BioBlitz010 2026BioBlitz010 2026

During a bioblitz, you document all the life you observe in a defined area for 24 hours. This helps to map biodiversity and keep track of how different plants, animals – and fungi! – establish, multiply, and develop there over time. At the local BioBlitz010, hundreds of nature experts and green amateurs attempt to find and record as many species as possible together with residents and visitors of Rotterdam. At least 1,000 should be found in and around the Museum Park. During the 2025 edition, for example, more than 4,300 observations were made of about 1,200 different species.

Nieuwe Tuin, the ecologically designed and maintained garden in the immediate outdoor space surrounding the Nieuwe Instituut, forms a concrete expression of collaborating with non-human life and a conscious approach to the ecosystem within which you operate as an institute. Here, you can see in practice and in an accessible way what it means to work as a Zoöp. On this Biodiversity Day, gardeners Frank Bruggeman and Peter Zwaal will provide a special explanation regarding the design choices and the opportunities and challenges of ecological gardening.

A tree trunk and stump that have been part of the garden design since 2023 have been included in the exhibition FUNGI. Anarchistische ontwerpen because dozens of species of mushrooms have started growing on them since then. Biologist Sandra van Iwaarden of Bureau Stadsnatuur will map all these fungi starting in the autumn of 2025. During a walk, Frank and Sandra talk about their contribution to FUNGI and help you identify mushroom species on the stumps – and around them.

Observe and document as many species of life as possible for BioBlitz010 – download the ObsIdentify app in advance and create an account on waarneming.nl.

• 13:00hr: Visit the New Garden guided by gardeners Frank Bruggeman and Peter Zwaal
• 14:00hr: Mushroom and lichen excursion, guided by biologist Sandra van Iwaarden (Bureau Stadsnatuur) and artist and New Garden gardener Frank Bruggeman.
• 15:00hr: Zoöp Detour, guided by Detour Guide Naomi He-Ji (max. 15 people)
• 15:00hr: Visit the New Garden guided by gardeners Frank Bruggeman and Peter Zwaal
• 16:00hr: Zoöp Detour, guided by Detour Guide Naomi He-Ji (max. 15 people)
• 16:00hr: Visit the New Garden guided by gardeners Frank Bruggeman and Peter Zwaal

Furthermore, you can continuously visit the exhibitions FUNGI. Anarchist Designers and Future Makers!, independently complete one of the family scavenger hunts Search for Zoöp and/or Fungi Finder, shop guilt-free in the New Store, and delve into the knowledge of fungi and design with a book from the special selection by NAi Booksellers.

PLEASE NOTE: The mushroom and lichen excursion starts in the FUNGI exhibition, passes by the installation on ‘Stems and Stumps in the New Garden’ at The Natural History Museum Rotterdam, after which Sandra leads participants from the city nature reserve through the Museum Park towards the New Garden.

The museum is open from 10:00-17:00hr.

In 2022, Nieuwe Instituut became the world’s first ‘zoöperatie’ or Zoöp. Such active collaboration with all life means that an organization weighs not only the interests and needs of humans in decision-making, but also non-human voices. Through small and large interventions, Zoöps contribute to a livable, living, regenerative, and equitable world.