Blijdorp and Ecowende deepen collaboration with lessons on North Sea nature and wind energy
Tuesday 3 March 2026
Last year, Blijdorp Zoo opened a new interactive exhibition entitled “Living with Wind Parks.” Visitors are immersed in the world of wind energy and the North Sea nature. From now on, schools can also take part in lessons on wind energy. Primary school De Vierambacht had the honour of being the first to participate.
The lessons at Blijdorp are the result of an extensive collaboration between the Rotterdam Zoo and Ecowende. The developer of the nature-inclusive wind farm Hollandse Kust West has been an Impact Partner of the zoo since 2025. From the moment the two parties joined forces, the focus has been on education—on how sustainable energy and nature conservation can go hand in hand. The aim is to enable this generation to make well-considered choices about energy and nature.
All about wind energy
The lessons begin in the classroom at school and then continue at the exhibition in the zoo. Current themes such as the energy transition, biodiversity and nature-inclusive construction take centre stage. During the lessons, school kids investigate how offshore wind farms affect life beneath the waves. In the aquariums, they see, among other things, how wind turbine foundations can function as artificial reefs and nurseries for marine animals such as sharks, anemones, crabs and starfish. Dressed in white lab coats and carrying research kits, they are introduced to a wide range of innovative solutions, including rock armouring and tree reefs.
Interactive learning
Through interactive elements, observations and assignments, children learn to take a critical look at the interaction between people, technology and nature. The lessons align with the curriculum and encourage inquiry-based learning. Children are challenged to ask questions, make connections and reflect on their own role in the energy transition. In this way, complex subject matter becomes accessible and tangible, right in the midst of marine life.
Blijdorp Zoo and Ecowende expect to introduce hundreds of school classes to the fascinating world of nature, technology and underwater life in the coming years.