We are back on track with the twelfth edition!
The one with the mayor Azure Route in Aachen, 20/06 – 23/06 Moin from Aachen! After a cancelled train on our way from Nijmegen, the main organiser of the stop, Berk, greeted us at the train station, and just like that, we had arrived at the final stop of our journey: Aachen. Having hosted ambassadors the previous year, AEGEE-Aachen knew… Read more → The post Azure Team – Aachen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the mayor Azure Route in Aachen, 20/06 - 23/06 Moin from Aachen! After a cancelled train on our way from Nijmegen, the main organiser of the stop, Berk, greeted us at the train station, and just like that, we had arrived at the final stop of our journey: Aachen. Having hosted ambassadors the previous year, AEGEE-Aachen knew that by this stage of the route we would all be feeling quite sluggish and burnt out. So we were so grateful that they checked in on us regularly and had kept the programme fairly relaxed and chill. We never felt guilty for taking things a little slower, being sleepier than usual, or needing some extra rest. Also the continuing high temperatures gave us a very good excuse to do so. One of the highlights was for sure visiting the thermal baths during our first night. Previous ambassadors had already hinted that this would be something special, and during many of our train rides I found myself dreaming about relaxing in the upcoming baths and pools. And they did not disappoint, we stayed until closing, the 3,5 hours fled past. At one point, while Alina and I were lounging in a bubbling pool, we both let out a simultaneous disappointed “aww” when the bubble cycle ended. Our reaction amused a local man next to us enough that he laughed at us. It was a sweet moment. We discovered that next week there would be a pretzel-scented sauna. That would´ve been an interesting cultural experience. The whole experience was so, so wonderfully relaxing. During the night, a thunderstorm rolled over Aachen, treating us to a beautiful view of lightning from Bent’s balcony. At the same time, Germany had won a World Cup match, which meant fireworks, cheering, and honking cars. The combination of flashing lightning, fireworks exploding in the distance, and the constant sound of car horns created an almost apocalyptic atmosphere. If this was the reaction to winning a group-stage match, I can only imagine what it would be like if Germany were to win the entire tournament. <img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5633" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /> The chorus of car horns accompanied us as we tried to fall asleep, until eventually the rain arrived and quieted the celebrations. And I think it was the best sleep I’d had in a while. Once awake again, we explored Aachen’s old town and learned about its history and several legends. The cathedral, built under Charlemagne, was one of the highlights. So detailed and full of art. Besides being architecturally impressive, it reportedly houses several important religious relics, including what is said to be the diaper of Jesus. And Bent knew exactly how to motivate us for the city tour: he led us to an ice cream shop early on. There we also met Akshit, making it both a social and strategic stop. There I may have discovered my new favourite ice cream flavour: zitrone. The yoghurt flavour I chose alongside it was delightful as well. As someone who frequently suffers from order envy and immediately regrets not picking what someone else ordered, I was incredibly pleased with my choices this time. And yes, I got two scoops. I’ve learned from my mistakes. Aachen is a city full of legends that our guides happily shared with us. One that we heard was the legend about the Devil, who helped fund the construction of the cathedral in exchange for the first soul to enter it, believing that this would be the soul of the great emperor Charlemagne. The clever townspeople outsmarted him by sending a wolf inside first, leaving the Devil with a wolf’s soul instead of the great Charlemagne’s. We also passed through one of the old city gates, where legend says that students who walk underneath it will never finish their studies. Needless to say, the two students among us, Bent and Alina, weren’t willing to take the risk. We visited the local office and later had a barbecue with AEGEE-Aachen and Erasmus students. So many people showed up to enjoy the hot weather together, and there was even a DJ setting the mood with music. Only a pool or a beach was missing. After the barbecue, we made our way to Oliver’s place, a local host in the area. We had heard about an ice cream cake and were kindly invited over to try it. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. Another recipe found its way into the collection: a lime cookie ice cream cake. What a perfect summer treat. By that point, we had gathered enough recipes to make our own little “Azure recipe flyer.” It might have been one of my favourite moments of the stop, just sitting around the kitchen table, sharing cake, and chatting and laughing with the locals. So simple but so precious. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5634" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next day finally brought the workshops—two in a row: How to Talk About Climate without preaching and Slow Travel, Slow Living. There weren’t many participants, just four, but they seemed very engaged, and knowledgeable which led to some discussions we hadn’t come upon yet. We discussed the roles of politicians, scientists, and citizens, and how bringing these groups together is essential. She felt that there was significant responsibility for scientists to carry in communicating their findings in a way that is understandable and accessible to decision-makers and the wider public. During the second workshop, the three remaining participants, bravely enduring the heat while huddled in front of a fan, worked together to plan a trip from Aachen to Stockholm. The overall fatigue among the ambassadors lingered quietly in the room, though we hoped it remained unnoticed so as not to affect the participants’ experience. Only after finishing this second workshop did it suddenly hit us that it was the last workshop we would deliver on our route. Later we joined a social gathering where we discovered the game Halli Galli, a fast-paced card game in which players flip fruit cards in turns and must quickly ring a bell when exactly five of a kind appear. Even before joining we could hear the intensiveness and competitiveness of the game from the other side of the room. Some participants were clearly seasoned professionals, but Alina and I still managed to win a few rounds, even if we never took the overall victory. The next day we had the exciting chance to interview Michael Ziemons, Aachen’s Lord Mayor since November 2025. He has built a career in education, research, and public service, with a particular focus on social responsibility, digitalization, and community development. When Phaedon asked the mayor for advice for young people, his answer was simple but powerful: stay active and persistent. Care about the issues that matter to you, and show that you care through your actions. Overall he was very friendly and left us with a fun and light impression of himself. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5635" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Aachen-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the interview, we went for a quick meal, although we unfortunately didn’t have time for a third lemon ice cream. We then had a small scare while trying to get back into the AEGEE office, where our bags were stored. The key didn’t seem to work. Luckily, a woman arrived at the same time and let us in, so we still made it to our train on time. Right now, I’m writing this report from the train to Brussels, on our way to the Europe on Track final conference. Aachen was a wonderful last stop with its thermal baths, mayor and all. And of course with such sweet and understanding locals. In our leaving hurry we forgot to give them our thank you gifts but shall mail them from Brussels. And then there are no more night trains, buses, couches, or new locals to meet ahead of us. But we are leaving for Brussels with countless conversations, stories, and people we will always carry with us and the feeling that something ended, but nothing was truly left behind. Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Aachen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the celebration Lilac Route in Copenhagen, 20/06 – 24/06 Hej! from our final stop; Copenhagen! On Saturday night, after a mildly chaotic travel day that afforded us plenty of time to discover the German-Danish border town of Flensburg, we finally arrived in Copenhagen. At the train station, we were met by the friendly smiles of the AEGEE-Copenhagen… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Copenhagen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with the celebration Lilac Route in Copenhagen, 20/06 - 24/06 Hej! from our final stop; Copenhagen! On Saturday night, after a mildly chaotic travel day that afforded us plenty of time to discover the German-Danish border town of Flensburg, we finally arrived in Copenhagen. At the train station, we were met by the friendly smiles of the AEGEE-Copenhagen locals; Karol, Lukas and Virág. Whilst Karol and Lukas were new faces for us, we were already very well acquainted with Virág who had formed part of Europe on Track’s project team this year, and who had organised our entire route. They greeted us with a sign that said ‘Welcome Barbies’; an ode to our Lilac team colour and a nickname which we had earned ourselves much earlier in the route. Referencing old jokes, and meeting both old and new friends, we were finally ready for the last stop of our route. On Sunday, after a well-deserved morning of rest and relaxation, Ewa and I went for a short walk with our host, Karol. Strolling around the Vestamager area of Copenhagen, we were struck by the area’s unusual combination of nature and modernism. Surrounded by high-rise apartment blocks, we didn’t expect to come across a number of free-roaming cows, who call the Kalvebod Fælled nature reserve their home. The cows were clearly used to human interaction, as they posed for the photos that Ewa and I took. Indeed, our tiny glimpse into life at Vestamager suggested that maybe our modern world and nature really could co-exist. And so, I headed to our workshops feeling a little bit more hopeful than before. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5644" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Soon we found ourselves in Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (the Technical University of Denmark), where our final workshops of the stop were to take place. First up, we had the workshop Slow travel, Slow living. It’s fair to say that even though we had delivered this workshop at many locations, we suddenly felt a little bit nervous in this large venue, which held our highest number of participants so far. Despite the nerves, a larger participant group also meant larger room for discussion, which was reflected in the many debates over the pros and cons of sustainable travel. In a conversation after the workshop, one of the participants mentioned how he expected us to preach about sustainability in our workshop, but felt much more at ease when he realised we too weren’t perfect in our sustainable practices. Letting go of eco-perfectionism is certainly helpful in normalising talking about climate. