My journey to this internship at Duurzaam Utrecht 2030 started a long way from the Dutch polders. With a background in Biological Sciences and a passion for environmental health and occupational safety, I have spent years analysing ecosystems from monitoring water quality in gold mines to studying how zoonotic diseases spread. I have always been driven by one question: how do we use science to protect our environment and the people living in it?

But science doesn't happen in a vacuum. Real change happens when policy meets practice. That is why I am currently interning here in Utrecht, organizing an event that is very close to my heart: the "Young Voices for Utrecht’s Countryside" Policy Sprint.

Why this event? Why now?

Right now, the Province of Utrecht is deciding what its countryside will look like for the next ten years. The draft Utrechts Programma Landelijk Gebied (UPLG) proposes major changes to water levels, soil rules, and farming subsidies. These are not just abstract rules; they will determine whether a young farmer can afford to keep the family business running, or whether our soil remains healthy enough for future generations.

The problem is that often, the people who have to live with these decisions the longest (students, young farmers, and rural youth) are the last ones to be heard because other “priorities” take centre stage.

What we are doing differently

I’ve learned from my time leading student unions that young people are full of ideas, but they often lack the platform to formalize them. That is why this event is not just another lecture or brainstorm but a platform to turn your brilliant idea into a policy recommendation.

On January 8, 2026, we are bringing together Master of Food Systems Innovation students from Aeres University of Applied Sciences, young professionals from community based organisations, and interested youth under age 40 from the province of Utrecht for a practical Policy Sprint.

We are not just talking; we are writing. By the end of the day, participants will have drafted a formal consultation response (Zienswijze) that will go directly to the Province before the February deadline.

A bridge between generations

For me, this event represents the perfect blend of professional development and civic duty.

• For students: It’s a chance to step out of the classroom and influence real-world policy.
• For young farmers: It’s an opportunity to protect their livelihood and get support for sustainable innovation.
• For the citizens of Utrecht: It ensures that the future of our rural areas: our food, our nature, and our water is shaped by the very people who will inherit it.

I invite all young dwellers of the Utrecht province to join us. Let’s move beyond just talking about the future. Let’s write it together.