10EMESconf - Excursions into Social Enterprise Practice

10EMESconf - Excursions into Social Enterprise Practice

November 03 — November 07

2025

Please note that the Conference will take place in two locations: Rotterdam and Utrecht.

  • The first two days of the conference, as well as the morning of Day 3, will be held in Rotterdam.

  • After the excursions on Day 3, the conference will continue in Utrecht.

🚍 Transportation:
Transportation between the two cities will be provided only to participants registered for an excursion.
If you are not attending an excursion, please remember that you will need to arrange your own travel to Utrecht.

🥪 Lunch arrangements:

  • For excursion participants, lunch will be distributed as you board the buses.

  • For non-participants, please pick up your brown-bag lunch at the Registration Desk before leaving.

Meeting point: Please gather in Theil Building at 12:35. From there, volunteers will guide you to the buses using coloured signs. You can find the name and number of your excursion on the back of your name tag.

Departure time: Buses are scheduled to depart at 13:00, but boarding will begin at 12:55. Please be on time — arriving a few minutes early will help ensure a smooth departure for everyone.

🔎 Please check below for full excursion descriptions.

 

Excursion 1 — Social Inclusion & Work‑Integration

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025

After the morning parallel sessions, please gather immediately in the central hall. The excursion guides will hold up signs with the excursion numbers and -names (see above). They will guide you to the buses, a short walk from campus; please leave promptly so we can depart on time.

Lunch will be handed out in the bus. Please remember to refill your water bottles before leaving Theil building.

Departure & arrival

  • Gathering point: central hall of Theil building
  • Departure point buses: Excelsior P1 (Car Park), Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • Open map: View in Google Maps

  • Departure time: 12:45 from the central hall in Theil building. The bus will depart at 12:55.
  • End point: Utrecht Central Station (Jaarbeurs/CS‑West side)

 

Description

How can we create fair, equitable, and inclusive societies where differences are valued and everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential? This excursion showcases organisations that remove barriers and create opportunities for people in vulnerable situations, with a focus on work‑integration of newcomers.

About the places we visit

Plan Einstein (AZC Overvecht) — An innovative approach to refugee reception and integration, where residents of Utrecht’s asylum seeker centres live, learn, and work alongside local community members.

A Beautiful Mess (AZC Joseph Haydnlaan) — Hospitality and creative studio developed by Refugee Company, offering work experience and skills for newcomers in a welcoming environment.

United Repair Centre (talk at A Beautiful Mess) — Extending the life of garments at scale while creating jobs for people distant from the labour market.

Timetable — Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • 12:55 — Departure by bus from Excelsior P1, Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • 14:00–15:15 — Plan Einstein (Pahud de Mortagnesdreef 61, Utrecht): interactive presentation + brief site tour
  • 15:15–15:30 — Transfer by bus
  • 15:30–16:45 — A Beautiful Mess (Joseph Haydnlaan 2, Utrecht): presentation + talk by United Repair Centre; discussion & drinks
  • 16:45–17:00 — Transfer by bus
  • 17:00 — Arrival at Utrecht Central Station (end of excursion)

Excursion 2 — Local Cooperative Food Systems

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025

After the morning parallel sessions, please gather immediately in the central hall. The excursion guides will hold up signs with the excursion numbers and -names (see above). They will guide you to the buses, a short walk from campus; please leave promptly so we can depart on time.

Lunch will be handed out in the bus. Please remember to refill your water bottles before leaving Theil building.

Departure & arrival

  • Gathering point: central hall of Theil building
  • Departure point buses: Excelsior P1 (Car Park), Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • Open map: View in Google Maps

  • Departure time: 12:45 from the central hall in Theil building. The bus will depart at 12:55.
  • End point: Utrecht Central Station (Jaarbeurs/CS‑West side)

 

 

Description

This tour explores fair, local and sustainable food systems across neighbourhood and regional scales — and the people who benefit from social enterprises in this field. Across the two stops and three presenting organisations we’ll discuss governance (who decides), value distribution (who benefits), and the practicalities of growing and selling good food locally.

About the places we visit

Voedseltuin Rotterdam — A community food garden that grows seasonal produce for social projects and the Food Bank, while serving as a place for learning and well‑being.

The Colour Kitchen (Utrecht) — A hospitality social enterprise that offers work experience and training; we’ll meet the founder and hear lessons from their journey since 2008.

Herenboeren — A cooperative farm model (200–300 households) that co‑owns and co‑operates the farm; the team from Nieuw Bureveld will share their story.

Timetable — Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • 13:00 — Departure by bus from Excelsior P1, Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • 13:15–14:15 — Voedseltuin Rotterdam (Keilestraat 5, Rotterdam): presentation + garden walk
  • 14:15–15:15 — Transfer by bus to Utrecht
  • 15:15–16:45 — The Colour Kitchen (Prinses Christinalaan 1, Utrecht): presentation by TCK + contribution by Herenboeren
  • 16:45–17:00 — Transfer by bus
  • 17:00 — Arrival at Utrecht Central Station (end of excursion)

Excursion 3 — Circular Economy

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025

After the morning parallel sessions, please gather immediately in the central hall. The excursion guides will hold up signs with the excursion numbers and -names (see above). They will guide you to the buses, a short walk from campus; please leave promptly so we can depart on time.

Lunch will be handed out in the bus. Please remember to refill your water bottles before leaving Theil building.