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5645" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the coffee break we moved onto our Board Games workshop. With three small groups having already formed, we decided to separately facilitate one game with each group. So while Dimitris’ group embarked on a reflective journey with the Starving Artist’s cards, I facilitated several rounds of the Echoes of Gaia, and Ewa assisted some climate debates from The Elephant in the Room. Admittedly, we hadn’t played these climate-related games very often, therefore they presented a bit of a learning curve for both us and the participants. Once we eventually got into the flow of the games, however, I noticed how they provoked us to talk more deeply about climate. For example, a number of the participants reflected on sustainability from their perspectives of being immigrants to Denmark. It was insightful to think how even the act of following eco-friendly practices can be a privilege. We continued these discussions after the workshop, at a barbecue hosted by AEGEE-Copenhagen. With tofu and vegetable skewers as the main dish, I joked that this was the world’s first ever vegan barbecue. And since it was so delicious, I hope it won’t be the last. On Monday morning, the three of us and Virág headed to GreenKayak; an environmental NGO that allows you to go kayaking for free under one simple condition – that you collect trash from the ocean floor. Since it was a beautiful sunny day, we had an amazing time while kayaking. Dimitris and I were very proud of the distance covered by our two-man kayak and were even considering forming an Irish-Greek kayaking team for the upcoming 2028 Olympic Games. Despite our superb ability to kayak, our ability to pick up trash was rather limited. Virág and Ewa did a much better job at finding and collecting trash – good job guys! All in all, this was a really enjoyable experience, and an initiative that could work very well in other European countries too… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5646" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> In the afternoon, we joined Karol’s city tour, where we saw many interesting sites such as the iconic Round Tower and the statue of King Frederick VII on horseback. Other than the many historical locations, something that caught my attention during the city tour was the number of Greenland flags, bags and shirts that were being sold in the city centre. The next morning, we had the chance to discuss the topic of Greenland further in an interview with Asmus Vilster, National Chairman of Europæisk Ungdom (European Youth Denmark). This conversation about Greenland reminded us of how current political ambitions are so deeply intertwined with environmental exploitation. Moreover, Asmus explained how Europæisk Ungdom inspires Danish youth to become involved with European matters, especially those related to democracy and climate. It was very enjoyable to interview Asmus, and to understand how our values align. After this interview, we all went our separate ways to soak up as much of Denmark as we could in our free time. Ewa’s efforts to soak up as much of Denmark as possible even led her to Sweden. Clearly, crossing national borders was no longer a big deal for us ambassadors. In the evening we all met back up for the final evening of our Action Tour, meeting several AEGEE-Copenhagen members for the Sankt Hans celebration. This celebration, held annually on June 23rd, celebrates the longest day of the year. We attended a bonfire in the city centre, a typical event for this celebration. Snacking on picnic foods, watching the bonfire, and chatting away with new friends – it really felt like a celebration of our Europe on Track journey. Though it was sad to see our journey come to an end, we had learned so much, met so many wonderful people, and understood that so many young people care about the future of our planet. That sure seemed like something worthy of celebration. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5647" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Copenhagen-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Waking up bright and early the next morning, Karol very kindly took us to the train station. Saying goodbye to Karol, it was hard to believe that we were already on our way to Brussels for the final conference; an event that would wrap up the entire Europe on Track journey. Sad to say goodbye to our life on the road, but excited to reunite with our friends from the Azure Team, we hoped that Brussels would help us to connect the dots of everything we had learned, experienced and felt in these past few weeks. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Copenhagen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where Phaedon’s legs deserved a medal Azure Route in Nijmegen, 17/06 – 20/06 Hallootjes from the Azure team from Nijmegen! We arrived in Nijmegen and were greeted by locals – Sjoerd, Toon, Luna. The first item on our agenda? Picking up our bikes! This time we were given shiny red Radboud University bikes, complete with gears and proper… Read more → The post Azure Team – Nijmegen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where Phaedon's legs deserved a medal Azure Route in Nijmegen, 17/06 - 20/06 Hallootjes from the Azure team from Nijmegen! We arrived in Nijmegen and were greeted by locals – Sjoerd, Toon, Luna. The first item on our agenda? Picking up our bikes! This time we were given shiny red Radboud University bikes, complete with gears and proper hand brakes instead of back-pedal brakes. We felt like proper locals rather than standing out on the easily recognisable OV-fietsen bikes. By this point, we had already gotten used to cycling a bit in Groningen, and Nijmegen itself is quite flat. However, the city presented us with a new challenge: the heat. During our stay, temperatures reached up to 35°C. Add our backpacks to the mix, and we definitely got a workout. Some of us more than others. When it came time to assign ambassadors to their hosts, Phaedon was nominated to stay with the one living 30 minutes from the city centre. Since the ambassadors were staying with different hosts this time, this meant he had the longest daily commute. Meanwhile, Alina and I were staying at a place much closer to the city centre, which in hindsight might’ve spared our lives. We’re not entirely convinced we would have survived such a journey. We would hereby like to send his legs our best wishes for a speedy recovery. During the short break before the city tour, we went to a cat café to get some work done. We were fully aware that surrounding ourselves with cats was probably not the most productivity-enhancing decision we could make, but hey – there we were. Our first activity was a city tour led by Mayra and amongst the familiar faces accompanied by a new local – Annelot. We learned that Nijmegen is a mix of old and modern architecture. Much of the historic city centre was destroyed during World War II, and many buildings were rebuilt afterwards. We also had the opportunity to climb the tower of St. Steven’s Church, one of Nijmegen’s most famous landmarks. The church and tower were heavily damaged during the war and later restored, so whilst walking up you could see visible traces of different building materials from various periods of reconstruction. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5610" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The climb was tough (especially for our already bike-weary legs) and required plenty of breaks, but we made it. At the top, we were rewarded with a beautiful view of the city, the river, and its bridges. We even happened to be there when the clock struck, accompanied by the tower’s bell music. We also passed the historic town hall and visited a lovely local art store Leder z’n Vak where local artists and craftspeople can rent shelves to display and sell their work. I bought the cutest pear magnet before we headed off again, promising ourselves that we would come back later for a more thorough look around. For lunch, the locals had organised a meal together with the Vegan Student Association of Nijmegen. We met in the university kitchen, where we prepared and enjoyed a variety of salads together (recipes that I will once again be bringing home as souvenirs). The menu featured a wide array of salads: tabbouleh, an orzo pesto salad, a carrot ribbon salad, and a bean and chickpea salad. After several days on the road, the previously vegetable-starved ambassadors were more than happy with the feast. During lunch, we had several interesting conversations with members of the association. One topic they discussed was the role and purpose of the organisation itself. Should it primarily be a space for vegans to meet one another, or should it also welcome people who are simply interested in veganism and its values? If so, where do vegetarians fit in? Although we did not conduct formal interviews, it would have been fascinating to explore these perspectives further. Members had different motivations for being vegan, ranging from animal rights to environmental concerns, but we all agreed that increasing plant-based eating would benefit both animal welfare and the climate. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5611" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After lunch, we delivered the workshop How to Talk About Climate Without Preaching. By this point, we had already facilitated the workshop at several previous stops in a row. But It is always interesting to see how the same activities generate completely different conversations depending on the group. One thought emerged: respect for your conversation partner is perhaps the most important principle of all. Without it, discussions can quickly turn into people simply shouting arguments at one another instead of genuinely listening. While it is interesting to see where the conversations go, after the workshop, we did contact our next stop in Aachen to ask whether we could switch or adapt the session to keep things fresh for ourselves and participants alike. The next morning, we facilitated the Slow Travel, Slow Living workshop, where participants had to plan their own eco-friendly trips. Other than being assigned a destination, they also get assigned a character whose identity (and potential motivations and wishes) they should also take into consideration while planning. One group decided to cycle from Nijmegen to Berlin, a very Dutch choice indeed, but a choice that also fit perfectly with the “nature lover” role they had been assigned. During the wrap-up discussion, we explored what would motivate us to choose slower forms of travel, such as trains and buses, more often. Two main factors emerged: cost and convenience. To illustrate the cost aspect, Phaedon showed us a flight he had taken from Athens to London for only … euros. It perfectly highlighted one of the biggest barriers to choosing more sustainable transport: price often has a huge influence on our travel decisions. We also agreed that better tools for planning slow travel and more promotion of the ones that already exist could make sustainable travel a much more attractive option. The last workshop of the stop was Board Game Night. We only had time and participants for one game, so after a few short introductions the group chose Echoes of Gaia. Having already discussed climate-related topics earlier that day, it was interesting to continue exploring them through a completely different medium. The participants especially appreciated how different it felt from most other board games they had played. