Dobberend Bos Rotterdam

In Rotterdam’s Rijnhaven floated a remarkable forest — a collection of trees growing not on solid ground, but on buoys. This project, called Het Dobberend Bos (The Bobbing Forest) is both a poetic and urgent call for more nature in the city. The artwork was realized by Mothership in collaboration with artist Jorge Bakker, whose model of miniature floating trees served as the project’s starting point. The full-scale realization consists of twenty trees placed in specially adapted buoys, floating gently through the harbor.

The project emphasizes the potential of reuse, sustainability, and creativity within urban space. The Bobbing Forest not only symbolizes the greening of the city but also invites reflection on climate adaptation, biodiversity, and how we interact with our environment. Mothership was responsible for the project’s production, ensuring that the idea could grow from a scale model into a monumental realization.

In January 2021, the forest moved across the Weerwater to Almere, as a gift from Rotterdam to the Floriade Expo 2022.