We shape places in Utrecht that make you think: nice here.*

*with nice we mean shaped in a dialogue, sustainable, impactful, creative and community-led.

We are City Makers and Storytellers

focused on public space design through community-led approaches and creative thinking.

Our passion lies deeply in people, their relation to cities, and how to empower citizens

to shape cities in a manner that allows all users to be accounted for.

What we do

We work on the intersection of Placemaking and Storytelling through community led-approaches.

Placemaking

Creating places in a dialogue. That means shaping it with the people, sharing responsibility, and making it inclusive. Yes, you can be visionary, we even invite you to but it needs to be practical, flexible, and adaptable. It’s about turning a house into a home.

And we all know it, there is no place like home.

Civic Engagement

In order to create cities that are open to everyone, inclusively designed and perhaps have something playful in store we need to acknowledge the importance of involving citizens in the process. We involve the citizen in the process of action-taking and doing research, linked together by critical reflection.

Storytelling

We all carry an imperative to imagining cities for all, to engage more meaningfully with different urban actors and their different sensibilities through their stories. Storytelling for us, is a playful tool to induce understanding and compassion and, most importantly, motivate people to take action.

Action Design Research

Focusing on understanding the needs of people and the context in which they live, and then using these insights to inform the design of interventions services. It is an iterative process to help stakeholders identify problems, understand the underlying causes, and design solutions that are tailored to their local context.

Projects

#participation

#citymaking

Nice cities are created by nice people. After all, it’s never nice alone - it's only nice here, with #other people.

Introducing our monthly hang out: nice here, with hosted one Thursday of the month in the heart of Utrecht - the Huis van Actief Burgerschap in the Bibliotheek Neude. This event is an informal, welcoming space to exchange bold ideas and explore new ways to make our cities... well, nice! 🌍

Whether you're a city lover, a placemaker, or someone shaping the future of how we live and connect, this is where you belong. We’re inviting the nice people who are transforming cities in creative, critical, and fun ways.

From the housing crisis, to designing livable communities, to urban greenery, and all the challenges in between. No edition is like the other. Each month, we come together to dive into a different topic to spark new conversations and connections. It starts with a conversation, and ends with tangible collective action!

Tell me more...

, 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 #Hans

How Does Placemaking Transform Cities from the Ground Up?
How do streets, public spaces, and ground floors influence the way we experience our cities? And what can we learn from innovative urban design approaches?

Led by Hans Karssenberg, founding partner of STIPO and a leader in placemaking across Europe, we’ll dive into key principles from The City at Eye Level and discuss real-world examples of innovative urban design:

🔹 Merwede’s car-free approach – prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists.
🔹 Beurskwartier’s active ground-level programming – fostering social interaction.
🔹 Rhijnhuizen’s cooperative city-making model – where residents and businesses shape their neighborhood together.

Date: 10.04.25
Time: 6pm - 8.30 pm
Location: Huis van Actief Burgerschap in Bibliotheek Utrecht (Neude)

More info and (free but limited) tickets via the link in bio 🫰

Following International Women’s Day, we’ll explore creative community building through a feminist lens using collages.

@sophocleez , a creative program coordinator with a master’s in gender studies, is passionate about art-based research as a tool for activism and reflection. She has collaborated with institutions like the Centraal Museum, De Voorkamer, and Wageningen University to lead workshops on these themes.

Through this session, we’ll examine the essential design elements of fostering inclusive and equitable communities through creative expression.

Date: 27.03.25
Time: 6pm - 8.30 pm
More info and tickets in our website: nicehere.nl

Climate philosopher and activist Chris Julien is the author of Alledaags activisme (“everday activism”, 2024), in which he describes the realities of climate breakdown and the dawn of the antropocene. Drawing from insights from both climate science and psychology, he calls for an emotional connection and approach to these issues. His book offers some practical examples of what we could do to have a positive impact on a meso level: in our community, neighborhood or workplace.

In this edition, we will have a talk with Chris Julien and look at some local examples of ‘everyday activism’ in Utrecht, with contributions from XR Utrecht, Amelisweerd niet geasfalteerd en XR Utrecht Book Club. Together we look into ways we can have a positive impact within our own community.

Join us as we will make it ‘nice here, with #Chris & XR’ 🥳

13.02.25 from 6-8.30pm
More info and tickets as usual on our website (link in bio)

#everydayactivism #communitybuilding #citymaking

Urban Messiness – What’s Your Take?