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5612" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> For a while, we had been jealous of our Lilac Route ambassadors and their beaches and sunny weather. Then came an unexpected surprise: Nijmegen gave us both the opportunity and the free time to go to the beach! Not a seaside beach, but a riverside one. As soon as we had a good chunk of free time, we headed there. On the island between the branches of the river stands a giant replica of a Roman cavalry helmet mask discovered near Nijmegen, making for quite a striking landmark. After checking that out, the agenda consisted of swimming, playing cards, and searching for interesting rocks. All the essential beach activities. Toon also gave me the opportunity to write a short column for AEGEE-Nijmegens newsletter, with complete freedom to choose the topic. It was an offer I gladly accepted, only to start questioning that enthusiasm later while sitting on the beach and staring at the phone. In the end, I decided to write about one of the thing I’ve come to admire most about the Dutch: how much fun they have with their language. Take helaas pindakaas (“unfortunately peanut butter”), for example, which is used to mean “too bad.” Or kladiladi, short for klap die laptop dicht (“shut that laptop”), something you might say at the end of a meeting when it’s finally time to stop working and go home. How fun and cute is that!? While we were at the beach, Luna came up with a brilliant idea: summer rolls. So this is a public service announcement that summer rolls exist and are the perfect meal when temperatures reach 35°C. Lunch? Dinner? Afternoon snack? Summer rolls work for all of them. We got ours from La Saigon and can highly recommend them. The heat also naturally led us to another essential stop: ice cream. Did three scoops turn out to be an ambitious choice? Yes. However, flavours like cherry cheesecake and vegan coconut were absolutely worth it. By the end, though, I was less focused on appreciating the flavours and more focused on completing the rescue mission that was finishing the rapidly melting ice cream. The others had chosen more sensible scoop counts. Meanwhile, my greed had left me fighting. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5613" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Nijmegen-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Our final activity in Nijmegen was a movie night, where we watched Okja. The film explores topics like animal rights, capitalism, and friendship but in a satirical adventure kind of a way. I had seen the film before, but it remains a difficult watch at times. Even so, I would still highly recommend it. We left Nijmegen with plenty of good memories: new conversations, new recipes, a very successful beach day, and perhaps most importantly, proof that three scoops of ice cream is sometimes one scoop too many. The next and also the last stop would be Aachen… Houdoe and see you there! Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Nijmegen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with history, hikes and heatwaves Lilac Route in Heidelberg, 17/06 – 20/06 Guten Tag from a heat-wave stricken Heidelberg! Though our journey to Heidelberg was long and included not one, not two, not three, not four, but five trains – we have to say that it was a resounding success! With not a single delayed or missed train,… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Heidelberg first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one with history, hikes and heatwaves Lilac Route in Heidelberg, 17/06 - 20/06 Guten Tag from a heat-wave stricken Heidelberg! Though our journey to Heidelberg was long and included not one, not two, not three, not four, but five trains – we have to say that it was a resounding success! With not a single delayed or missed train, we were very pleased with ourselves upon arriving in Heidelberg. At the station, we were met by Sigi from AEGEE-Heidelberg who would host us for the next couple of nights. After taking the tram back to his place, he even made us a warm dinner – thanks Sigi! But aside from being a great chef, we quickly learned that Sigi is also a keen history enthusiast. Even his apartment is historically relevant – the American electricity sockets found inside are remnants of post-war Heidelberg, where the US Army established their headquarters in Europe. Already, it seemed we had a lot to learn about this city… The next morning, after a chilled breakfast and quick laptop session, we headed into the city centre to conduct some street interviews. Owing to the fact that Heidelberg is, indeed, a student city, it proved quite easy to find students to interview. Moreover, there are many international students in the city, making our conversations that little bit more diverse. When asked to rank the urgency of climate change on a scale of 1-10, most interviewees answered with a 9 or 10. Interviewees’ opinions differed however when it came to the question of tackling climate change; while some were more optimistic, others felt we had passed the threshold at which we can reverse the effects of climate change. No matter whether interviewees had positive or negative outlooks, it became clear that they all experienced symptoms of eco-anxiety. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5606" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After completing the interviews, taking a necessary coffee break, and chatting more with Sigi and fellow AEGEE-Heidelberg member, Chris – we went on a city tour! As previously mentioned, Sigi’s background in history was certainly helpful in guiding us through the city. Overall, we learned a lot of interesting facts about the region whilst also stopping in several churches. Having seen some of the most highly decorated churches in the world during our stay in Italy, it was also intriguing to see some less decorated ones. We also visited the Heiliggeistkirche; a Protestant Church in the Old Town. However, the Heiliggeistkirche wasn’t always a Protestant Church. From 1706 to 1936, religious conflicts in the region caused the church to be divided in two by a brick wall – with one half reserved for Catholic worshippers and the other for Protestants. Aside from this interesting revelation, we also hiked up to the Philosopher’s way. Though it offered stunning views of the city below, I struggled to appreciate them given the 30+ degree heat… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5607" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Having returned from the hike and starting to believe that it just might be possible to survive this global-warming induced heat wave, it was time for our first workshop; Slow travel, slow living. It was a very fun workshop, with participants sharing their thoughts on how to strike a balance between convenient and sustainable travel. One participant also shared his experience of sustainability in his home country; Pakistan. For the most part, sustainable travel isn’t possible in Pakistan due to a lack of infrastructure to support such mobility. His insights were very welcome as it’s often easy to forget that the option of sustainable travel is a privilege in itself. At the end of the workshop, Aileen (President of AEGEE-Heidelberg) spoke about the upcoming referendum in Heidelberg which will vote on the construction of wind turbines in the Lammerskopf forest area. Participants reacted with mixed reviews to Aileen’s appeal, with some participants expressing a dislike for the visual pollution caused by such structures. It became clear that, for some of our participants, tackling climate pollution did not involve visually polluting nature. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5608" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Taking these many insights on board, we had a picnic with AEGEE-Heidelberg. We enjoyed snacking, chatting and chilling on the mosquito-free grass. Fruits, pastries, and crisps – I found myself wondering if this was Europe on Track or Europe on Snack? Jokes aside, the most entertaining moment of the evening occurred when a gaggle of geese decided to attack the picnic, with one particular gosling taking on the role of picnic-blanket pooper. Across borders and countries, it seemed that geese were both hungry and aggressive Europe-wide. On Friday we woke up not quite as bright or as early as we had hoped. But nonetheless, we managed to leave the apartment before the worst heat of the day had hit. With our sights set on Heidelberg Castle, a tram took us most of the way there, before we switched to the most sustainable transport mode of all; walking. The view from the castle was beautiful, and thankfully our hike was not quite as strenuous as the day before. Looking around, I thought that the trees looked an awful lot like broccoli. This was fitting considering that we soon had some broccoli for lunch! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5609" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Heidelberg-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After our castle visit and broccoli-inspired lunch, it was time for our second workshop of the stop; Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. Since this workshop requires a lot of creativity, it’s fair to say that some of the participants struggled to let their imaginations run wild. But where imagination was lacking, interesting conversations filled the gaps. We spoke about the difficulties of imagining a world in which we solve the climate crisis. Constantly surrounded by negative news and statistics, it’s so much easier to imagine a negative future for our planet than a positive one. We concluded that we should all make an effort to consume more positive media and news stories in order to feel inspired, hopeful and empowered in our climate advocacy. Once the workshop ended, we had a barbecue with a number of people from AEGEE-Heidelberg. When I asked who owned the barbecue, I was told it was the ‘new AEGEE barbecue’. I was very impressed that this AEGEE local even had its own portable cooking facilities, something which lacked in the other AEGEE locals we had visited. Once the barbecue was ready to go, Chris thankfully helped us to fry up some vegan burgers, grilled courgette and even some camembert! With good food, good lemonade and good company, this evening was the perfect way to end our stay in Heidelberg. The next morning we needed to catch the train at 5:30, already making our way to the last stop of our route. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to our new friend Sigi, but it was also bittersweet to think our Europe on Track journey was nearly coming to an end. Waving goodbye to Sigi and the broccoli-covered landscape of Heidelberg, we pondered what to expect in our final stop; Copenhagen. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Heidelberg first appeared on Europe on Track.
