Working in Nature
Greening the Campus
On sunny days, when sitting outside at HZ Vlissingen you will quickly experience heat stress. A group of HZ students supported by some teachers and HZ staff are taking steps to transform concrete and tiles into green. We are planting trees to provide more shade. Also we are adding more biodiversity. We see the HZ as a living lab for sustainability: a place where we can learn and experiment.
Greening our school is combined with action research. Students from the minor "Going Green" and Circular Economy", are working on greening our school, in collaboration with Facility Management, HZ Vitality and IVN. Step by step we are transforming our campus in a place where we can relax, study and meet other students or colleagues outside. For greening our campus, we work with biobased materials. A biobased pavilion was built by students from HZ and Avans engineering in collaboration with the research groups MNEXT and Biobased Construction. It’s placed for providing shade and to give visitors information about biobased building materials. The project builds upon the idea of the campus as a living lab for sustainability. The pavilion also features a green roof. Read about the Biobased Pavillion built by HZ and Avans students: Biobased Paviljoen op schoolplein HZ in Vlissingen
Buitenkans (Nature Days)
Are you looking for a meaningful experience outside of the classroom? MDT Buitenkans offers students the opportunity to develop themselves while spending time in nature. Through coaching, outdoor activities, and hands-on greening projects, you'll gain new skills, meet like-minded people, and make a real impact on your surroundings!
This unique program consists of three phases:
1. Personal Coaching
Before spending time in nature, you'll have a one-on-one coaching session to reflect on your goals. Whether you want to develop leadership skills, learn more about sustainability, or simply take a break from your studies, this conversation will help you to set your personal intentions for the experience.
2. Natuurdriedaagse - Three Days in Nature
After this, you will spend three days in nature at the Oest Farm & Stay in Ritthem. Here, you'll participate in a variety of activities, including:
🌿 Building a barefoot nature trail
🔥 Outdoor cooking and learning about wild foraging
🌱 Rewilding and biodiversity workshops
🎨 Creating art from natural materials
💪 Engaging in sports and team-building activities
You'll stay in a tent under the stars, with food and drinks fully provided. It's the perfect way to reconnect with nature and take a break from your screens, deadlines, and daily distractions!
3. Hands-on Sustainability Project
After the Three Days in Nature, it's time to put your experience into action! You will spend 40 hours working on hands-on activities, such as greening the HZ campus, developing community gardens or food forests, or planting eelgrass in lakes in Zeeland to improve water quality and biodiversity, etc. These activities are scheduled in consultation so that they do not interfere with any class schedules. You will be guided on this and do this together with a group of fellow students.
Upcoming Editions
📅 March 21-23, 2025
📅 May 2025 9-11 & 23-25
Interested? Sign up before March 1st (for the edition in March) by emailing greenoffice@hz.nl.
Meer Bomen Nu
Thanks to Meer Bomen Nu, we receive young trees and shrubs to help green our HZ Campus and surrounding areas .This initiative focuses on tree rescue and replanting, making sure that surplus seedlings from nature get a second chance to grow in places where they are needed.
How does it work? Meer Bomen Nu collects young trees and shrubs from areas where they would otherwise be removed, like roadsides, construction sites, and overgrown forests. These "rescued" trees are then replanted in locations that need more greenery. By relocating seedlings instead of growing new ones in nurseries, this method is cheaper, faster, and better for biodiversity and CO₂ absorption.
At the HZ, we use these trees to make the campus greener and more sustainable, but we also replant them in primary schools, neigborhoods, and other community spaces. By participating, students gain hands-on experience in nature restoration and climate action, directly contributing to a healthier ecosystem.
Want to get involved? Keep an eye on our upcoming planting events! 🌿
For more info, you can go to: Meer Bomen Nu
Willow Pruning & National Nature Work Day
Every year, HZ students join Stichting Landschapbeheer Zeeland to help maintain local landscapes through willow pruning. Willows need to be cut regularly in order to stay healthy, and this practice helps to maintain biodiversity while preserving Zeeland's natural heritage. The cut branches can even be used for new plantings, creating a circular, sustainable approach to landscape management.
We also take part in the National Nature Work Day (Landelijke Natuurwerkdag), a yearly event where volunteers across the Netherlands engage in conservation work such as clearing overgrown areas, planting trees, and maintaining nature reserves. It's a great way to learn, connect, and contribute to a more sustainable environment!
Interested in helping out? Join us for these hands-on nature activities! 🌿💚
Supporting the Sustainable Development Goals
Through our activities in nature, we are actively contributing to the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
