Jurgen van Klapwijk

3 questions to Jurgen…

What do your activities for the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab involve?

‘In addition to being a teacher of Tourism Management, I am also the coordinator for study courses one and two. Together with my colleagues, I investigate whether the Lab can also play a role for first and second year students. It is equally valuable for students who are just beginning their studies to get experience of the world of work and to be involved in practice-based projects’.

What is your favourite place in Rotterdam and its vicinity?

‘Rotterdam has many special locations, but one area in particular stands out for me, and that is the Katendrecht quarter; it is an area that shows how the right development can turn a problematic quarter into a hotspot. The Walhalla Theatre, the Fenix Hall and the Night of the Kaap Festival, as well as some excellent cafes and restaurants, have turned this quarter into a much sought-after location’.

What are your dreams for the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Rotterdam?

‘I have a business background; before I became a teacher, I worked as a communication advisor and as managing director of the Schouwen-Duiveland and Ouddorp aan Zee Tourist Offices. With the Urban Leisure & Tourism Lab Rotterdam I want to connect to developments and projects within the business community, as well as entering into associations with interested parties to form genuine partnerships that are beneficial to everyone from a perspective that goes beyond traditional solutions’.