Groundwater Ecosystems and Climate Change:The Case of Northern Italy’s Fontanili Lilac Route Interview in Torino, EoT12 Consequences of climate change and human pollution are profound and multidimensional, but not always visible. Sometimes they are evident, like a forest wildfire or a river running dry, while others are less obvious, like the case of Fontanili, the groundwater ecosystems of Northern Italy. … Read more → The post EoT12 Lilac Interview in Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.
Groundwater Ecosystems and Climate Change: The Case of Northern Italy’s Fontanili Lilac Route Interview in Torino, EoT12 Consequences of climate change and human pollution are profound and multidimensional, but not always visible. Sometimes they are evident, like a forest wildfire or a river running dry, while others are less obvious, like the case of Fontanili, the groundwater ecosystems of Northern Italy. In order to understand the importance of groundwater ecosystems and investigate the way climate change and human behavior have an impact on them, we conducted an interview with Dr. Manuela Lasagna, Associate Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Turin in Northern Italy, and discussed all of these aspects. “Groundwater is the water inside the subsoil and we generally use it for drinking purposes. In the Po plain, we have different aquifers, that are the reservoirs in which water is saved. The aquifers are made of gravel and sand, and inside the pores there is the water that we use with the wells. We withdraw it from the wells and apart from drinking purposes, it has irrigation and industrial uses, as well”, Dr. Lasagna explained. Even though many people believe that fresh water is present only in large lakes and rivers, according to Dr. Lasagna, groundwater is the most important resource, as 95% of fresh water is present in subterranean reservoirs, namely aquifers. That’s why their preservation is vital. <img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5582" class="size-medium wp-image-5582" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Collage-1-320x244.jpg" alt="Interview with Dr. Lasagna Manuela at the University of Turin, Italy (12/06/2026)." width="320" height="244" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Collage-1-320x244.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Collage-1-960x732.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Collage-1-768x586.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Collage-1.jpg 1088w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Interview with Dr. Lasagna Manuela at the University of Turin, Italy (12/06/2026). As Dr. Lasagna explained, an aquifer is divided into the shallow level, that has a lower water quality, and the deep level, which is located underneath the shallow one and has a better water quality. Thanks to the presence of clay that acts as a protective layer, the deep aquifer is more protected from contamination and that is the reason why it gathers a higher water quality. Nevertheless, sometimes the shallow and the deep aquifer are interconnected, thus contamination present in the shallow aquifer is possible to reach the deep one. “Consequently, in case there is a decrease in the water level of the shallow aquifer, due to climate change, there are repercussions in the deep aquifer, as well. That is the reason why we are studying both of them to understand their sustainability and their resilience in relation to climate change”, she added. Specifically in Northern Italy, Fontanili are typical lowland springs located along the Po plain from Piedmont to Lombardy, Friuli, and even the Adriatic Sea. Some of their ecological benefits are the self-cleansing of water, stable water temperature, and unique ecosystems. Even though groundwater is more resilient than surface water, it is still affected by climate change and high temperatures. For instance, Fontanili faced a critical situation in 2022, due to climate change, alongside other factors, such as agricultural practices and lack of conservation, that contributed to the overexploitation of the shallow aquifer and to water pollution. <img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5584" class="size-medium wp-image-5584" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fotanili-320x152.jpg" alt="Turin Po Plain Fontanili, Northern Italy. " width="320" height="152" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fotanili-320x152.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Fotanili.jpg 605w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Turin Po Plain Fontanili, Northern Italy. “During 2021-2022 there was an intense drought all over Europe and this had severe consequences for groundwater ecosystems in Italy. Fontanili completely disappeared, because they are connected to the shallow aquifer, therefore the decrease of the water level inside the subsoil, created a disconnection between the aquifer and the springs. That is a very important problem, as the whole ecosystem that exists in correspondence to the springs was completely vanished”, Dr. Lasagna said. Along with climate change, human behavior is also one of the reasons why Fontanili are in an alarming situation, especially in the region of Piedmont, where they are located in agricultural areas. According to researchers, collected data has revealed the presence of chemicals unsuitable for human consumption in groundwater ecosystems, especially in wells in areas where land use is more intense. “In every plain, we have contamination of nitrate, due to the use of pesticides and fertilizers with nitrogen. In Italy, we work a lot to spread awareness to the farmers and to give them some numbers of the acceptable amounts that can be used, in order not to provoke contamination to the soil. […] Even though some kinds of pesticides were banned in the past, we can still find their presence in the aquifers up to this day. Even if they were banned 20 years ago, we would still be able to track their presence. Therefore, I think that it would be a good idea to embrace the use of non-toxic fertilizers, for the sake of our water quality”, she added. Although Fontanili are extremely useful for the wellbeing of the environment, they are not protected by any law. Therefore, they are not a matter of monitoring, which is the backbone of their preservation. “If we need to protect a water resource, we have to monitor it first. For example, during the drought, some springs in the Alps ran completely dry and when we were asked to provide a solution, we could not move forward, because we were told that there was no monitoring beforehand”, Dr. Lasagna said. However, she reaffirmed to us that the monitoring network in Piedmont is quite modern: “We have more than 100 piezometers in wells, in which the environmental agency measures the level of groundwater continuously. We also have 300 more wells in which two times per year there is a sampling of groundwater for a chemical analysis. Not all of the regions have the same network, but we are lucky to have it”. At the University of Turin, there is also a scientific platform, a hub of researchers, and Dr. Lasagna is the coordinator of one of these, which is called “Sustainable Water Platform of UniTo”. There are more than 50 researchers from 13 different departments and they all work together and engage the public to find solutions to a very important problem. “We work in a transdisciplinary way, as we want to involve stakeholders, such as the society, its citizens, lawyers, economists, and local enterprises, as well, and to analyze the problem, not only from a geological, biological, or a chemical point of view, but to establish a partnership of different departments, in which we will work all together to create projects that spread awareness of our groundwater ecosystems and advocate for better policies for the sustainable management of our precious resources”, Dr. Lasagna said. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-5585" class="size-medium wp-image-5585" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4-320x373.jpg" alt="Sentinel Springs (2026)." width="320" height="373" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4-320x373.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4-960x1118.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4-768x894.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4-1319x1536.jpg 1319w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Diagram-v4.jpg 1440w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Sentinel Springs (2026). Another initiative worth mentioning is Sentinel Springs, a project of «Water4All: Water Security for the Planet», which aims to turn springs into early warning systems, securing clean water, ecosystem resilience, and sustainable use for the next generations. The project involves six countries (Denmark, France, Italy, Malta, Poland, and Portugal) and in each one there is a different kind of spring that is selected to be examined. In Italy, the selected case study is Fontanili. One of its main objectives is to create a protocol that can be used at a pan-European level, for spring monitoring, especially in times of climate change. In Italy in particular, there is a collaboration with ENEA, the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, on analyzing some macro and micro-invertebrates that correspond to groundwater-dependent ecosystems. “The next step is to understand if there is an ecosystem with good quality or if it is independent and what are the interconnections between them”, she added. When asked for a message, Dr Lasagna responded: “I have to say what I say to my students and that is that it’s necessary to spread awareness of the presence of groundwater, because even if it’s an invisible resource, it’s still very important. We have an invisible resource, but we have to make it more visible”. For me, this is the essence of that article. We all live in an interconnected world, where even the smallest creatures have their own role and significance for the well-functioning of our planet. Therefore, just because a resource, such as underground aquatic ecosystems, is invisible to the human eye, that doesn’t mean that it is not a vital part of our daily lives. That is the reason why we all have to make concessions in our behavior and change the way we perceive and treat nature, for the sake of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we consume. For the sake of the planet we live in, in general. Thank you very much Dr. Lasagna for this interview and for your service in monitoring and preserving groundwater ecosystems. Written by: Dimitrios Theologidis a member of the Lilac Team of Europe on Track 12 INTERVIEWEES: Dr. Manuela Lasagna is an Associate Professor of Hydrogeology at the University of Turin, Italy. She is part of the Sentinel Springs project, an initiative of Water4All, monitoring Fontanili, the groundwater ecosystems of Northern Italy. IMAGE SOURCES: Sentinel Springs. https://sentinelsprings.eu/ The genesis and the hydrogeological features of the Turin Po Plain Fontanili, typical lowland springs in Northern Italy. