Last week, Leeuwarden’s historic Blokhuispoort became the setting for a Living Lab on place-based hospitality experiences.
As part of the Erasmus+ Food Eco-Culture Education project, students from the Minor Alternative Accommodations in Italy and Beyond, taught by Chiara Fabbri, worked with Alibi Hostel Leeuwarden and Brouwerij Gudzekop on a challenge that started with the place itself:
How can local history, food, drink and storytelling become an experience guests will remember?
Led by Lucia Tomassini, the Living Lab invited students to explore how the identity of the former prison, the hostel and the brewery could be translated into new hospitality concepts.
After visiting the hostel, exploring the brewery and hearing the stories behind both partners, students moved into concept development.
Their briefs were to:
🔹 turn the idea of a “Beer Prison” into a distinctive visitor experience
🔹 create new synergies between the hostel and brewery through food, drink, storytelling and guest engagement
The day ended with student pitches to the businesses, bringing fresh perspectives to a location with a story already built into its walls.
For the hospitality industry, this is where collaboration with education becomes valuable. Students enter a location with curiosity. Partners bring context, ambitions and real operational challenges. Together, they can explore new ways to turn heritage, local identity and collaboration into both commercial and experiential value.
Food Eco-Culture Education challenges students to look beyond food and drink as products, and explore how they can carry culture, memory, heritage and human connection.
Thank you to all students, colleagues, industry partners and Erasmus+ project partners involved.
Industry partners: Alibi Hostel Leeuwarden, Brouwerij Gudzekop
Erasmus+ project partners: Technological University of the Shannon, Polytechnic University of Cávado and Ave, Campus Fryslân – University of Groningen, Momentum Educate + Innovate, European E-Learning Institute