Tourism as a Transformative Tool for Civic Learning

This project focuses on developing innovative approaches to civic learning that move beyond passive notions of multicultural 'tolerance' toward more active, inclusive forms of citizenship. It brings together community-engaged scholarship, transdisciplinary collaboration, and participatory action research (PAR) to create transformative learning experiences grounded in real-world contexts.
At its core are three interconnected initiatives that integrate research, education, and societal impact:
- The International Migrantour Network advances experiential learning related to migration, heritage and social inclusion through co-created interactive guided walking tours, educational resources, and digital storytelling. It is supported by large-scale European collaborations across 9 countries and 20+ cities and rural areas. Included in this network is the Netherlands' first Migrantour: Migrantour Utrecht
- Roots Guide, backed in part by the National Geographic Society, produced an alternative guidebook of the Netherlands from the perspectives of people with diverse migration backgrounds and a free downloadable educational toolkit grounded in global citizenship education principles to foster greater empathy and critical engagement regarding themes of migration, diversity, equity and inclusion across diverse communities in the Netherlands.
- Freedom Tours Wageningen combines arts-based methods with tour narrative co-creation processes to support local residents explore and narrate their experiences and perceptions of freedom through the lenses of gender & sexuality and disability & accessibility in the city of Wageningen. It is supported by the European Cultural Foundation, WUR and many local funders.

This project explores new ways to learn about and engage with society, moving beyond simple ideas of “tolerance” to encourage active, inclusive citizenship. By working closely with communities and combining different fields of knowledge, the programme creates learning experiences that are hands-on, reflective, and connected to real-life issues.

The project brings together three main initiatives:
- International Migrantour Network – This Europe-wide initiative uses interactive walking tours, storytelling, and educational materials to explore migration, local heritage, and social inclusion. Participants hear directly from people with migration experiences and discover how cities and communities are shaped by movement and diversity. In the Netherlands, this includes Migrantour Utrecht, the country’s first tour of this kind.
- Roots Guide – This project offers an alternative guidebook to the Netherlands, featuring the perspectives and stories of people from diverse migration backgrounds. Alongside the guidebook, a free educational toolkit helps teachers and facilitators spark curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking about migration, diversity, and inclusion.
- Freedom Tours Wageningen – In this initiative, local residents co-create walking tours that explore what freedom means in everyday life, looking at themes like gender, sexuality, disability, and accessibility. Using arts-based methods and storytelling, the project connects personal experiences with broader social and historical questions.

Together, these initiatives combine research, education, and community engagement to encourage people to reflect, connect, and take part in building more inclusive societies.