In February 2021, the Netherlands was under lockdown for months. Months without any activities for residents and months without visitors for Rotterdam Zoo, resulting in financial problems and negative coverage for the zoo. We set out to put Rotterdam Zoo in a positive light, support their fundraising campaign, and provide a much needed fun activity for the people of the Netherlands, and specifically Rotterdam.

If the people in Rotterdam can’t come to the zoo (because of covid-19), we’ll bring the zoo to them. We broadcast live streams of animals on Digital out of Home screens spread across the city centre, transforming the centre of Rotterdam into the only accessible zoo in the Netherlands. A map of the city centre, designed to look like that of the zoo, allowed visitors to walk from one virtual animal enclosure to the next. A QR code linked to a payment app allowed visitors to pay a voluntary entrance fee.

Create goodwill and awareness for Rotterdam Zoo. A zoo struggling to survive in times of covid-19.

We launched different live streams in different DOOH screens on iconic locations in Rotterdam, creating a route that took about 45 minutes to complete through the centre of the city. The Lockdown Zoo was open for a month.

An estimated 120.000 people visited The Lockdown Zoo, resulting in an 150% increase in donations to Rotterdam Zoo. Both local and national media paid attention to the idea, which included the national news channel and over 50 different publications.