Departure & arrival

  • Gathering point: central hall of Theil building
  • Departure point buses: Excelsior P1 (Car Park), Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • Open map: View in Google Maps

  • Departure time: 12:45 from the central hall in Theil building. The bus will depart at 12:55.
  • End point: Utrecht Central Station (Jaarbeurs/CS‑West side)

 

 

Description

Can waste become the start of something new? This route explores Utrecht’s circular ecosystem—from area‑based zero‑waste operations to circular construction and community stewardship. We start with Oscar Circulair to see how material streams are organised at district level, and then visit the Hof van Cartesius to explore a neighbourhood for entrepreneurs built with reused and biobased materials, including plans for the Upcycle Centre on the North Strip.

About the places we visit

Oscar Circulair — District‑level zero‑waste operations: source separation, reuse and recycling streams in partnership with businesses, institutions and municipalities.

Hof van Cartesius — A living lab for circular building and enterprise in the Werkspoorkwartier; modular construction from reclaimed/biobased materials with an active community of designers and makers.

Timetable — Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • 13:00 — Departure by bus from Excelsior P1, Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • 14:00–15:20 — Oscar Circulair (Utrecht): session & site tour
  • 15:20–15:35 — Transfer by bus to Hof van Cartesius
  • 15:35–16:55 — Hof van Cartesius (Vlampijpstraat 94, Utrecht): guided tour and Q&A
  • 16:55–17:10 — Transfer by bus
  • 17:10 — Arrival at Utrecht Central Station (end of excursion)

Practical notes: Small group (~15); closed shoes recommended.

Excursion 4 — Incubators & Accelerators

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025

After the morning parallel sessions, please gather immediately in the central hall. The excursion guides will hold up signs with the excursion numbers and -names (see above). They will guide you to the buses, a short walk from campus; please leave promptly so we can depart on time.

Lunch will be handed out in the bus. Please remember to refill your water bottles before leaving Theil building.

Departure & arrival

  • Gathering point: central hall of Theil building
  • Departure point buses: Excelsior P1 (Car Park), Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • Open map: View in Google Maps

  • Departure time: 12:45 from the central hall in Theil building. The bus will depart at 12:55.
  • End point: Utrecht Central Station (Jaarbeurs/CS‑West side)

 

 

Description

Where do social entrepreneurs go to grow? This route follows Utrecht’s pipeline from idea to impact. At Playground & UtrechtInc (Utrecht Science Park), we explore how students and researchers turn insights into ventures through mentoring and pre‑incubation. In the city centre, the Social Impact Factory (Kromme Nieuwegracht) shows how mission‑driven startups connect with partners, customers and programmes to scale. A contribution from FNO will offer an investor’s lens on strengthening the ecosystem and balancing impact with growth.

About the places we visit

Playground & UtrechtInc — Where students turn ideas into action: coaching, workshops, grants and a strong founder community; an inside look at the university‑linked incubator.

Social Impact Factory (Kromme Nieuwegracht) — A central hub hosting programmes, meetups and coworking for social enterprises; a gateway to the city’s impact ecosystem.

FNO – Impact door Groei — A financier’s perspective on scaling impact: instruments, due diligence and what makes models investable.

Timetable — Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • 13:00 — Departure by bus from Excelsior P1, Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • 14:00–15:00 — Playground & UtrechtInc (Science Park): tour and presentation
  • 15:00–15:30 — Transfer by bus to Social Impact Factory (Kromme Nieuwegracht)
  • 15:30–16:30 — Social Impact Factory: visit and Q&A — with input from FNO
  • 16:30–16:45 — Transfer by bus
  • 16:45 — Arrival at Utrecht Central Station (end of excursion)

Excursion 5 — Community‑Based Entrepreneurship

Date: Wednesday 5 November 2025

After the morning parallel sessions, please gather immediately in the central hall. The excursion guides will hold up signs with the excursion numbers and -names (see above). They will guide you to the buses, a short walk from campus; please leave promptly so we can depart on time.

Lunch will be handed out in the bus. Please remember to refill your water bottles before leaving Theil building.

Departure & arrival

  • Gathering point: central hall of Theil building
  • Departure point buses: Excelsior P1 (Car Park), Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • Open map: View in Google Maps

  • Departure time: 12:45 from the central hall in Theil building. The bus will depart at 12:55.
  • End point: Utrecht Central Station (Jaarbeurs/CS‑West side)

 

 

Description

How do neighbourhoods reinvent themselves from the inside out? This excursion explores the power of community‑based entrepreneurship in Rotterdam, where local initiatives, social enterprises and creative hubs are shaping more inclusive and resilient cities. We begin at Het Wijkpaleis, a neighbourhood makerspace in Rotterdam West, with a contribution from VoorGoed Agency on the city‑wide social enterprise ecosystem. We then continue to the Keilewerf, a dynamic makerspace in the Keilekwartier/M4H district where more than 80 creative entrepreneurs collaborate, often using circular methods.

About the places we visit

Het Wijkpaleis — Once a neighbourhood school, now a ‘palace of imagination’ where residents, makers and entrepreneurs share tools, workshops and ideas; includes input from VoorGoed Agency.

Keilewerf — An iconic makerspace in Rotterdam’s Keilekwartier, home to a large community of designers, woodworkers, artists and circular pioneers.

Timetable — Wednesday 5 November 2025

  • 13:00 — Departure by bus from Excelsior P1, Honingerdijk 110, Rotterdam
  • 13:10–14:25 — Het Wijkpaleis (Claes de Vrieselaan 72, Rotterdam): tour and contribution from VoorGoed
  • 14:25–14:45 — Transfer by bus to Keilewerf (M4H)
  • 14:45–15:55 — Keilewerf (Keilestraat, Rotterdam): guided tour
  • 15:55–16:55 — Transfer by bus
  • 16:55 — Arrival at Utrecht Central Station (end of excursion)

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