We are wondering, how do you perceive messiness, order, and chaos in urban spaces? 🤔
We’re launching a little experiment in Utrecht: this camera will be passed from stranger to stranger, capturing how residents perceive “messiness” in our city.

Will it make its way back to us? We’re keeping our fingers crossed—so we can share the pictures with you all! 📸✨

TimeBanking – What’s That?

Imagine a world where time is the currency. No dollars, no euros, no pounds—just your skills and your time. That’s what TimeBanking is all about: swapping time for time. One hour of your skills equals one hour of someone else’s, no matter what. 🙌

At our latest event, we brought this concept to life with an interactive simulation that turned giving and receiving into a fun experiment.

Here’s how it worked:
💡 Step 1: Everyone wrote down 3 things they can offer and 3 things they need. 💡 Step 2: Each participant created their own “currency” (shoutout to Rexdoller and Mapound- just to name some.  💡 Step 3: The trading began—and the magic happened.

✨ The biggest takeaway? Every single need could be met by the group’s collective skills. Let that sink in—everything we needed, we already had. Mind-blowing, right?

Like the idea and have lots to give and receive?
Join the TimeBanking Whatsapp community to keep that spirit alive. [Link in Bio]

Time for the 2nd edition of our monthly hangout for all that are interested in exploring new ways to make our cities… well, 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦! 🌍

𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 #𝗔𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶

Discover the power of TimeBanking: an innovative approach to strengthening communities and fostering social connections. In this session, we will delve into this fascinating concept where time becomes the new currency, and everyone’s skills are valued equally. Aditi Singh, a community builder and social innovation enthusiast, will guide us through the principles of equality, reciprocity, and mutual respect that underpin TimeBanking.

Together, we will bring TimeBanking to life through interactive games and experiments. We’ll share stories about successful TimeBanking initiatives and explore why and how we can establish one right here in Utrecht. Get inspired by the possibilities of transforming your neighbourhood and leave with practical tools to apply the magic of TimeBanking in your own community.

16.01.25 from 6-8.30pm
More info and tickets on our website. (Link in bio)

#citymaking #communitybuilding #timebanking

That was nice here, with #Malin - on the topic of: Community-led housing.

Curious about the next edition? We’ve got you covered!

Join us for the next edition of nice here, with #Aditi
📌 Community building through ‘TimeBanking’  📅 Thursday, 16.01.2024 ⏰ 6PM - 8.30PM 📍 Huis van Actief Burgerschap

Tickets: Link in BIO

Community-Led Housing: What’s Driving the Buzz?

In a time when housing shortages persist and feelings of isolation grow, I think it’s fair to say that community-led housing sounds like a refreshing and hopeful solution. These initiatives go beyond simply providing homes—they aim to create neighborhoods that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable. In Utrecht, several projects are leading the way.

Let’s take a look at them 🔗

Nice cities are created by nice people. After all, it’s never nice alone—it’s only nice here, with #other people.

Introducing our monthly hang out: “nice here, with ..” hosted one Thursday of the month in the heart of Utrecht at the Huis van Actief Burgerschap in the Bibliotheek Neude. This event is an informal, welcoming space to exchange bold ideas and explore new ways to make our cities... well, nice! 🌍

Whether you’re a city lover, a placemaker, or someone shaping the future of how we live and connect, this is where you belong. We’re inviting the nice people who are transforming cities in creative, critical, and fun ways.

From the housing crisis, to designing livable communities, to urban greenery, and all the challenges in between.

In our first session, we want to dive deeper into an example of community-led housing. And what better example to showcase than the legendary community @buurland.utrecht : a land ruled by neighbors. @malinvanweerdenburg , anthropologist and Buurland resident, will present her short documentary and outline the local heroes that shaped this paradise amidst the urban jungle.

More info and tickets on our website. (Link in bio)

#citymaking #localheroes #placemaking #urbaninnovation

Placemaking Week Europe, Rotterdam -
It was epic. We’ll be back.

What made it epic?

A perfect blend of an inspiring city and driven people, all working for inclusive and sustainable urban spaces. A Hi to everyone we met, you left an impression.

And about Rotterdam, you’re a gem. A real playground for experimentation, as Chantel Zegger said.

Lovely meeting everyone, lets stay in contact.

