BeNeLux Tour 2019 🇧🇪🇳🇱🇱🇺
Just before the European Elections, the moment has arrived: the Europe Public Sphere is going on tour again! And it will be exciting as it will be our biggest tour yet: 11 stops and 3 new countries. On any given day, there will be two to three talks under our Europe Dome. Interesting initiatives and organisations will be invited, but all citizens and passersby are invited to join us! The collected inputs of this tour will become part of our ‘Future Archive’ consisting of citizens’ ideas and suggestions from each and every Dome Talk. We will publish the exact starting times of the talks and the last dates of the tour as we get closer to each event.
Openings event of the BeNeLux Tour
30 March 2019 | Liege 🇧🇪
With April and its infamous unpredictable weather approaching, we are preparing for the first-ever indoor event of the European Public Sphere: three Dome Talks in the shopping centre Médiacité in Liège. Citizens and representatives of the public and political spheres will discuss about the future of our common Europe from 10:00am. ›› more
Dome Talks ahead of ECI Day
1 April 2019 | Brussels 🇧🇪
On the 1st of April, the Europe Dome will come to Brussels, just before a very special day for democracy. The 2nd of April is the day of the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI), whose implementation and revision work Democracy International was deeply involved in. This instrument gives citizens the opportunity to set the legislative agenda of the EU. And what is a better way to celebrate this day than with a collective Dome Talk on citizens’ participation right in the heart of the European capital of Brussels? Come to the Esplanade at the Crazy Copy Centre at the VUB Campus and join us! ›› more
Dome Talks in Antwerp
3 April 2019 | Antwerp 🇧🇪
Of course, we couldn’t have a BeNeLux tour without including the metropole of Antwerp! Our Europe Dome will visit the Groenplaats, directly next to the big statue of Rubens and with a beautiful view on the Cathedral of Our Lady. We expect to come across some very interesting ideas and visions for the future of Europe by the Antwerpian citizens! ›› more
Last stop in Belgium: Gent
4 April 2019| Gent 🇧🇪
We have our last stop in Belgium at Gent’s Woodrow Wilsonplein on the 4th of April. This time we will stand in front of, instead of inside, the hustle and bustle of a shopping centre. We continue the theme of talking about Europe’s future – in an open and respectful manner under the geodetic roof of the Europe Dome. ›› more
Off to the Netherlands of the 14th century
5 April 2019 | Maastricht 🇳🇱
A place of inspiration, reflection and diverse cultural experiences: that is the bookshop Dominikanen in Maastricht in a nutshell. In the 700 years old Dominikaner church, we will explore a new experience. At the foot of the former altar, we will try out a new technique of ‘positive talks’, while we enjoy the beautiful, restored fresco ceiling with an espresso from the local café. Come join us in the “fairest bookshop of the world, a bookshop made in heaven” (according to the Guardian). ›› more
Democracy festival “DEMOCRACY ALIVE”
11 April 2019 | Den Burg, Texel 🇳🇱
On the beautiful island of Texel, the European Public Sphere will be part of the democracy festival “DEMOCRACY ALIVE”. Together with citizens from all over Europe and a multitude of other organisations, politicians, companies, influencers, artists and trade unions, we will celebrate European democracy and ideals at the Groeneplaats in Den Burg, Texel. Celebrating along is worth it: there are events, discussions, gigs, readings, song contests, ping pong competitions and silent discos. The stage is yours! ›› more
Dome-Talks and Food for Thought
12 April 2019 | Amsterdam 🇳🇱
In Amsterdam, we will serve a very special course: our Dome Talks will take place in the Passage of De Hallen. This hip place hasn’t been so hip for very long. For several decades the city, together with the citizens, tried to find a solution for the huge, unused area in the heart of Amsterdam West. Only a foundation set up especially for this purpose made the impossible possible. Today, De Hallen are a colourful attraction for connoisseurs, but associations with new ideas also have their place in the innovative concept. This is exactly where we are building our dome: on the border between a flourishing restaurant scene and workshops, art galleries and offices used by civil society. Is this the perfect modern-day example of a social market economy? ›› more
Shopping, the third: Shopping mall Leyweg
13 April 2019 | The Hague 🇳🇱
Leyweg shopping centre is a social meeting place in the neighbourhood of The Hague. The European Public Sphere of course had to make a tour stop at The Hague! Together, we’ll discuss the future of Europe in the headquarters of so many national and international institutions. More than 150 supra-political bodies include famous examples such as the International Court of Justice and Europol. ›› more
The Dome on the beach: Paviljoen Jeroen
14 April 2019 |Zandvoort 🇳🇱
The Europe Public Sphere goes to the beach! In the soft sand of Zandvoort, right ahead of the beautiful beach tent Paviljoen Jeroen, we will build up the Europe Dome and invite beachgoers to join the discussions. The limitless view of the sea should provide all participants with enough inspiration for great talks. Where the waves of the North sea crash onto the beach, we will discuss topics such as climate change and migration. Join us at the beach in Zandvoort and enjoy the beautiful landscape as well as the European Public Sphere! ›› more
BeNeLux goes SaarLorLux
18 May 2019 | Schengen 🇱🇺
Schengen…The birthplace of the Schengen Agreement and the name of the borderless European area. But this is not the only reason why this city has become synonymous with Europe. Situated in the southeast of Luxembourg, Schengen lies directly on the tri-border point between Germany (Saarland), France (Lothringen) and Luxembourg (Remich). What is life like in one of the hearts of Europe? What can we learn from their unique diversity? How does communality arise? We want to discuss this and other aspects with you and citizens from all 3 regions under our dome. Keep an eye out for the confirmed exact location later! ›› more
Last stop: Luxembourg
19 Mai 2019 | Luxembourg 🇱🇺
Just ahead of the European elections, we will reach our last stop: the place Clairfontaine in Luxembourg City. The European Parliament, the Court of Justice of the European Union, the European Court of Auditors, the European Investment Bank, they all have at least parts of their headquarters in Luxembourg’s capital. And with their slogans – “The voice of the people”, “The rule of law”, “Responsible use of taxpayers’ money” and “Investing in the future” – they offer more than enough food for thought for a debate under the Europe Dome. ›› more