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10064-013-0527-y Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post EoT12 Lilac Interview in Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that went further Azure Route in Eindhoven, 14/06 – 17/06 Hoi-hoi from our third dutch stop in Eindhoven! We knew early on that Eindhoven had a treat for us. Inspired by this year’s Europe on Track theme, AEGEE-Eindhoven organised an entire symposium dedicated to climate anxiety discussions. The event really brought the topic to a wider array of… Read more → The post Azure Team – Eindhoven first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that went further Azure Route in Eindhoven, 14/06 - 17/06 Hoi-hoi from our third dutch stop in Eindhoven! We knew early on that Eindhoven had a treat for us. Inspired by this year’s Europe on Track theme, AEGEE-Eindhoven organised an entire symposium dedicated to climate anxiety discussions. The event really brought the topic to a wider array of people that we usually reach with our workshops. How cool and what an honour! The symposium opened with a panel discussion featuring three speakers approaching climate anxiety from different angles: researcher Lena Hölzle, who studies eco-distress and environmental emotions at the University of Groningen; Mewis Breij from Youth Climate Movement, who focuses on climate education and engagement; and Judith Lammers, Eindhoven’s Climate Mayor and local politician advocating for sustainability. There were some conversations that dominated the panel and that stuck with us the most: A recurring theme throughout the discussion was the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scale of the climate crisis. Many participants expressed feeling small and powerless, questioning whether individual actions can really make a difference and how to connect people to act towards the cause. So how can people connect with each other to create meaningful change and help others see climate change as a shared global issue? Mewis encouraged others to understand to help others understand the bigger scale. Some people tend to view it as isolated cases and should rather look at the bigger picture and understand this is one huge issue. Understanding the interconnected nature of the climate crisis can help people grasp both the severity of the situation, importance of collective action and be the necessary push that leads them to take action. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5568" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> “Every small action is an act of resistance against a capitalist system. Love and embrace that” said Judith, describing everyday climate-friendly choices like taking a cold shower as ways to challenge environmentally harmful capitalist structures. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining our commitment and making our opposition visible week after week, for example by regularly attending and speaking at local council meetings. A strong message from the panel was the importance of finding your allies. Whether through apps, conversations, or simply exchanging contact details, they encouraged participants to actively build networks around them. The underlying idea was simple: we need to connect, organise, and unite. Since many participants were young people thinking about their future careers, a question emerged: is it justifiable to work for companies and corporations that significantly harm the environment in hopes of creating change from within? Judith argued that all strategies are needed and that working inside such companies can be valuable if approached with a clear goal. Mewis was more sceptical, emphasising solidarity and questioning whether, in the end, such work serves the wrong interests. The discussion echoed many of the conversations we had with locals throughout our route, highlighting the dilemmas young people face between economic and job security, a sense of purpose, and concerns about the future they will inherit. Panelist and researcher Lena Hölzle did a short presentation of her findings about eco-anxiety. She suggests that climate anxiety is a rational response to the real threat of climate change and is often triggered by exposure to climate-related news. She found that people can experience both general climate anxiety and anxiety about specific climate impacts, such as floods, although these forms are closely connected. It was fascinating to hear from someone that actually researches eco-anxiety. She talked about the climate anxiety compass, a framework for ways of coping with the climate anxiety. It also distinguishes between problem-focused coping, which aims to address climate change directly, and emotion-focused coping, which helps people manage the feelings climate change can evoke. Problem-focused coping includes actions such as reducing energy use, adopting a sustainable diet, voting, protesting, joining energy cooperatives, or supporting local environmental initiatives. Emotion-focused coping, on the other hand, focuses on maintaining well-being through activities such as spending time with friends and family, joining community groups, engaging in hobbies, spending time in nature, mindfulness, creative expression, or seeking support through therapy. How suitable and what a useful source! <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5569" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> A question was raised to her about eco-emotions: if anger can motivate action, can positive emotions such as joy also act as drivers and make engagement more enjoyable? An example from the moderator included ice protests and dinosaur costumes, showing how creativity and playfulness can also be used in climate activism. A nice positive note amongst the anger and doom a lot of people expressed. After the very insightful and rich discussion- so much so that we didn’t have to pitch in – we gave our Storytelling workshop. Although the participant group was surprisingly smaller considering the size of the symposium, those who joined were highly engaged. The importance of emotion and visualisation in storytelling was highlighted throughout. During the workshop, we also had a reunion with Ninke, a project team member who participated in the session and contributed valuable insights. Our workshop was followed by a workshop called “Navigating Climate Choices” organised by the Go Green Office at TU/e, an organisation that supports sustainability initiatives and helps students and staff make more environmentally conscious choices both on and off campus. For once, we got to participate as attendees rather than facilitators, which gave us a chance to reflect on our own climate dilemmas and learn from the perspectives of others. The participants once more got quite into the conversations so the end conversations were hurried a bit. After that, we had the chance to explore the campus and visit the Hubble Community Café. The day ended with an early night, as the symposium organisers needed some well-deserved rest, and we also had an early start ahead of us: another workshop at a local high school awaited us the next morning. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5570" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Eindhoven-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The workshop this time was How to Talk About Climate Without Preaching. After discussing it as a team, we concluded that it could have been much worse. At least we weren’t facilitating “Climate Emotions 101” – asking teenagers to openly discuss their feelings in front of their classmates and a group of complete strangers sounds like a challenge on a whole different level. In comparison, talking about climate communication suddenly felt like the easier option. We were also pleasantly surprised by the group’s openness and willingness to share, especially compared to our experience in a high school in Budapest. We could already start noticing different personalities and group dynamics emerging. Their teacher also gave us some city recommendations, one of which very quickly followed by going to The Happiness Cafe. After the teenagers, some alone time was needed so we decided to split up to enjoy the city and our own company. I decided to go to the cinema. Sounds like a weird choice while being a tourist but once again some normalcy sounded good. They have a cool small alternative cinema called Lab-1. In the meantime Alina went to a contemporary art museum Van abbermuseum and Phaedon decided to take in the city by walking a bit. Looking back, Eindhoven felt like a moment of deeper reflection within our route, where conversations around climate anxiety and communication came together, bringing us into dialogue with experts and others closely engaged with the topic. It was a nice reminder that these discussions are always evolving, shaped by the people in the room and the contexts they emerge from, and that there is value in every different way of engaging with the climate crisis. Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Eindhoven first appeared on Europe on Track.
Do the Balkans have Eco Anxiety? The Azure team found out Azure Route Interviews on the road, EoT12 As we have just passed the halfway point of our route, there’s no better time to look back to more than a dozen interviews collected so far and connect the dots across 5 countries, with interviewees representing 11 cities! Even though I… Read more → The post EoT12 Azure Interview first appeared on Europe on Track.
