Learning Visits and Workshops: Thursday
Congress: Healthy Urban Living - Utrecht, 11 - 13 June 2025
Below you will find an overview of the learning visits and workshops available during the Thursday programme at Congress 2025 in Utrecht this June. Delegates will be invited to register for their preferred visit / workshop in advance of the event, either at the time of booking, or via an online form for existing ticket holders.
The full Congress programme and more event information can be found at theaou.org/utrecht
*Learning Visits / Workshops marked with an asterisk are also available on Friday
Thursday 12 June, 14:00 - 17:30
City of Literature*
Learning visit
Taking in the library, literature museum, and small bookshops, this learning visit will explore how Utrecht actively incorporates its literary cultural heritage and UNESCO City of Literature status with its regeneration.
Leidsche Rijn: Learning from the Vinex Approach*
Learning visit
Cycling out to the west of the city, this learning visit will dive into 30 years of lessons from developing the Netherlands’ largest Vinex neighbourhood, now home to some 80,000 people.
Utrecht’s Cycle Infrastructure*
Learning visit
Home to one of the world’s busiest cycleways and projects like the Dafne Schippersbrug and the famous underground bicycle parking facility, Utrecht’s cycle infrastructure is world-leading. This learning visit will give delegates a chance to experience it firsthand.
The Utrecht Barcode*
Workshop
Focusing on the Utrecht Barcode tool for spatial planning, aimed at supporting delivery of the city’s 10 minute city vision, this workshop will explore data-based design and how data and evidence can be used creatively and efficiently to shape the city’s future.
Planning for Shared Mobility
Workshop
The move towards shared transport options and mobility hubs is an important one for a sustainable urban future, and this workshop will build on Utrecht’s award-winning approach to explore how digital information can be used in planning and using shared mobility and accelerating the energy transition.
Beurskwartier & Wonderwoods: Delivering Effective Shared Services
On Site Workshop
This visit will explore the new, green city-centre neighbourhood of Beurskwartier with thousands of homes and workplaces. As part of that exploration, delegates will participate in a workshop to scope the organisation of shared services in residential blocks with a diverse range of inhabitants and owners.
Hollandse Waterlinie: Growth with UNESCO World Heritage Sites
On Site Workshop
The Hollandse Waterlinie UNESCO World Heritage site presents a limit for development and expansion to the east of Utrecht, so this on-site workshop will explore this context and how cities need to balance innovative growth with protected heritage assets.
Cartesius: Blue Zones and Healthy Communities*
On Site Workshop
Cartesius is the world’s first urban neighbourhood to be developed using core learning from Blue Zones. Currently being constructed on formerly industrial land, this visit will explore incorporating Blue Zone learning into the design of our places and how we create healthy communities from scratch in a densely populated area.
