Collective futures
During this session, the Confluence will take a key next step towards a collective vision for the future of the network, its joint activities and goals. While the previous two Confluences (Mar Menor 2023 and Venice Lagoon 2024) focused on getting to know each other’s waters and initiatives, today we will move our focus towards concrete next steps and joint action. Some external influential Dutch waterbodies will join this session to share their stories and spark our conversations and thinking. Inspired by initiatives that engage in bold future thinking, the members of the network will share and brainstorm their wildest dreams for the role and influence of the European network in 2040, as well as concrete pitches for collaboration in the upcoming years to get there. This session will shape the future of the Confluence as it concludes with real decisions for the way forward in the network. Our brainstorm and inspired conversations will provide the basis for a collaborative strategy to apply for EU funding as a network.
External guests and speakers: Natalia Green / GARN Global Director; Klaas Kuitenbrouwer / ZOOP; Claudia Fernandez de Cordoba Farini / Living Imaginaries; Maarten van der Schaaf and Li An Phoa / Drinkable Rivers
Water Bodies Future Thinking Session
Date: 23 september 2025
Doors open: 10.00 / Start 10.30 / End 14.30
Location: Museum Kranenburgh Bergen
Hoflaan 26, 1861 CR Bergen
Moderation: Carolijn Terwindt
This is a closed session, for members of the Confluence only, but if you feel your contribution could be valuable for the collective, please sent a short motivation to info@ambassadevandenoordzee.nl
Water Bodies 2025 are: Akerselva, Baltic Sea, Deep Sea, Dogger Bank, Drina, Genova waters, Irish Sea & Liffey, Klarälven, Laguna de la Janda, Loire, Maas, Mar Menor, Mediterranean, North Sea, Odra, Os_lo Fjord, Ouse, Pek, Piave, Reuss, Reva, Rhine, Rhône, Snæfellsjökul, Spree, Tara, Tagliamento, Tavignanu, Tejo, Ticino, Vättern, Venice lagoon, Viskan, Vistula, Wattenmeer and Zenne
The Confluence of European Water Bodies was founded in 2023 by the Embassy of the North Sea, ILP Mar Menor and TBA21–Academy. The edition 2025 is supported by Cultuurfonds, VriendenLoterij Fonds, Forest Peace and Chalmer University Sweden.