Do the Balkans have Eco Anxiety? The Azure team found out Azure Route Interviews on the road, EoT12 As we have just passed the halfway point of our route, there’s no better time to look back to more than a dozen interviews collected so far and connect the dots across 5 countries, with interviewees representing 11 cities! Even though I have found people to be quite reserved and not especially interested in talking, particularly in front of the camera, they always have a sense of the topic, and ideas of what they would like to improve in their lives and communities. The interviews form the backbone of this story. The details come from the cultural context, kindly provided by the locals of each place, the ones hosting us or we meet at our workshops and the ones we have met randomly in shops and cafes. As a first, general observation, every single person I have interviewed, or even just chatted with, thinks they are a typical representation of people in their community. Even individuals from the same community (AEGEE Delft members as one example) with diametrically opposing views, are confident in their ordinariness. Many have attributed their lack of eco anxiety to having no power and so, why worry to begin with? Others attribute their eco anxiety to precisely that same feeling of powerlessness. But as diverse as our cast of interviewees has been, so have their thoughts, opinions and emotions. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5554" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-320x434.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="434" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-320x434.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-960x1303.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive-768x1042.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123748_Drive.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> Nevertheless, there have been several motifs that kept being repeated in different contexts and across different issues. All interviewees agreed that climate change is a worrying phenomenon worth acting on, and showed empathy towards those experiencing eco anxiety. They have all agreed that climate action should be a collective responsibility that goes beyond the abilities of the individual, while expecting nationally and internationally coordinated action. “Changing my consumption has basically no impact on the global phenomena we are seeing” one went as far as saying, when asked why they have not modified their behaviour to be more climate friendly, before adding, “If the EU or the UN actually enforced some changes, I would follow them”. When it comes to eco anxiety as such, people that experience it are, understandably, more eager to talk. What is interesting, however, is how when I ask about the meaning of eco anxiety and the emotions and behaviours surrounding it, interviewees are quick to respond with the climate problems in their geographical area. From traffic and air pollution to lack of green and poor public transport, to name a few, for many eco anxiety seems to be completely synonymous and interchangeable with climate change. To drive the point home, the most common emotion is powerlessness, closely followed by anger and fear. Hope comes dead last. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5555" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-320x210.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="210" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-320x210.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-960x629.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-768x503.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos-1536x1006.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122430_Photos.jpg 1649w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> In one instance, when asked whether they are experiencing eco anxiety, an interviewee responded with “no, because I drive a petrol car”. Multiple people have also (informally) cited liking meat too much as an explanation for their lack of eco anxiety. The most common explanation for not having eco anxiety, by a large margin, is that it is simply not part of their every-day reality and therefore, not something they think about often. In all cases, the same interviewees went on to describe concern over the climate, and independently shared pro-climate actions they are taking in their daily lives, such as recycling, taking public transport, or limiting their waste. For almost everyone, eco anxiety can be a good thing in moderation, insofar it helps mobilise action, but can be a negative if it is paralysing. Others could not even see the point of having eco anxiety in the first place, as there is little difference an individual can make in the grand scheme of things, however they too would comply with centralised, institutional changes like green transport. Now on to the differences! Among those that have reported climate anxiety, there is a very clear North – South divide. In Turkey, the Balkans, and even Hungary, climate change felt personal and so did eco anxiety. In Ankara in particular, workshop participants readily shared stories of how climate change has affected themselves and their loved ones. When asked what message they would like to convey through this interview, one person urged his neighbours and fellow townfolk to protect their agriculture and seas, as a key necessity for economic growth. Climate change was directly threatening their prosperity and their anxiety reflected that. On the flip side, with Dutch interviewees, it felt all more philosophical. They all spoke empathetically about the planet, animal and human suffering, but some described their worry as something directed to far and distant lands. Home, in fact, felt safe, despite it being a prime target for land reclamation (by the ocean). As a theoretical prospect, they find this worrisome. In practice, however, everyone I asked pointed to the proactive approach the Netherlands has adopted towards water management and disaster prevention. The same sentiment was echoed by foreigners residing in the Netherlands, citing proactivity as what they would like their home countries to adopt. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-5556" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-320x181.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="181" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-320x181.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-960x544.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-768x435.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos-1536x870.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_122531_Photos.jpg 1906w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> The barrier to being more proactive as an individual has also been significantly varied, with no apparent geographical or gender patterns. When asked which of their behaviours they would like to change, responses ranged from using the public transport more (in Ankara, where public transport is notoriously inconvenient), to eating less meat, buying fewer products with plastic packaging, using AI less, traveling more by train instead of plane, and getting organised within their community. When asked why they have not implemented this change already, the most common answer has been cost. Indeed, to use someone’s exact words, “doing the bad thing (i.e. the wasteful / polluting thing) is easy (i.e. cheap), doing the good thing is very very very very very hard”. Other common reasons are not knowing where to start or how to get connected with those already doing whatever it is this person wants to do, or simply not feeling the urgency to do so. To close with a hopeful note, all participants agreed that building communities and organising action is the strongest antidote to both eco anxiety and climate change! City after city, message after message was to find the people that care, get organised, and do something, anything at all. Some talked about planting trees with mates, volunteering or activism. There were some that had already found out even created their communities. For those, climate change was a huge concern and they were the ones that were most knowledgeable about eco anxiety. Interestingly, however, these individuals reported feeling hopeful and content with what they are already doing. So indeed, during our interview with Ismir Smajić, an expert in biodiversity and sustainable development from Sarajevo, gave us advice that seemed to translate across the continent: “The most important thing young people can do to combat eco-anxiety is to get involved, do projects, gain knowledge and build their communities. Learn from eachother, create networks and collaborate on creating solutions.” <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5557" src="http://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-320x209.jpg" alt="" width="320" height="209" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-320x209.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-960x627.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-768x501.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive-1536x1003.jpg 1536w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot_20260615_123942_Drive.jpg 1654w" sizes="(max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px" /> As a final message to decision-makers, whenever I asked someone what they would like to see in their city or country, the answer was always that they wish that their local governments would support and encourage grassroots initiatives with funds and resources. So, no need to reinvent the wheel, just find the people that are already doing cool things locally. And to close with a message sent by Elif from Ankara: “I know sometimes it’s really hard to take the responsibility to do your part, but this is our world and we should care more, we should do as much as we can do.” Written by: Phaedon Angelopoulos a member of the Azure Team of Europe on Track 12 Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post EoT12 Azure Interview first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we experienced ‘La Dolce Vita’ Lilac Route in Bergamo, 14/06 – 17/06 Salve from Bergamooo! For the first time in our Europe on Track lives, we had a surprisingly short and simple travel day from Torino to Bergamo. At Bergamo train station, we were met by Iman from AEGEE-Bergamo, who kindly took us to a nearby restaurant… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Bergamo first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we experienced ‘La Dolce Vita’ Lilac Route in Bergamo, 14/06 - 17/06 Salve from Bergamooo! For the first time in our Europe on Track lives, we had a surprisingly short and simple travel day from Torino to Bergamo. At Bergamo train station, we were met by Iman from AEGEE-Bergamo, who kindly took us to a nearby restaurant for lunch. After my two course meal that included both truffle pasta and tiramisu, I was fully ready to embrace la dolce vita. In the afternoon, while Dimitris went on a journey in the hopes of replacing his ripped shoes, Ewa was spending time with friends, and I embraced la dolce vita by chilling in our air conditioned accommodation. Later in the evening, I met Elena, a member of the Europe on Track project team and resident of a town not so far from Bergamo. Over ice cream, we had the chance to catch up. It was cool to chat with Elena and compare our Europe on Track experiences, especially considering that she had been an ambassador last year on the 11th edition of the project. Soon after, we went to an AEGEE-Bergamo event – a pizza party and outdoor movie screening of ‘Luca’. Having not seen a television screen for nearly 4 weeks (except for that one episode of Polish Love is Blind…), I was very happy to sit back, relax and enjoy. Not to mention, ‘Luca’ is a very cute movie highlighting the relationship between people, the environment and education. It may be an animated movie, but its core message was nonetheless relevant to our journey. So while Ewa was still hanging with some friends, and I was having the perfect cosy evening, Dimitris was having quite the opposite… With a dead phone, no sign of public transport and a rumbling stomach – it was a miracle when Elena finally found Dimitris roaming the streets of Bergamo. Let’s just say we were all glad to go home that night. