When two or more rivers meet in a landscape, they flow together and continue as one body of water: they ‘confluence’. From 21 to 24 September 2025, representatives of more than 35 European seas, lakes, rivers, wetlands, lagoons, and glaciers will confluence in the Netherlands.
The Confluence 2025 is a growing interdisciplinary community of water representatives that strives for new dialogues and relationships with Europe’s water bodies. The network was founded by the Embassy of the North Sea, TBA21–Academy, and ILP Mar Menor. The first edition of the Confluence took place in 2023 at the Mar Menor in Spain – the first European ecosystem to be granted the status of a legal entity. In 2024, this ever-growing community of water bodies gathered at the Venice lagoon.
The Confluence of European Water Bodies 2025 will open in Amsterdam on 21 September 2025, inaugurated by the British writer Robert Macfarlane, followed by a three-day programme organised by the Embassy of the North Sea.
During the Confluence we will be exploring new ways to represent water in the cultural, political and legal domain. The programme, taking place in Amsterdam and Bergen aan Zee, includes workshops, lectures, films, art installations, performances, concerts, and future thinking sessions. The general public is very welcome at the public venues including De Balie, UvA, Mediamatic, the Amstelkerk and Filmtheater Cinebergen.
Public programmes
— 21 September @ De Balie, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Robert Macfarlane opens the Confluence
Whether it’s the Amazon or the Amstel, our language, laws, and economies still treat rivers as resources – channels to be dredged, diverted, and controlled. In his latest book, Is a River Alive?, Robert Macfarlane asks whether rivers are beings with agency, life, and rights. How would it change us if we didn’t live above the river, but with it? Moderator Kees Foekema will discuss these questions in De Balie with both Robert Macfarlane and various representatives from the Confluence network.
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— 24 September @ Amstelkerk, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Water Bodies Orchestra & Dogger Bank Coalition Inaugural Meeting
The Confluence concludes in the Amstelkerk (Amstel Church) with the Dogger Bank Coalition Inaugural Meeting. Over the coming years, the Dogger Bank Coalition, consisting of nature organisations from the four Dogger Bank countries: Blue Marine Foundation (UK), BUND (D), WWF (DK), ARK Rewilding, the Embassy of the North Sea, Stichting Doggerland (NL) and ATU (IRL), will be working on the restoration of reefs and on better legal, cultural and political representation of the Dogger Bank, a unique but severely damaged submarine sandbank. The evening starts with a performance by the Water Bodies Orchestra, an interactive performance led by artists Harpo ‘t Hart and Steye Hallema.
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— 23 September @ Cinebergen, 8 p.m.
Screening of The Coriolis Effect
The latest documentary by Petr Lom (I am the River, the River is me) revolves around the volcanic islands of Cape Verde, where wind and ocean determine the lives of animals and humans. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with makers Petr Lom and Corinne Egeraat.
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— 19 September to 10 October @ Mediamatic
Diplomatic Suitcase Exhibition
After Murcia, Venice, Italy, Berlin, and Lisbon, the Diplomatic Suitcase has now made its way to the Mediamatic art center in Amsterdam. The Diplomatic Suitcase is the traveling exhibition of the Confluence of European Water Bodies. This multimedia installation was designed to tell stories about the many issues facing European waters and to highlight how water diplomacy and activism can lead to strong alliances. The Diplomatic Suitcase was assembled and designed by Jakob Kukula and Leon Lapa Pereira.
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Closed sessions
— 22 September @ Bergen aan Zee
Internal workshop day
This day is intended for the members of the Confluence of European Water Bodies and aims to facilitate meetings and exchanges.
— 23 September @ Museum Kranenburgh in Bergen
Water Bodies Future Thinking Session
During this closed session, the Confluence will take the next step towards a collective vision for the future of the network. External guests and speakers include Klaas Kuitenbrouwer / ZOOP, Claudia Fernandez de Cordoba Farini / Living Imaginaries, Li An Phoa / Drinkable Rivers, and Arne Hendriks.
— 24 September @ University of Amsterdam
Rights of Nature Beyond the Looking Glass
Researchers from the UvA, led by Laura Burgers, an expert in the field of the rights of nature, have started a research project entitled Rights of Nature beyond the Looking Glass. Their aim is to explore the potential and implications of the rights of nature in Europe, specifically from the perspective of the Global South. On 24 September 2025, the team invites all Confluence participants to a series of world cafés to discuss questions such as: What do the rights of nature mean to you? What are the challenges and success strategies you have encountered? How do you view your own indigeneity, and are you inspired by indigenous perspectives?