond the project community. The midterm event was featured on the front page of Zeeland Nieuws, highlighting how European cities are collaborating to address the growing challenges of urban heat and climate adaptation.

Read the full article in Dutch