Erasmus+ day 2 – Cold Winds, Warm Spirits and Learning by Doing

3 februari 2026

Today, began at the train station, where pupils set off for their student-led walking tours of the city center. Yesterday’s sunshine had disappeared, replaced by cold air and a sharp eastern wind. Still, the mood stayed positive. With confidence and energy, pupils guided their groups through Enkhuizen and showed just how well they had prepared.

From cold streets to warm classrooms, the focus shifted to geography. In a lesson led by Mr. Burger, everything started with one simple question: “Where are you?” Pupils explored the Netherlands’ special relationship with the sea, rivers, and rain, and reflected on climate change, the Sustainable Development Goals and the links to their Refashion Show themes.

Lunch arrived at exactly the right moment.

When everyone returned, an unexpected sweet surprise was waiting. At first, it felt like a simple treat — until pupils noticed that the chocolates were not shared equally. What could have stayed a small moment quickly turned into meaningful conversations about fairness, inequality, and discrimination. Suddenly, abstract ideas became very real.

The afternoon brought movement and challenge of a very different kind. During the sports workshop, pupils tried wheelchair basketball, obstacle courses in wheelchairs, and blind football and bowling. What started as fun activities quickly became physically demanding. Balance was harder than expected. Simple movements suddenly took real effort. Just like the cold wind earlier that day had slowed everyone down, these exercises forced pupils to rethink how they used their bodies — and how easily everyday movement is often taken for granted.

To close the day, we returned to the Erasmus+ room, but the energy stayed high. Pupils reflected on what they had felt and experienced, not just what they had learned. That reflection then flowed straight into the Refashion Show project. Roles were assigned, ideas were sharpened, and the first outfit designs began to take real shape.

By the time everyone packed up, Day 2 had clearly left its mark. The cold weather outside and the physical challenges inside had both pushed pupils out of their comfort zones. And with French and Spanish pupils heading home with their Dutch partners for dinner later that day, those lessons about fairness, inclusion, and understanding did not stay in the classroom — they continued around the dinner table.