Europe on Track
type: channel
description: We are back on track with the twelfth edition!
date: 2026-06-30T10:29:54Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
items: Azure Team – Aachen
items: Lilac Team – Copenhagen
items: Azure Team – Nijmegen
items: Lilac Team – Heidelberg
items: EoT12 Lilac Interview in Torino
items: Azure Team – Eindhoven
items: EoT12 Azure Interview
items: Lilac Team – Bergamo
items: Azure Team – Groningen
items: Lilac Team – Torino

Azure Team – Aachen
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-26T16:37:55Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 entir…

Lilac Team – Copenhagen
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-25T09:36:59Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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/w…

Azure Team – Nijmegen
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-22T17:50:27Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 hea…

Lilac Team – Heidelberg
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-22T17:36:10Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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://ww…

EoT12 Lilac Interview in Torino
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-21T19:18:28Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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, h…

Azure Team – Eindhoven
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-19T21:56:09Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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="…

EoT12 Azure Interview
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-18T22:23:52Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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/w…

Lilac Team – Bergamo
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-18T21:36:23Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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="attachm…

Azure Team – Groningen
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-16T20:54:04Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 hom…

Lilac Team – Torino
type: item
creator: europeontrack
date: 2026-06-16T09:26:22Z
subject: EoT12
description: 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.
encoded: 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 importan…