Psst.. Urbanists, researchers, architects, designers, developers, educators, municipalities, and more – when at #placemakingweekeurope make sure to check out the session on Friday:

‘The place man and local heroes from the Netherlands’.

🗓️ Date: 27.09
🕑 Time: 14:30 - 15:45
📍 Location: Independent School for the City, Rotterdam

Qendresa and Guillermo from PlacemakingX will be diving into the topic of local heroes and the battle for space with a topic close to her heart: Buurland.
She will be sharing about Buurland’s inspiring journey, highlighting the roles of collaboration, and resilience in creating vibrant communities. This session should challenge to recognize, support, and uplift grassroots communities in the future of urban development.

@placemaking_europe
@placemakingx
@buurland.utrecht
@qendresa____

Vakantie is de beste tijd. Who could disagree?

Last week, we went on a little vakantie trip to Albania. With Qendresa’s Balkan roots, we experience the country from a local’s perspective

AND we wouldnt be true city makers if we wouldn’t share some of the cool stuff we discovered.

Drohnen shots by @regzona

#albania #tirana #placemaking

We were here

Remember carving our initials into a tree, marking a moment in time to say, ‚We were here‘?

This is an ode to the places once brimming with life, now being removed as our city evolves.

A special shoutout to @buurland.utrecht —a vibrant community of over 200 people who shaped Tuinwijk. Their presence left a lasting mark.

#battleforspace #utrecht #citymaking #localheroes #placemaking

𝙰 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚘𝚗 𝚞𝚛𝚋𝚊𝚗 𝚏𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎.

A bench is typically designed for one purpose: to provide a place to sit. Thats what is was built for.

However, when such a bench is placed in a public space, its role extends far beyond this simple function. It can breathe life into the area, offer a spot for relaxation, and foster spontaneous interactions among people. Yet, urban furniture can also have less positive effects, such as creating barriers, enforcing boundaries, or limiting how people use the space.

In rethinking our cities, the question arises what form do think should urban furniture take? Is it merely about providing seating, or can it enhance the public space in other meaningful ways?

#urbanfurnituredesign

𝚆𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚢.

Some of our favorite examples of how citizens make Utrecht their canvas and reclaim our public space in creative ways to make it more enjoyable 🖼️

🚲 A bike parking setup that repurposes a car parking spot, promoting sustainable transport and reducing congestion.

🌿 A charming alley transformed with a welcoming bench surrounded by greenery, creating a cozy nook for relaxation and socializing.

🌊 A playful slide installed at the waterfront, making our riversides more fun and safe.

Remember when you see these little projects that someone once put in an effort to shape our city for the better for all of us. The streets are ours to create.

How else might we reclaim our public space? 🎨

#publicspace #intervention #placemaking #citizen #utrecht

European Living Lab in 54 seconds. 🫶🏻

Starring: Too many to tag here.

Film Location: @vogelfreiplayground

Shoutout to everyone: Raise your arm, bend your elbow and give yourself a pat on your back - you did great.

Photocredit: @coenkoppen

#neweuropeanbauhaus #citymaking #urbaninnovation

These are the faces behind nice here .. looking up because we thought it is nice up here.

We spend most of our time coming up with clever nice here analogies, write them down, and never sharing them with the world.

According to our regular ‘here is a new business idea’ sessions, we should be rich, but our bank account tells a different story.

When one of us is late, we jokingly say, „This comes off your salary“—a salary that definitely doesn’t exist on a monthly basis. If Mara is late, it’s because of the wind. If Q is late, it’s because she forgot to check her phone for the time.

Well to round off, how nice is it to work with your best friend on a topic that is so close to both of our hearts? And while we do that, we are lucky to encounter such beautiful souls with similiar ambitions.

Life is good, life is nice here. (HEHEHEH)

#IfYouUseTheSameJokeTooOften
#utrecht #citymaking

Just out here fantasizing about our #nicest visions for Europe: #sustainable, #aesthetic, #inclusive.

Thanks to all the bright minds who made today wonderful!

#neweuropeanbauhaus

Pretty sweet speaker selection, if we do say so ourselves 🕺

During our UP2NEB Living Lab on the #NewEuropeanBauhaus, these lovely people will share their experiences and insights with us.

💫 Joris Roovers will take us into the world of #aesthetics. Because let’s be honest, we all like our cities to be beautiful and enticing. Besides being a speaker for our event, he’s also founder of the stunning location we chose: @vogelfreiplayground

🌿 Maarten Klop will take us into the world of @groundedfest : a diverse community that engages people to celebrate and co-create a regenerative culture. He’ll teach us about how to implement #sustainability in an urban context.

