07-09-2026 t/m 09-09-2026: Wadnext conference

From 7 to 9 September 2026, WadNext Conference brings together policymakers, destinations, researchers and practitioners from across Europe in the UNESCO Wadden Sea Region at Ameland. Not in an anonymous conference centre, but in a place where the challenges and choices of sustainable tourism are part of everyday life.  

From policy plans to real change: that’s what the European Sustainable Tourism Strategy stands for. The ambition? Tourism that contributes to broad prosperity, climate goals, and livable destinations. But that can only happen if we learn from each other, share experiences, and collaborate across borders. 

Main themes: 

• European Sustainable Tourism Strategy: from vision to practice 
• Regenerative tourism and the positive impact of visitors 
• Local value chains and meaningful employment 
• Smart mobility and reducing the travel chain footprint 

Keynotes 

Ilektra Kouloumpi (Doughnut Economics Action Lab) will open the conference with a keynote on how the Doughnut Economy can guide tourism development within social and planetary boundaries. She brings a systems perspective that connects policy ambitions to concrete choices for destinations.  

Joining her are Stefan Hartman (NHL Stenden / European Tourism Futures Institute) and Pieter van den Beukering (Wadden Academy), who will focus on the future of tourism in the Wadden Sea Region. Their keynote addresses the urgency of decision-making today — and what it means to consciously choose the direction of tourism for tomorrow. 

What to expect: 

An active 3-day experience combining inspiration, exchange, and discovery. Across the programme, participants engage in workshops, joint sessions and excursions, learning from youth perspectives, seven international pilots in the North Sea Region, and inspiration from the Danish Wadden Sea. Discussions are complemented by on-site experiences that connect strategy directly to place. 

WadNext is for regions, policymakers, destination organisations and researchers that want to learn, exchange and act.