The major bombing of Rotterdam in 1940 made the city a centerpiece for the Netherlands' post-war reconstruction efforts. Pendrecht was one of the neighbourhoods built during this period, and followed the principles of speed, functionality and efficiency for which the large-scale reconstruction was widely known. The district was designed by Lotte Stam-Beese as a new example of urban development, where space, social contacts and living in the green space were the focus. However, a few decades later the neighbourhood shifted from being the ideal picture to an increasingly vulnerable one, with rising numbers of unemployment, immigrants and physical deterioration.

The relationship between the post-war physical urban planning strategies in the Pendrecht district and the issues that emerged decades later is the main focus of this study. Using historical sources and archival documents, this thesis shows that there is a strong connection between these two aspects, and that even after multiple policy strategies, these problems often still reappeared. The research also makes a link to more modern Vinex neighbourhoods where, over the years, there have also been signs of similar developments to those in Pendrecht. For this reason, the thesis concludes in emphasizing the need to consider flexibility, adaptivity and variation early in the design process. By not only focusing on today but also looking to the future, a sustainable an inclusive future can be built.