🫂 Last but not least, Kelly de Kruijff will help us explore what #inclusion means for our cities. With her experience managing @abeautifulmess_utrecht, she’s an expert on how to best approach the inclusion of people from all kinds of cultures with refugee backgrounds, and how this enhances our society as a whole.

Save one of the last spots to enjoy this great company by filling in the form in our bio!

In case you forgot, here’s the event in a 🌰🐚:
⚛ 12.7.24 from 12.30pm-4.30pm
⚛ VOGELFREI, Nijverheidsweg 6, 3534AM Utrecht
⚛ free + lunch and some afterdrinks included

See you there!

@quiosq.eu @erasmusplusprojectnl @up2neb
#urbanlivinglab #erasmusplus #up2neb #theneweuropeanbauhaus

Hey peeps,

Ever heard of the New European Bauhaus project? It’s a European initiative funding grassroots organizations to make our cities more aesthetic, sustainable, and inclusive 🌍🇪🇺

So, what does that look like in practice? 🤔

Mark your calendars and join the Living Lab of the Netherlands 🗓️ We will learn from international and local cases and dive into a hands-on workshop to broaden your perspective on these topics.

▪️Friday, 12.07.2024
▪️12.30-4.30 pm (lunch and some after drinks included)
▪️@vogelfreiplayground , Nijverheidsweg 6, 3534AM Utrecht
▪️Participate for free & register via the link in our bio! Limited spots available so don’t wait too long.

ALSO,
This event is FREE, including lunch and drinks, at the stunning Vogelfrei venue. And who doesn’t love free food.

Tot straks 👋

#livinglab #europe #sustainability #aesthetics #inclusion #neweuropeanbauhaus #up2neb #europe

Here at the opening:

H E T H U I S V A N A C T I E F B U R G E R S C H A P

(Please help us, come up with an abbreviation)

In case you were wondering what exactly ‘Het Huis van Actief Burgerschap’ is, let us fill you in.

Located on the ground floor of Neude Library, a hub opened its door to people who care about others and are committed to the quality of life in their neighborhood, district, or city. The aim of the hub is to further develop this place with active citizens from all over the country and well you guessed it, return to ‘power to the people.’

Stay tuned and find us every Thursday here at the HHVAB?! -you name it.

#Citymakers #CommunityEngagment

@huisvanactiefburgerschap

𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗕𝗨𝗨𝗥𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗜𝗭𝗘𝗡 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗛𝗧!!

Are you in need of an image change?
Do you want to reach a bigger target group?
Do you have an outdoor space that needs a makeover?
Do you need some help to stimulate your Buurthuis?

Collaborate with us and become a rewild location.

More info on: www.nicehere.nl

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲?

#rewild #citymaking #greencity #permaculture #buurthuis #utrecht

Looking at our city from an ever-changing perspective.
Today: Sharing is caring.

📍Majellapark

#klinikastje #utrecht #neighborhood #lombok #majellapark #citizenship #pivicempowerment #sharingiscaring

What makes you think ‘nice here’?

What sounds, sensations, interaction and surroundings make you appreciate Utrecht?

We all value different things and are on quest to understand what makes Utrecht nice for its residents.

Share your ‘nice here’ moments with us below.
#utrecht #citymaking #participation #civicempowerment

Here to introduce 𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.
Because well, the days are getting longer and why not start a platform-neighborhood-urban-initiative rather than spending hours googling random stuff?

At nice here, we’re all about shaping spaces in #Utrecht that make you think, ‘𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦.’ And by ‘𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦’, we mean places crafted through #dialogue, #sustainability, #impact, #creativity, and #community collaboration.

This also means beginning with an open ear, rather than a rigid plan, allowing ideas to organically emerge from the collective voice!

Seriously though, it’s time to inject some humanity back into our urban landscapes. Let’s embrace the power of imagination and inspire citizens to dream of new possibilities within their city.

Learn more about us: www.nicehere.nl
Or meet us every Thursday @ Het Huis van Actief Burgerschap at Centrale Bibliotheek Neude, Utrecht.

Design by: @studiowvdv

#Utrecht #SocialUrbanInnovation #Participation #Citymaking #Placemaking #nicehere

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