Migrantour Utrecht

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Utrecht
Migrantour Utrecht

Migrantour guided walking tours focus on the migration heritage of Utrecht's Lombok neighbourhood.

Migrantour is a responsible tourism initiative aimed at tackling discrimination against people with migration backgrounds throughout Europe. Its guided walking tours serve as an educational tool for advancing global citizenship values and competences among not only the tour participants but also the “intercultural companions” themselves. Intercultural companions are the guides that co-create and l

ead Migrantour walking tours. Launched in Turin in 2010, the Migrantour initiative (http://www.mygrantour.org/en/) has since grown to encompass a network of 20+ urban and rural locations throughout Europe. To date, network partners have trained 600+people with 1st- and 2nd-generation migration backgrounds as intercultural companions, developed 40+ guided walking tour routes, and reached 30,000+ walking tour participants. With the support of EU Erasmus+ funding, the NGO De Voorkamer and Wageningen University's Cultural Geography group paired up in mid-2021 to launch Migrantour in Utrecht's Lombok neighbourhood. This makes Utrecht the very first city in the Netherlands to join the Migrantour initiative. Migrantour guided walking tours aren’t interested in superficial celebrations of cultural diversity. They consciously avoid exoticising people with migration backgrounds as mere representatives of the cultures and places where they or their ancestors come from. Instead, they emphasise how people with migration backgrounds are – like everyone else – individuals invested in and shaped by the places in which they live, love, work, connect and relax. Migrantour guided walking tours are carefully co-created, researched and led by people with 1st- and 2nd-generation migration backgrounds in alignment with Migrantour’s vision and participatory methodology. These intercultural companions draw on their personal experiences and local knowledge to offer tour participants a fresh and nuanced perspective on the joys and challenges surrounding diversity with respect to issues like identity, memory, belonging and conflict. Tours are designed to spark both empathy and curiosity, and to meet the needs and interests of tour participants – be they school children, long-time residents, newcomers or short-term visitors to the area. In bringing people together that otherwise might have little more than passing contact with one another, Migrantours aim to transform how we think about people with perspectives and experiences seemingly different from our own.

28/01/2025

Curious about the tours we offer at Migrantour Utrecht? Join us for a free walking tour on Saturday, February 1st, and discover Lombok through the eyes of our amazing intercultural companion, Denzel. 👣👣

📅 When: Saturday, 1 February 2025
📍 Where: Lombok, Utrecht
🗣️ Language: English
🎟️ Free of charge, but registration is required (link in bio)

23/01/2025

Back in December, we had the pleasure of hosting students from as part of the Philosophy of Science and Ethics (PSE) course for a full-day workshop and tour in Lombok.

The day started with an interactive workshop exploring the practical applications of ethics in tourism. Students then joined a tour led by our intercultural companions, Carol and Yetunde, delving into Lombok’s history and migration stories. In the afternoon, they shared creative ideas to reimagine the tour design to make it more inclusive and impactful.

We love working with universities to combine experiential learning with topics like migration, ethics, and more. We offer workshops and tours for students at all academic levels and can customize them to suit specific programs and academic needs.

📩 Interested in booking a workshop or tour for your students? Contact us at [email protected]!

13/01/2025

Become an Intercultural Companion with Migrantour Utrecht! 👣👣

Are you passionate about storytelling, cultural exchange, and tackling discrimination? Join Migrantour Utrecht! We're looking for enthusiastic individuals to further develop and guide educational walking tours.

What you’ll gain:
- Training in storytelling, tour design, and migration history.
- Opportunities to showcase your talent and receive volunteer compensation.
- A supportive community of like-minded companions.

📅 Training starts in February 2025.

📩 Apply by 20 January by sending your CV and a brief introduction to [email protected]. Find the full description via the link in bio!

24/12/2024

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who has been part of our journey. 🌟

To all who joined our walking tours and workshops: thank you for walking with us, for your curiosity, and for your enthusiasm for exploring the migration stories of Utrecht.

To our amazing Intercultural Companions: thank you for sharing your personal stories and experiences, and for making each tour unique. Your dedication, warmth, and passion have truly brought our tours and workshops to life.

