Why this magazine? One post. Over 300,000 views. Dozens of comments, messages, and phone calls. What started as a spontaneous idea about sports and vitality on rooftops quickly evolved into a thriving movement. Municipalities, architects, sports entrepreneurs, designers, developers, and rooftop experts all reached out. With interest, with ideas, and most of all: with a sense of urgency.
Because the need is real. The question is more pressing than ever:
How do we create healthier, more active, and more livable cities, even as space becomes increasingly scarce? The answer is literally right above us. And that’s exactly why we created this magazine.
Rooftops with potential At a time when cities are expanding, land is limited, and participation in sports is declining, we can no longer afford to view rooftops as mere technical afterthoughts. The era of unused square meters, ventilation systems, gravel, and bitumen is behind us. Rooftops are the city’s forgotten space, but also its most promising.
What if a roof not only provided shelter, but also created opportunities for movement? What if you could play, connect, relax, breathe, run, play tennis or even skate on a rooftop? What if we could bring sports, nature, water, renewable energy, and human connection to new heights?
In cities like Copenhagen, Qingdao, Antwerp, Chongqing, Vilvoorde, and Utrecht, this is no longer just a vision, it’s already happening. This magazine showcases those examples. And invites you to imagine more.
A growing movement We noticed the momentum instantly after that one LinkedIn post: this topic has energy. Whether it’s a padel court on a corporate rooftop, a football pitch on top of a parking garage, or a green meeting space above a school — it touches on something essential. A longing for more space to live healthily. To be outside. To move. To connect.
At Sports + Vitality, we’ve spent years connecting supply and demand in the world of vitality, sports, and urban well-being. But the overwhelming response to this one theme, sports on rooftops, was unlike anything we’d seen before. And honestly? We wanted more.
That’s why we acted quickly. This magazine is the first result of that spontaneous momentum. A way to inspire, connect, and show what’s already possible, as long as you’re willing to think differently.
From Inspiration to Action This magazine isn’t meant for the stage. It's not about pretty pictures on paper. What we do want: to spark movement, literally and figuratively.
- We want to bring people together: from roofing experts to sports associations, from school boards to developers.
- We want to showcase real examples: what already works? What could start tomorrow?
- And we want to launch new pilot projects in the Netherlands and across Europe.
That’s why this magazine is part of something bigger: An online platform, inspiration trips to pioneering cities like Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Rotterdam, and a growing network of changemakers at the intersection of urban space, health, and vitality.
Why It Matters Let’s be honest. The challenges are stacking up:
- Fewer children are getting enough exercise.
- Mental health among youth is under pressure.
- There's a shortage of space for sports, greenery, and social connection.
- Public spaces are fragmented and often underused.
And yet... across Europe, square kilometers of rooftops are sitting idle, unused, unimagined.
It’s time to change how we look at space.
FFrom leftover space to opportunity space. From roofing to urban development. From infrastructure to meaningful impact.
You Make the Difference Whether you’re a city official, entrepreneur, policymaker, designer, sports professional, or just someone with a great idea: you can make the difference. It might start with one simple question: What’s happening on your roof?
We invite you. To think with us. To act with us. To build with us. And above all: to look up.
Because that’s where the future of our cities is taking shape.
Let’s Make Impact: Together With this magazine, we don’t just want to share stories. We want to open doors, to collaboration, creativity, and concrete execution.
And yes, this is just the beginning. More editions will follow. More stories. More partnerships. Because if it’s up to us, rooftops will soon be the most active, healthy, and surprising spaces in our cities.
Look up. The space is already there. You just have to dare to use it.
Marcel de Visser Co-Founder Sports + Vitality
