Sustainable Erasmus Exchange

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Sailing Adventure Sustainable Erasmus Exchange

From Antwerp to Kiel on the Morgenster

Discover what it is like to be on board one of our Sustainable exchanges organised together with our Partner Windseeker.

Our journey began in the vibrant and historic port of Antwerp, where we boarded the Morgenster, a beautiful sailing ship with a rich history. The atmosphere was buzzing as we met the crew and our mentors, who gave us a warm introduction to life aboard the ship. Captain Jakob and his team shared the ship’s fascinating history, journey’s and stories, and prepared us for the days ahead.

We embarked with 30 trainees, a TOM-Researcher and 6 crew members for an amazing journey from Antwerp, Belgium, via Arendal, Norway to Kiel, Germany. We planned to make diffe

rent stops but it all depended on the weather and the wind. 

After dinner, we headed out to explore Antwerp. Our first stop was the rooftop of the MAS (Museum aan de Stroom), where we enjoyed breathtaking views of the city and posed for our first group photo. Later, we split into smaller groups to discover the city’s charm. Some of us enjoyed drinks at Otomat and Rococo, while others ventured to the famous Quintens Matsijs, Antwerp’s oldest pub. It was a perfect first night to bond and share our excitement for the upcoming adventure.

Monday: setting sail from Antwerp

The next morning, after breakfast, we kicked off with some fun introduction games near the famous Havenhuis. We started with the name games, followed by the human knot challenge, and  even a football match. After a bit of free time to stock up on snacks from a local supermarket, we were introduced to the “Trainee Logbook”, a type of dairy, where we could track our experiences.

By lunchtime, it was time to depart Antwerp because the tide in the Scheldt was high enough to open the old locks. As we sailed through the Kattendijksluis, the crew briefed us on safety procedures, lifejackets, and what to do in case of an emergency. We quickly got into the rhythm of ship life, learning how to brace the sails, coil ropes, and even climb the rigging! The real adventure had begun.

Watches were divided into Red, White, and Blue shifts, each getting two four-hour time frames on the day, ensuring the ship was always under careful observation. After some smooth sailing on the Scheldt we encountered some heavy waves from the aft which made the ship roll and made some of us feel a bit nauseous. Nevertheless, the first night at sea was magical, as we began our watches and already got accustomed to the rhythm of life on the water.

Tuesday: arrival in Terschelling

By the morning, after a full night of sailing, we came close to Terschelling, the sea had become our second home. Mentor Lothar entertained us with his first telling of his infamous “tiger joke,” setting the tone for some light-hearted fun during our watches. Maarten introduced the research of The Ocean Movement with all the watches before noon and after lunch we took the first North Sea water sample using a manta trawl, sparking the beginning of our citizen science efforts.

In the evening, we were moored in West-Terschelling and gathered for our first “Clearing” session, where we reflected on what we liked, disliked, and how we felt, all in one word, creating a moment to share your feelings and listen to others. Afterward, we explored Terschelling, stopping at Bar De Doerak to play the “whispering game” in different languages, which led to plenty of laughs.

Wednesday: exploring Terschelling

As the winds came from the North we had a full day on Terschelling. This gave us the opportunity to introduce the Erasmus+ project and the YouthPass. We learned how this experience could boost our future careers. After a morning session of goal-setting with mentors, we headed to Groene Strand for a beach clean-up—a  chance to contribute to the environment we were exploring and give something back to the Island Terschelling. We found heaps of Nurdles, small plastic pellets, at the beach entrance opposite of Pavillion ‘De Walvis’ and plenty of big pieces of rope! The trainees were shocked with the amount of nurdles and other plastics but also the dead seals and birds on the beach. 

After lunch, we had free time to explore the island. Some of us rented bikes and tandems, while others stayed aboard to analyze the water samples from our citizen science efforts. Dinner was a relaxed affair, and everyone could go their own way. The evening ended with an impromptu musical performance about Pirate Pablo, truly, life aboard the Morgenster was full of surprises!

Thursday: sailing to new horizons

We bid farewell to Terschelling and set sail once more, it was all hands on deck. Everyone worked together to set all sails and prepare for the journey ahead. The day was filled with learning.The first part of the plastic pollution quiz created a deeper understanding of the origin of the problems. Additionally, we also learned more theory of sailing and even some hands-on lessons on using a sextant. The ship buzzed with activity, and by the afternoon, we enjoyed a delicious strawberry torte as a treat.

Dinner was a delicious risotto, and as night fell, the watches resumed, keeping the ship moving smoothly through the dark North Sea towards heading for Norway. 

Friday: life at sea

Our day started with a thrilling new game—the “murder game”—which had everyone on edge as they tried to outwit each other. With this game we got  three papers with a person, location and object, and had to make sure the person would hold the object on the location. Pancakes for lunch lifted spirits, while country presentations gave us a deeper understanding of each other’s cultures. Later that day, we had a second manta trawl session, collecting more samples for the ongoing ocean research of The Ocean Movement.

During our watches, we played games like “The Forbidden Word,” keeping us all alert—slip up and say the wrong word, and you had to drop and do push-ups!

Saturday: arrival in Norway

After a morning filled with music, we spotted the coast of Norway at 9:43 a.m., a moment of pure excitement. After sailing along the coast we anchored in a fjord near Arendal, and after a refreshing swim, we celebrated with lasagna and sodas. The evening was filled with a party on deck, where we danced and laughed under the Norwegian sky, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Sunday: exploring Arendal

We arrived in the port of Arendal, with trainees taking over the role of helmsman as we navigated into the harbor. The morning was spent reflecting on the journey so far in another “Clearing” session. Some of us took over the Instagram account of the University of Antwerp, sharing our adventures and research with the world.

In the afternoon, we explored the city, visiting the famous glass elevator and nearby islands. Some trainees even organized a spontaneous beach clean-up on the island, continuing our mission to care for the oceans.

Monday to Thursday: from Denmark to Germany

The next few days saw us sail from Arendal to Denmark, where we moored on the town of Marstal on the Island of Ærø. Here, we explored the local village with a rich maritime history and a great maritime museum! Others enjoyed some much-needed relaxation and icecreams. 

The next day we continued sailing and let everyone prepare for a show. Trainees took this challenge very seriously! The talent show on deck showcased the amazing skills of our crew, mentors, and trainees. We laughed, danced, and enjoyed our final days at sea.

On our last night, we partied and celebrated the incredible journey we had shared. The next morning, we sailed into Kiel, marking the end of our unforgettable voyage aboard the Morgenster.

As we said our goodbyes, shed some tears, exchanged Instagram handles and planned future reunions, we knew this adventure would stay with us forever. We left the ship with new friends, unforgettable memories, and a deeper connection to the sea. Thank you, Windseeker Foundation, Morgenster crew, Stichting The Ocean Movement and Erasmus+, for making this journey possible!

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