A special thanks to Habib and Honor from Creator Holy, who designed our fantastic new hoodies – we love them! 🧡

This year has been filled with meaningful moments of learning and exchange, and we’re excited for what’s to come in 2025.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season and a happy new year! 🎉

22/12/2024

It’s time for another book recommendation - a cozy read for the winter holidays! 📚❄️

“Voces entre dos orillas / Stemmen tussen twee oevers” is a bilingual Spanish-Dutch poetry collection that explores migration between Latin America and the Netherlands. Featuring poems by Argentine poets Cuca Esteves, Mariana Rosa, Alejandra Szir, Uruguayan poet Alejandra Darriulat, and Dutch poet Mirjam Musch, this book delves into themes of identity, belonging and the migrant experience across oceans. 🌊

19/12/2024

Although yesterday marked International Migrants Day, as recognized by the United Nations, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to acknowledge the resilience and contributions of migrants worldwide. Migrants enrich our communities culturally, socially and economically, shaping the societies we live in.

This day also serves as a reminder to challenge harmful narratives that portray migration as a threat, fueling division and fear.

At Migrantour Utrecht, we bring migrants’ stories to life through guided walks, offering a unique perspective on the city. By sharing personal experiences, we strive to create meaningful bonds between people, foster understanding and highlight Utrecht’s vibrant migrant heritage.

As an African proverb says: ‘The footprints of people who walked together are never erased.’

12/12/2024

Curious about who might guide you on your Migrantour Utrecht walking tour? 
Meet Carol, one of our many amazing intercultural companions and a member of Migrantour Utrecht’s coordination team!

“ I was born in Bogotá, Colombia. After more than three decades of life surrounded by mountains, I moved to the lowlands with my family three years ago, and it’s been quite a journey. I find joy in long walks through nature, savoring a good novel or a beautifully illustrated book, and bringing a sense of ritual to everyday life. With a background in education, cultural memory studies, and childhood studies, I bring these perspectives—along with my passion for literature and a desire to explore the migration experience—into my PhD research. At Migrantour Utrecht, I channel my enthusiasm for artistic expression as a means to understand and reflect on migration. I believe deeply in the power of these creative expressions to foster more compassionate connections. Always eager to learn, I cherish the beauty of shared stories and experiences.”

09/12/2024

This year, we’ve partnered with , a travel agency focused on promoting mindful and responsible travel!✨🌍

As part of this partnership, we’ve developed new tour packages that blend our Migrantour Utrecht walking tours with hands-on cooking and crafting workshops. These packages, now available on our website (link in bio), offer a wonderful way for both visitors and locals to make meaningful connections with our community. 👣🍛
For more information, get in touch with us at [email protected]

02/12/2024

Haven’t joined a Migrantour Utrecht walking tour yet? 🗺️ Don’t miss out! Join us for our final free tour of 2024 on December 7th as we explore Lombok through the eyes of our amazing intercultural companion, Fitri.

Together, we’ll uncover stories of migration and discuss Utrecht’s colonial history, reflecting on how they have shaped the neighborhood and its community. 👣

📅 Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024
📍 Location: Lombok, Utrecht
🗣️ Language: English
🎟️ Free, but registration is required (link in bio)

Let’s end the year with a meaningful journey! 🌟

25/11/2024

Earlier this month, we participated in the international seminar “Migrantour as a Tool to Promote New Rural and Urban Narratives of Inclusion” in Barcelona, hosted by . ✈️

Alongside 30 participants from the Migrantour network and other similar initiatives across Europe, we engaged in meaningful discussions on migration, exchanged best practices and explored ways to integrate an intersectional approach into our tours. The seminar emphasized the need to develop strategies to reshape harmful narratives surrounding migration to positive ones that foster inclusion. 💬

We’re excited to bring these insights back to Utrecht to further develop our work and enhance our walking tours and initiatives!

07/11/2024

This year, we’ve partnered with , a travel agency focused on promoting mindful and responsible travel!✨🌍

As part of this partnership, we’ve developed new tour packages that blend our Migrantour Utrecht walking tours with hands-on cooking and crafting workshops. These packages, now available on our website, offer a wonderful way for both visitors and locals to make meaningful connections with our community. 👣🍛

📩 For more information, get in touch with us at [email protected]

28/10/2024

📅 Mark your calendars! Join us for our next free monthly walking tour on Saturday, 2 November from 10:00 to 12:00, and discover how migration has shaped Lombok! 👣✨

Our free walking tours are a great way to connect with fellow Utrechters and spark meaningful conversations about living in a diverse community. Let’s walk together - register now through the link in our bio! 🌍💬

📅 Date: Saturday, 2 November 2024
📍 Location: Lombok, Utrecht
🗣️ Language: English
🎟️ Free, but registration is required (link in bio)

