Frontrunners Campus Groningen

“Regelmatig wandel ik over de campus om met eigen ogen te zien wat er speelt.” Als adviseur vastgoed en ruimte bij de Hanze is Monique Koller veel in overleg, maar ook vaak buiten te vinden. “Bij nieuwe ontwikkelingen zoals studentenhuisvesting Proxima, of op plekken waar we met mobiliteit of leefbaarheid bezig zijn, wil ik voelen: hoe werkt het hier écht?”

For Richard Oude Breuil, the campus is much more than just a workplace. “This place is full of life and energy. During the day, you see students and staff; in the evening, sports enthusiasts take over. There’s always something happening, in education, business, and research.” As Asset Manager for Grounds Management at the University of Groningen, he sees how education, research, business, and sport come together. “That constant movement and diversity: it gives me energy.”

Lode Holding has been involved with the Campus Trail from the very beginning. A special moment was their 75th anniversary in 2023, when the start and finish took place at Lode. Then-mayor Koen Schuiling gave the starting signal, captured in a cherished photo.

“The Campus Trail is about much more than just running,” says Amber van der Schaaf, communications & community manager at Campus Groningen. “It’s about movement, connection, encounters, and showcasing what’s happening on campus.” Since 2017, Campus Groningen and partners like the WEST Business Association, Hanze University, the University of Groningen, the sports center, Lode Holding, and the ACLO board have organized this fun run through the buildings of Zernike Campus.

"I'm actually not much of a runner," admits Frank Blaauw, CEO of the data innovation firm Researchable, frankly. "But as an athlete, I don't start the Campus Trail untrained." Jasper Schipper, Commercial Manager at real estate developer Kadans Science Partner, is a passionate runner. "You can call me a running cyclist," he laughs.

“It’s really all about having fun,” says Dirk Messemaker, director of SE Factory, on joining the Campus Trail. “Of course we want to be visible as a company, but the main thing is doing something active together.”

Maarten Eisema, Head of Strategic Relationships at the UMCG Innovation Center, understands the importance of connection like no other, both in his work and daily routine. "I sometimes refer to myself as a connector. I make sure ideas, people, and organisations find each other, inside and outside the UMCG.

“We doen niet mee voor de snelste tijd. Voor ons draait het om de energie en het plezier,” zegt Niek Huizenga van Future Tech Ventures, een noordelijk fonds voor hightech startups. Hij loopt samen met Christoff Heunis van Flux Robotics, een MedTech-startup die endovasculaire chirurgie innoveert met magnetisch aangestuurde geleide draden. Hoewel hun sportieve achtergronden verschillen, delen ze de waardering voor de beweging én verbinding die de Campus Trail brengt.