In ‘We Gaan Door!’ Mooi, Mooier, Middelland describes how self-organisation expresses itself through a new non-profit neighbourhood company. That company, De Middellander, is a hub for innovators & connectors, a nerve center for communication and an office for administration. This document describes how we are building that, with De Middellander’s charter as a basis.
The value of our projects lies in their contribution to the dynamic development of the neighbourhood. Middelland is always changing and developing, like the rest of Rotterdam. The composition of the neighbourhood changes, just like the needs of residents and the use of space. social enterprise De Middellander develops temporary or permanent activities with residents or groups of residents. In this process we provide space for everyone.
Besides generating sustainable development, that also generates money. That’s profit for generosity. Mooi, Mooier, Middelland provided a clear framework for the operation of social enterprise De Middellander in the Guidelines of Purchase. Money generated by projects is invested in new projects and facilities. The choices we make are no secret, nor are our accounts. Transparency is a key value and we’re always open for questions.
The generous city is never finished and requires us to practice daily. In the words of Jacob Voorthuis: ‘Civilisation, the civilised world, is very thin, not because people are nasty creatures, but because the world has to be practiced by every person. That requires care. So if we want to live together in the city we have to be generous to each other and the city and we have to practice its implicit generosity, its rich world. Only then will the city become generous to us. Thus, its beauty appears to be everywhere.’
From our personal experiences we all share a key to driving this generous city. That requires practice and cooperation from people who are as consciously dynamic and diverse as the generous city itself.