17/10/2024

Last Saturday, we hosted a special event that brought together Migrantour Utrecht and for a day filled with learning, sharing and deep reflections on migration. ✨

We kicked off the day with a walking tour of Lombok, led by ICs Carol and Fitri, followed by a meaningful lunch and discussion at De Voorkamer, where intercultural companions and storytellers gathered to share their pespectives on migration and belonging. 👣🗣️

After many years of collaboration to make the Roots Guide Netherlands a reality, the Roots Guide crew concluded their journey during this event, passing on their stories to our team, who committed to preserving and continuing their work. It was truly an inspiring day of fostering connections, exchanging stories and reflecting on the many dimensions of migration! 🌍

📚 Learn more about the Roots Guide: Roots Guide is an interactive and reflective travel guidebook that invites readers to embark on both outer and inner journeys through the Netherlands, reshaping our understanding of the country through the lens of migration. Through personal and visual stories, it introduces us to 34 guides from diverse migration backgrounds, offering intimate insights into their lives and experiences. Roots Guide highlights the rich cultural diversity that shapes the Netherlands, serving as a valuable tool for everyone living in the country to connect more deeply with the people and places around them and to explore their own identity and connection to this land.

07/10/2024

🚨🚨 Starting January 1, 2025, the Dutch government will stop funding the "Bed, Bad, Brood" (Bed, Bath, Bread) program. For many years, this program has been a lifeline for rejected asylum seekers and undocumented migrants, providing basic shelter, food and care to people without a residence permit in the Netherlands.

Many who cannot simply return to their home countries have depended on this program for temporary shelter, meals, hot showers and legal support as they navigate their complex situations and explore their options for the future. Without it, many people will be left without any safety net, further marginalizing those already in precarious situations.

Cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam and Eindhoven have announced they will continue to fund the program locally, ensuring some level of support remains available. However, Rotterdam has stated that it will not provide any further financial support.

🗣️ Share your thoughts on this matter, help us raise awareness and let’s stand together for the rights of all people living in the Netherlands!

01/07/2024

The composition of Dutch society is the result of events from our history. Slave trade and slavery are parts of this history. The abolition of slavery is a result of centuries of resistance from the enslaved and grassroots activism in the Netherlands and in Utrecht.

Today is Keti Koti, the annual commemoration of the history of Dutch slavery and its abolition in Suriname and Netherlands Antilles!

Knowledge and insight into each other's past and mutual recognition of a shared history is necessary to be able to live together. Remember to go to Griftpark today and join the celebration of resistance and freedom. From 12:00 to 22:00 there will be lectures, workshops, music, dance and food!

27/06/2024

🤩 Meet our newest Intercultural Companion Ilya! If you've missed his first incredible tour, you'll have another chance on 6 July at our free monthly tour 🙌 Sign up here: https://forms.gle/PxZcu4vJjLyCWJkt8 or check the link in our Instagram bio!

A bit more about Ilya:
"I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. At the age of 17, I left home to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences in Utrecht, Netherlands. Currently, I am working towards a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University. Alongside my studies, I facilitate art workshops and design creative programs with a focus on migration, queerness, and community care.

I joined Migrantour Utrecht as an Intercultural Companion because it provides a meaningful way to engage with complex social and political issues through interactive and grounded experiences. It is only now, after almost 5 years away from home, that I am starting to realise how deep of a mark my experience of migration left on me. It’s like living multiple lives simultaneously, yet at times feeling unable to live either of them fully. Whether or not you have a migration background, Migrantour offers the opportunity to learn something new and share your own perspective, enriching our community's collective knowledge. In a time when superficial and stigmatised images of "the migrant" dominate media and politics, I believe it is vital to create spaces for collective learning about the history and current realities of migration in our neighborhoods."

24/06/2024

Last week we had the opportunity to walk with Utrecht University as part of their conference around Understanding migration in the context of global aging, depopulation and rural-urban transformation.

It was inspiring to connect with experts from UU and exchange our thoughts on issues around migration shaping our lives.

17/06/2024

We've got another recommendation for you 😇

📖 The Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of short stories by acclaimed Nigerian writer and feminist activist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Many stories in the collection depict issues surrounding women's migration from the postcolonial Africa to the West. For example, in the title story, a young Nigerian woman flees from poverty to America, only to find a humiliating and bitter experience in the land of plenty.

Enjoy reading!

Adres

Kanaalstraat
Utrecht
3531CJ

Website

https://www.migrantourutrecht.nl/

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