Innovation in Context
How might we foster a community-oriented culture of technology and innovation?
Why the Netherlands?
The Netherlands would be underwater if it weren’t for the power of innovation: with a quarter of their country under sea level, the Dutch have had to engineer their communities for centuries. The result is a society deeply connected to their land, and to design and technology.
Visiting the Netherlands allows us to examine how challenges can lead to opportunities – and how serious solutions can also be a lot of fun! On this program we’ll meet with Dutch designers and start-ups to consider systems of sustainable engineering and urban infrastructure. We will get hands-on experience with the dynamics of wind power, biking, product design, and other technologies as we explore how culture, diversity, and history can shape innovation. Can the Netherlands inspire new styles of ingenuity and design?
Insights + Projects
On every Atlas Workshops program, the group works on an inquiry with real-world implications. Through intentional exploration, engagement with locals and experts, and team activities, students generate new insights and ideas about the topics, places, and global issues they’re investigating.
For some groups, the program incorporates a more extensive project—an opportunity to apply our learning and stretch our creative thinking by making something tangible or public.
We work to share the ideas and inspiration we find in the world, with the world, through collaborative initiatives and student expression. We can also work with you to develop a custom project or publish students’ insights via exhibition, photography, digital or print media, or other format.
Suggested Itinerary
Students will investigate the project question by getting to know the Netherlands as a place, along with the people who live there, tinkering with ideas together to apply what they are learning, and sharing reflections, insights, and aha moments with others.
A history of Innovation: 2-3 Nights
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
We will arrive in the Netherlands and head to Rotterdam, the Netherland’s second-largest city, where we’ll dive in by visiting tech companies, start-ups, and an incredibly cool food hall. We’ll head outside the city by the stunning coastline to see how the country grapples with constant rising sea levels and travel by boat to the Kinderdijk UNESCO site to understand how the Dutch have stayed dry for centuries.
A Capital of Design: 2-3 Nights
Eindhoven, The Netherlands
On the way to Eindhoven we will visit innovative greenhouses, try some local cheese, and head for a bike ride in the country side.
Eindhoven is a global hub for design and engineering. We’ll learn about the city’s evolution at the Philips Museum, check out the old warehouse-turned-start-up district, and take part in a locally-run design workshop.
Innovation and Community: 2-3 Nights
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
We’ll end with the biggest city in the Netherlands and one of the most spectacular in Europe. Walking through the city and riding on trams and boats, we’ll see how canals and water have impacted everything about life in the Netherlands. We’ll also consider the diversity of the city at a few local food stops, take time to visit the Anne Frank House, and ultimately close our program reflecting on how this small country has become a center of innovation and design.
Want to Learn More?
Custom Programs and Modifications
We have designed this itinerary to maximize the value and breadth of our project and program. We can modify any program, or we can plan an entirely custom program. This itinerary could be adapted to focus on more specific learning outcomes, visit different regions, hit a different price point, combine with another program, or cover a longer or shorter schedule based on the group’s needs.
Continue Exploring
You can also check out other programs in the Netherlands, request a custom program, or explore other related programs here:
