Verwildering: Hoe wild mag het worden?

In the Low Countries, nothing is left to chance. Every patch of land is planned, divided, and managed. We mow, cut, and adjust—down to the smallest detail. But what if we did a little less of that? What if we let nature decide for itself a bit more? Rewilding—or verwildering—is a provocative vision of nature that clashes with the classical idea of “management and protection.”

In this debate, we dive into the world of wild rivers, returning animals, and cross-border ecosystems. What does our view of nature reveal about ourselves? About humanity’s place in the bigger picture? And how wild can it really get in a region where everything is already occupied, designed, and constrained? How differently do Flanders and the Netherlands view this phenomenon?

During this debate evening, we’ll search for answers together with:

• Katrien Schaerlaekens, art historian at Regionaal Landschap Kempen en Maasland.
• Linde De Vroey, author of Verwildering, on hopeful yet complex real-world examples.
• Norbert Peeters, botanical philosopher and author of Wildernisvernis, on the philosophy and pitfalls of the rewilding ideal.
• Ann De Bie, journalist, will guide this untamed conversation
   

Evening in Dutch

Program

19:00: doors open
19:30: start
21:00: scheduled end, opportunity to chat at the bar

Tickets

Tickets available on the deBuren website according to the pay what you can principle: €3 / €7 (standard price) / €10. You choose the price that best fits your financial situation.

Evening in Dutch

Part of The Foragers

The Foragers: Engagements Beyond The Human is an interdisciplinary art and science project that reimagines foraging (the gathering of edible or useful materials in one’s immediate surroundings) as a creative and ecological practice. Between October 2025 and December 2027, a series of activities invites you to rediscover your connection with the environment, not only in nature but also in unexpected places across the city and its edges.

The series is curated by historian Benoît Henriet (VUB), artist Gosie Vervloessem, and VUB Crosstalks.
This event is organised in collaboration with deBuren.
 

More about The Foragers