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5538" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next morning, feeling rejuvenated and, in Dimitris’ case, feeling blessed, we headed to the city hall for a visit that Iman and Davide (also from AEGEE-Bergamo) had planned for us. At the city hall we met Romina Russo, the President of Bergamo City Council, and Oriana Ruzzini, the Councillor of Ecological Transition, the Environment, and Greenery in Bergamo. They told us about the general functioning of Bergamo municipality and also mentioned the environmental action plans that are in place in the city. It was interesting that they highlighted the steps being taken towards climate neutrality whilst also acknowledging the expansion of Milan-Bergamo airport. Indeed, this point emphasises how economic expansion and sustainability are often in competition with one another. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t the first time we encountered this sort of competition on our journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5539" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the insightful city hall tour, we were ready for even more history. And so, we met with staff from YepTalks; a social enterprise that works on the preservation of cultural heritage. They took us on a tour of the lower part of the city and we discovered many fun facts. Mainly, we learned that the city has a number of manmade canals, most of which are hidden underground nowadays. After thoroughly filling our minds with knowledge of Bergamo, it was time to thoroughly fill our stomachs with traditional foods and unlimited salads at Da Giuliana. This lunch spot was a real vibe with random trinkets and plants dispersed throughout the restaurant. It was definitely inspiring to see how green spaces can also be brought into lunch spaces; giving us both food and food for thought! In the afternoon, we headed to YepTalks offices where we gave our workshop, Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. There was even a special guest attending our workshop, a little dog who was very enthusiastic to participate. Aside from the dog, our actual workshop participants had varying levels of knowledge about climate change. Though it really wasn’t necessary to know much about climate to be able to participate in this workshop, it made for some interesting discussions, as participants not only shared their stories but helped to educate one another. Since this workshop also involves envisioning the world 35 years from now, we had many conversations about the extent to which climate change is natural and the extent to which it is exacerbated by humans. Honestly, I was surprised that this debate hadn’t been raised before in the other cities we had visited. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5540" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After the workshop and some strolling, we went to a dinner which had been organised by AEGEE-Bergamo. There were around twenty people at the dinner, mostly AEGEE-Bergamo members or study abroad students based in the city. And though the lilac route was, for the most part, joint at the hip, I made the very brave decision to sit with other people at the dinner to make the most out of this large gathering. So while Dimitris and Ewa sat on one end of the table, I sat on the other end, beside Daniele and Alberto. Over various rice and polenta dishes we laughed a lot, enjoying talking about things as unrelated as the Italian language and yogurt advertisements. Since this was one of, if not the, biggest AEGEE local we had visited, it was fun to be able to chat with more people than usual. The next morning we had some precious free time and while Dimitris decided to explore elsewhere in Lombardy (say hello to Lake Como), Ewa and I headed to a café to do some work for our jobs and degrees outside of Europe on Track. Very kindly, the café staff gifted us two free croissants. Obviously, our day was made. Also on that morning, we moved to a different accommodation located in città alta (the upper part of the city) and it certainly did not disappoint. Having been told we would stay in a seminary for priests, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we were blown away by the accommodation and the views. Even the staff were very kind when met with our broken Italian. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5541" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-4.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> In the afternoon, we met Davide and some others from AEGEE-Bergamo for a tour of città alta where we explored Piazza Vecchia and its many beautiful churches and the library. We also had the chance to stop for some ice cream at the original home of stracciatella. Safe to say, it was the best stracciatella we had ever tasted. While eating ice cream, some goats casually walked past us, and, like all tourists, we took many photos of the goats. But aside from the goats, we also spoke with the AEGEE locals about the general goals of AEGEE and how the organisation coordinates itself across borders. The locals also mentioned how AEGEE sometimes struggles to survive when faced with other pan-European student organisations; such as the Erasmus Student Network (ESN). I suppose the important thing to remember in these cases is that we are all working towards the same goal – a more interconnected and diverse European society. Having not known much about AEGEE before this project, we were learning more and more every day. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5542" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Bergamo-5.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> On Wednesday morning, while waiting at the train station, Davide came to say goodbye. Thanking him for facilitating our time in Bergamo, he also had a small gift for us – a photo of us all together, and a little piece of shamrock. At home in Ireland, shamrock is a sign of good fortune and so, we were happy to take this little piece of good fortune with us on the journey ahead. Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Bergamo first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we stole a duck Azure Route in Groningen, 12/06 – 14/06 Moi eem from our second dutch city, Groningen! Rain as soon as we arrived? Yes. I still refuse to get a rain coat, because at this point it feels like admitting defeat. But we were also greeted on the platform by the lovely Joris! He informed… Read more → The post Azure Team – Groningen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one where we stole a duck Azure Route in Groningen, 12/06 - 14/06 Moi eem from our second dutch city, Groningen! Rain as soon as we arrived? Yes. I still refuse to get a rain coat, because at this point it feels like admitting defeat. But we were also greeted on the platform by the lovely Joris! He informed us that we would be renting bikes. As people not entirely accustomed to Dutch cycling culture, the first few metres were admittedly a little wobbly. After surviving those initial moments without crashing into each other or a canal, we felt confident enough to adopt bicycles as our primary mode of transportation for the weekend. Did we get yelled at by locals because of our poor bike etiquette and because we stopped in inconvenient places? Also yes. When I asked Joris, “So, what is Groningen known for?” his answer was simply, “Bikes.” I found this funny because, from an outsider’s perspective, the Netherlands as a country seems to be known for bikes. However, Groningen quickly proved that it deserves this reputation. Despite having visited several Dutch cities before, I was still surprised by the sheer number of bikes everywhere. Our first stop was the AEGEE-Groningen office, which immediately gave us a glimpse into how large and active their local really is. There were several committees, plenty of ongoing activities, and a constant feeling that something was happening. In fact, something was happening that very day besides our EoT workshop: a soup lunch. Some members had made a lovely spiced pumpkin and sweet potato soup, which was genuinely outstanding and exactly what was needed on a rainy Dutch afternoon. We also heard rumours of another local favourite, a courgette soup, which unfortunately we never got the chance to try ourselves. However, we were kindly given the recipe. As someone coming from Estonia, where summer often leaves families desperately searching for ways to use an endless supply of courgettes, this felt like valuable knowledge to bring home. And unlike the usual souvenirs, it didn’t add any extra weight to my bag on the remaining journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5525" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Then we held our workshop, “How to Talk About Climate Without Preaching.” The participants proved to be highly knowledgeable and engaged, which led to several thoughtful and in-depth discussions beyond the planned exercises. One of them focused on outreach strategies: should climate communication aim to move people from low interest to high interest, or should efforts mainly focus on supporting and mobilising people who are already engaged in the cause? Right before the workshop, we learned about Nugget, AEGEE-Eindhoven’s mascot duck, this will come into play later… At the end of the workshop, while helping to clean up, we somehow managed to pack Nugget into our workshop bag together with the rest of our materials. Inspired by stories of the Lilac team having “borrowed” a mascot during their route, we felt we had to prove ourselves as well. To be fair, Nugget is incredibly cute. Instead of keeping him hidden away or asking the local for a favour in return, we took him on a little Groningen adventure, including a sleepover, a city tour, and even shopping for clogs. We’re not sure how often Nugget gets out of the office, but we’re certain he had a great day. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5526" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Before the route had even started, we had already been warned about one essential Groningen experience: eierballen. Not one person but several people, including our trainer Julian and members from Rotterdam and Delft, had hyped them up. They were not merely presented as a local specialty but described as something extraordinary. For the uninitiated, an eierball consists of a boiled egg surrounded by a layer of curry ragout and covered in breadcrumbs before being deep-fried. This culinary masterpiece can often be obtained from automated snack walls – those magical little Dutch food lockers that allow you to purchase fried food at any hour while avoiding unnecessary human interaction. The whole thing combined- a show of true dutch innovation. As someone who considers local grocery stores among the main attractions of any trip, I was equally fascinated by another recommendation: eierbal-flavoured chips sold by the supermarket chain Jumbo. And apparently the locals eat these completely unironically. Unfortunately, despite visiting two separate Jumbo stores, I never managed to find them. This remains one of the great disappointments of the weekend and perhaps one of the greatest mysteries of Groningen. One of the highlights of the route was the city tour. We were lucky enough to have Joris (another Joris) as our guide. As it turns out, he also works as a city tour guide, and it definitely showed. Actually throughout our route, we had been blessed with some excellent city tour guides. No dry facts for us. Among the stories he shared were tales of hidden churches tucked away inside the city walls, where people gathered to practise their religion when doing so openly was discouraged and had to remain secret. We also made our way to the rooftop of the Forum building, which offered a fantastic view over Groningen. From there, we could spot many of the places we had visited during the day – and even catch a glimpse of what is claimed to be the world’s biggest football. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5527" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Groningen-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> We also once again organised our Climate Board Games workshop. Our toolbox contains two games, both developed by the NGO Climate for All. Echoes of Gaia is a storytelling game that invites participants to imagine different futures for humanity and the planet, while Elephant in the Room is a debate game where players step into different roles and perspectives to discuss climate-related topics with their debate. After running the workshop twice before in Bosnia and Hungary, Groningen gave us another opportunity to test the games with a new audience. During our interviews, we spoke with several workshop participants who brought a lot of knowledge and insight to the conversation. Interestingly, every person we interviewed mentioned feeling some degree of eco-anxiety. This stood out to us because, during our interviews in Rotterdam, climate anxiety had not emerged as such a common theme. It was a reminder that attitudes towards climate change can vary significantly even between different regions and communities within the same country. In conclusion, Groningen gave us rain, bicycles, climate discussions, local delicacies, hidden history, and one very memorable duck adventure. Not a bad combination for a weekend route. See you somewhere in Netherlands! Written by: Kadi Värnik (and the Azure team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Azure Team – Groningen first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that kept us wanting ‘jalla’ (more) Lilac Route in Torino, 11/06 – 14/06 Ciao from the Lilac team! On Thursday, we finally left Spain, making our way towards Italy. Already a long travel day, it was made even longer by the fact that our last train was cancelled. But luckily, we were still able to arrive in Torino… Read more → The post Lilac Team – Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.
The one that kept us wanting ‘jalla’ (more) Lilac Route in Torino, 11/06 - 14/06 Ciao from the Lilac team! On Thursday, we finally left Spain, making our way towards Italy. Already a long travel day, it was made even longer by the fact that our last train was cancelled. But luckily, we were still able to arrive in Torino that evening. Unfortunately, there were no free seats for us on the train. So while Ewa took refuge in the cafeteria coach, Dimitris spent the whole journey standing, and I constructed a makeshift seat in the bag racks. We tried to embrace the glamour of this journey, telling ourselves ‘it could be worse’. In reality, we were actually very lucky that this was our first travel mishap of Europe on Track. And, hopefully, it will be the last… <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5513" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> Finally having touched down in Italy, we were met by our host Lele from AEGEE-Torino. Lele’s enthusiasm for our arrival was quite literally radiating throughout the streets of Torino as he waved us down from metres away. He brought us to his beautiful apartment, which was a backpacker’s paradise, with its guaranteed use of the washing machine. After generally settling in and suddenly in the mood to shake off the misfortunes of our travel day, we headed to a pride party beside the River Po. We had a great time socialising, dancing, and trying our hand at the extreme sports of foosball and table tennis. Perhaps it is also important to mention that at this point in our Europe on Track journey, all three of us lilac team ambassadors had become completely, utterly, and all-consumingly obsessed with the song ‘Jalla’ by British-Cypriot singer Antigoni. Therefore, throughout the entire party we were hoping ‘Jalla’ would play, but we had no success… That is until we went to a kebab shop after the party and, guess what; ‘Jalla’ started playing! The sense of euphoria that descended on the kebab shop in that moment was like nothing I had ever experienced before. For sure, Torino was already making a good impression on us. On Friday morning, we headed to the Gioventù Federalista Europea (Young European Federalists) building in Torino, which would be the venue of our first workshop. We met Maicol from AEGEE-Torino, and Pavel from GFE, who both helped us to set up the workshop room and materials. Our first workshop, How to talk about climate (without preaching) went well. At the start of the workshop, participants were tasked with illustrating someone who doesn’t care about climate issues. The range of artistic abilities within the participant group had us all laughing, and eased us all into the workshop. During the roleplay activity, some of the participants questioned whether the scenario of asking your boss to implement a recycling system in your workplace was really a point for debate. In their minds, they couldn’t imagine an employer saying no to such an initiative. This was interesting feedback for us; as in the other cities we had visited, no one had questioned the roleplay scenario, while in an Italian context, it didn’t seem to make much sense. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5514" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-2.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> After lunch and a quick stroll through the city centre, we arrived at L’Università di Torino (the University of Torino), the venue of our second workshop; Climate Emotions 101. Despite having a small number of participants, we did our best to keep the workshop going, whilst also having more time to chat, getting to know our participants and answering their questions about our journey. Before the workshop, we added a new section in which participants were tasked with measuring their carbon footprint and later mapping their responses to this on the climate emotions wheel. This new section was a good addition, as it gave the participants a tangible way to engage with their climate emotions. And while Ewa and I were hosting the workshop, Dimitris was conducting an interview with Dr Lasagna, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Torino, who talked about the importance of monitoring and preserving groundwater ecosystems. Overall, we felt that our workshops and interviews that day had been a big success. After the workshops, we went to Monte dei Cappuccini, one of the most stunning viewpoints in all of Torino. Looking down at the city below, we ate the dinner that Maicol had so kindly prepared for us. The meal included both regular and vegetarian carbonaras – thanks Maicol! We later met Roberto who brought us on a tour of the city. As a really knowledgeable and humorous guide, we were interested in Roberto’s historical accounts yet we were also very sleepy, having been out and about all day long. One of the things that Roberto mentioned that I found very interesting was that the Mole Antonelliana (one of the main landmarks in Torino) was illuminated green to mark the 11th National Congress of the Italian Society of Tropical Medicine and Global Health. The green colour was meant to address health inequalities and promote global sustainability; something that seemed very in line with our Europe on Track journey. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="960" height="320" src="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-960x320.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-image-5515" alt="" srcset="https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-960x320.jpg 960w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-320x107.jpg 320w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3-768x256.jpg 768w, https://www.europeontrack.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Torino-3.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" loading="lazy" /> The next morning, we got the chance to have a morning-in at Lele’s place. A good sleep, a hot shower, and a delicious breakfast on the balcony was all we needed to fuel the day ahead. And so, we went to CasArcobaleno for our third workshop of the stop, Storytelling: From fear to collective imagination. The venue, CasArcobaleno is a space that regularly hosts LGBTQIA+ and civil rights organisations. We immediately liked the venue when we stepped inside, with its rainbow decorations and poster-covered walls. The only thing we didn’t like was the lack of participants… After some failed attempts at playing board games with Maicol, eventually some more people arrived and we were able to kick off the workshop. As it was a storytelling workshop, participants had the chance to get creative, but they also had the chance to get more goofy, and this certainly showed in some of their tasks. However, one interesting thing that came up was the topic of plastic bottle caps; and how attached bottle caps are merely surface-level climate actions. Our workshop participants felt that authorities need to do more than just these symbolic actions if they want to really tackle climate change. Following these interesting conversations, and even more interesting drawings, we had some free time after the workshop. Ewa, Dimitris, and I went our separate ways to discover more of the culture (and coffee) of Torino. In the evening, we reunited at an AEGEE-Torino event; the European picnic. Indeed, we met many Europeans at the picnic and enjoyed both Italian and Polish snacks. We also met Simon from Krakow, who was living and working in Northern Italy. We talked about the ease and cheapness with which he can fly home from Torino to Krakow, and were shocked to discover that sometimes he finds flights for less than €10. This conversation reminded us of our Slow travel, slow living workshop, and how sustainable travel is often inaccessible when you have limited time and limited money. Eventually, we went back to Lele’s apartment and packed our bags. We were really getting used to this life on the road. Though it was a shame to say goodbye to Lele (and his late night chats), we had much unfinished business in Torino and will make sure to return. We boarded the train with ‘Jalla’ still playing in our minds… Written by: Sheenagh Rowland (and the Lilac team) Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube Spotify Tiktok The post Lilac Team – Torino first appeared on Europe on Track.