This research aimed to design a modern-day quay wall that can host ecologically valuable species by using pervious concrete, which offers a suitable growing layer for plants due to its high interconnected porosity. The study investigated which vascular plant species are dependent on quay wall ecosystems in the Netherlands and determined the ecological requirements that contribute to their growth. The experimental research optimized the water retention of pervious concrete by using two types of coarse aggregates and different water-to-cement ratios. The results showed that pervious concrete can be optimized by adjusting the aggregate type for a water-to-cement ratio between 0.4 and 0.6, and that the use of pumice stone enhanced the water absorption of pervious concrete by a factor of approximately 2.5. Additional testing is needed to determine if a mix design with pumice stone aggregate can fulfil the technical requirements. An inflow-outflow model is utilized to predict if the current design variant, consisting of substrate layer made of pervious concrete and soil in combination with a reservoir in the capping stone, can provide sufficient moisture to the vegetation. The findings indicate that the proposed quay wall can host ecologically valued species to a certain extent, but optimizing the design by investigating the potential of pumice stone as coarse aggregate is recommended. Furthermore, the capillary effect in the substrate layer should be investigated as sufficient rise is needed to prevent the need for a minimum form of maintenance.