José Besselink is a Senior Urban Planner in the field of public space and active travel at the City of Rotterdam. She was the initiator for hosting Walk21 in Rotterdam 2019 and the conference has served as a catalyst in creating the city’s very first walking strategy. José is a changemaker in her organization, where she leads transformative initiatives that prioritize walking and cycling as sustainable and equitable modes of transportation. With a multidisciplinary approach, she blends her expertise in urban planning and mobility to the domains of climate adaptation, health, wellbeing and sports. As an urban planner from Rotterdam, she spent an eight-month sabbatical exploring the streets of Barcelona. Motivated by both professional and personal curiosity, she immersed herself in the city’s culture and urban fabric, gathering inspiration to bring back home. José is happy to share her experience, comparing urban design and walkability in Barcelona and Rotterdam.
