A 10-day sailing trip (August 9-18, 2025) where young people from all over Europe combine adventure, community and the fight against plastic pollution.
TREASURE's Isa Schipperheijn embarked on an extraordinary 10-day sailing adventure along the coasts of Denmark, Belgium, and the Netherlands aboard the Dutch ship Eendracht. Aboard were 35 young participants from five European nations, who learned sailing skills, immerse themselves in new cultures, and collaborate on sustainable solutions to combat plastic pollution.
The "Sail for Change" expedition kicked off in Denmark and navigateed the North Sea coastline towards the Netherlands, with a stop in Belgium. Participants gained hands-on experience in sailing a large vessel—steering, setting sails, and knot tying—while engaging in practical research on plastic pollution, facilitated by The Ocean Movement and Klimatorium.
Participants took part in practical citizen research activities, including microplastic studies, organizing beach cleanups, releasing wooden blocks as part of the TREASURE project, creating their own plastic-free cosmetics, and exploring ocean conservation efforts.
This journey was supported by Exchange@Sea 2025—a youth exchange initiative under Erasmus+ tailored for young people aged 15 to 25, blending adventure, action, and opportunities for international friendships.
This trip has been covered by Isa on linkedin:
- Introduction to the trip:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isa-schipperheijn-b692b51b6_erasmus-exchangeatsea-plasticpollution-activity-7359558727005274112-SxBS - Drifter release (video):
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isa-schipperheijn-b692b51b6_erasmusplus-exchangeatsea-plasticpollution-activity-7361509858128330753-JkN0 - Drifter release (pictures):
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isa-schipperheijn-b692b51b6_erasmusplus-exchangeatsea-plasticpollution-activity-7361635441655144448-ueO1 - Microplastic sampling with manta trawl:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isa-schipperheijn-b692b51b6_microplastics-plasticpollution-oceanawareness-activity-7361788198961737728-XA06 - Reflections and results:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/isa-schipperheijn-b692b51b6_microplastics-plasticpollution-oceanawareness-activity-7365005043684585472-FUYj
The Interreg North Sea Programme has also shared two posts about this same trip: