Farewell Dinner: Laurenskerk

Friday 8 July, 19.30 – 01:00

The Laurenskerk is the perfect setting for our Farewell Dinner & Party. This church provides a very charming ambience. You will be welcomed by an aperitif, and after a varied menu is served, the DJs will start to play the music and invite people to come to the dance floor, or stay near the bar is that is preferred.

*Please note that the fee is only applicable if you are inviting an extra guest.

Excursions (Wednesday)

You can sign up for one of the many excursions in and near Rotterdam. We aim to create an informal atmosphere where you see some of the highlights of the city and can meet other participants of the conference.

Excursion 1: Windmills Kinderdijk – World UNESCO Heritage Site

Hop on the Waterbus, a public ferry cruising the Maas River which will bring you right to Kinderdijk: the most famous windmills in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Watch an introduction movie on the history of Kinderdijk and the Dutch expertise in water management, take a boat ride with miller-guide along the mills, visit a (working) mill and try on wooden shoes.

Excursion 2: Floating Farm

Floating Farm is a well-known feature as a stand-alone showcase of bringing awareness to food, its footprint and supply chains. It is located in the Maas River in the west side of Rotterdam’s city centre. The authentic theme of Circularity in the region is related to the story of the double-purpose cow called Blaarkop. Here near Rotterdam, the cows are fed with a waste product of local Jenever production. The manure turned out to be a good match for growing vegetables in the greenhouses, etc. This historically imbedded and proven circularity is a profoundly inspiring topic. An expert on the Blaarkop / Circularity story will accompany you at the Floating Farm and provide you with some very relevant content within this professional sector.

Excursion 3: Factory visit Lely: Premium robotics for the future

Lely is one of the leading international robot developers. The Lely Campus, which houses the factory and HQ of Lely, is located just of Rotterdam in a town called Maassluis. Lely directs all its efforts towards creating a sustainable, profitable, and enjoyable future in farming. Focusing their work mainly on the cow, the company develops premium robotics and data systems that increase animal welfare, flexibility and the production on the dairy farm. Lely invites you for a tour around their production facility and to share your opinion, as they would like to conclude the visit with a lively discussion about current topics in the dairy sector.

Excursion 4: World Port Rotterdam

Climb on board and visit the spectacular seaport of Rotterdam. Experience a special cruise through one of the largest harbours in the world amid the hustle and bustle of various inland and sea-going vessels. The city’s impressive skyline with imposing buildings will glide past, followed by unique views of wharfs, docks and ultra-modern trans-shipment operations involving thousands of containers. The tour finishes by sailing past the ss Rotterdam, the former flagship of the Holland America Line. A guided walking tour through city centre will get you to the quay and back.

Excursion 5: Rotterdam city of Architecture

Visit all the city’s famous buildings in a single, compact tour. A guide will accompany you and take you to beautiful architectural gems in Rotterdam. You will hear the story of the built city from 1300 until the present. You will visit the latest world-famous Depot, passing iconic public art. On the way to the Markthal, you will see historical City Hall, and we will pass a small innovative city park in front of the church of St Lawrence. In the Markthal, your guide will tell you all about the amazing design and colourful ceiling. This tour is packed with architectural goodies and a ‘meet & taste’ at one of the entrepreneurs in the Markthal, next to the famous yellow Cube Houses at Old Harbour. A super complete tour.

Excursion 6: Picturesque Delfshaven

Delfshaven is the Amsterdam of Rotterdam, a special heritage area with old Dutch facades lining the canal. Delfshaven was also the departure point of the Pilgrim fathers. From here, they set off for the new world on the other side of the ocean. Your guide will take you to Delfshaven by tram; and walk and talk you through this special neighbourhood with its layered stories, from its historical wealth to today’s multicultural diversity. Discover the typical Dutch windmill and the various historic buildings that are now home to famous beer houses – a taste is included in the tour.

Excursion 7: Floating Office & Rotterdam Confiture

In the Rijnhaven, a harbour in the city center, a small number of tiny houses are floating. A keen and neat design of light materials. A year before, in the same Rijnhaven the Floating Office was opened. Discover these innovative and environmentally resilient concepts from the quays of the metropolitan Wilhelminapier. Afterwards, the guide will take you a little further up in multicultural Afrikaanderwijk to stop at Rotterdamsche Confiuur. Here you will hear the engaging story of this social resilience enterprise and have a bite or two to taste. A truly inspiring excursion.

Excursion 8: WCGALP Soccer

The WCGALP tradition! We’re afraid we won’t be able to arrange for you to play in the famous ‘de Kuip’, the home of Feyenoord. But we for sure can organize your traditional soccer tournament on fields at a great spot, either within Rotterdam’s spectacular city sights or amidst a green park. What a great way to combine sporting and networking.