By & for: Welcoming and Inclusive Spaces at De Voorkamer in Utrecht, the Netherlands

Contrasting the politics and narratives of Fortress Europe, hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Europe to delcare “#WeHaveSpace” for refugees and other newcomers. Social activists (defined broadly) have co-created—often only after fighting uphill battles—diverse spaces where newcomers can feel welcomed and participate in building new futures together with the local communities. This chapter reflects on one of these welcoming spaces, namely, De Voorkamer (“The Front Room”) in Utrecht, the Netherlands. We illustrate the strategies used by the community for maintaining and redefining their meeting space. We reflect on the importance of location, place, and space in De Voorkamer’s work from social design and socio-cultural geography perspectives. Finally, we offer some critical thoughts on the ongoing challenges of welcoming initiatives such as De Voorkamer in creating sustainable (as in long-lasting and futureproofed) inclusive spaces.