Integrating Soundscapes and Community Experiences: The Role of Sound in Public Spaces through Participatory Research in Katendrecht, Rotterdam

Abstract

This policy brief presents findings from the Resilient Delta NOISE® project, focusing on Katendrecht in Rotterdam. Katendrecht is an emblematic redeveloped harbour neighbourhood where questions of social cohesion and community resilience are increasingly pressing. The brief demonstrates how participatory research methods can deepen engagement with residents in port cities and generate a richer understanding of the sensory qualities of public space. By integrating subjective sound experiences with conventional noise measurements, the research offers new insights for urban design, policy-making, and redevelopment strategies. Harbour districts near urban cores, once dominated by industrial activities, are being transformed into high-density residential areas marketed for their improved living quality. While the relocation of the port industry may reduce industrial noise, new sound environments emerge as density and public space use intensify. Increased activity, mobility, and commercialisation can reintroduce high sound levels and reshape everyday acoustic experiences. Current regulatory approaches rely primarily on objective, instrument-based measurements to verify compliance with maximum permissible noise exposure standards. However, such metrics do not capture how residents perceive and interpret sound in public space. Complementing quantitative measurements with participatory soundscape research allows planners and policymakers to understand how different groups experience redevelopment, and whether these changes contribute to feelings of belonging or alienation. By grounding its findings in Katendrecht’s public spaces, this brief offers locally situated insights with broader relevance for redeveloping port areas in Rotterdam and beyond. It argues that integrating community-based soundscape analysis into planning processes can support more inclusive and resilient urban transformation.