The quiet shift from vacation to performance It began with a sentence in the Wall Street Journal: an article about travelers returning from vacation exhausted. Not tired from work, but tired from travel itself. “Overworked travelers seeking rejuvenation in retreats and tours that focus on connection and creativity.” The words...
Between Governance, Nature, and Discovery Agnes Holtjer is someone who thrives on movement. Not only in my work as a strategic leader in the public sector, where I focus on complex spatial challenges and administrative collaboration, but also in my free time. Traveling has always been part of who I...
Rotterdam is a city that stays with you. Shaped by its rawness and authenticity, it reflects real life in its purest form. With around 170 nationalities, it’s a place where the whole world comes together, constantly evolving yet always staying true to its direct and honest character. One of the...
Ellen Beekmans is the designer and owner of Ellen Beekmans Jewelry. Her pieces are more than just products, they embody style, identity, and emotional value. Each design is creative, colorful, and made to help women shine. Ellen Beekmans Founder of Ellen Beekmans Sieraden I enjoy walking through cities and natural...
Travel has a unique way of shifting our perspective. It invites us to slow down, to look inward, and to return home slightly changed, often in ways we don’t immediately notice. This blog is an exploration of that transformation: how experiences abroad can help us understand ourselves more deeply, and...
Last week, I walked three stages of the Pieterpad — the most iconic long-distance hiking trail in the Netherlands. Stretching nearly 500 kilometers from the northern village of Pieterburen to the hills of Sint-Pietersberg near Maastricht, this trail offers much more than just a walking route. It’s a journey straight...
In a world where AI is rewriting the rules of work and life, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Recently, renowned trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort shared a striking vision in FD Persoonlijk: AI will impact billions of jobs worldwide. Work — once our anchor for meaning and identity — is...
Join me as I embark on an exciting journey into the world of regenerative tourism. Once you start digging into this fascinating topic, a whole new world begins to open up. However, I found myself overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available, and I needed some guidance to focus...
Regenerative tourism is redefining the way we travel. Instead of just minimizing harm, this approach actively improves the destinations we visit, supporting communities, culture, and nature. Tourism has long driven economic growth, cultural exchange, and unforgettable experiences. However, mass tourism has led to challenges such as overtourism, environmental degradation, and...
Regenerative Tourism: The Future of Sustainable Travel Tourism has long been a powerful driver of economic growth, cultural exchange, and enriching experiences. However, the rapid expansion of the travel industry has brought significant challenges—overtourism, environmental degradation, and the displacement of local communities. The solution? Regenerative tourism, a concept that goes...
