The Idealenfabriek ("Ideals Factory") puts utopian themes up for discussion through our own magazine, discussion evenings, meals, exhibitions and publications. The Idealenfabriek wants to look at all the different angles of complex issues in an extensive and thorough manner, thereby attempting to improve society – even just by a little bit. Trying to improve society is worth the effort alone. Utopian dreams give hope. Hope for a better future. 

After several years of organizing discussion meetings as a platform, we’ve decided to focus more on offering direct supporting to different kinds of initiatives working to improve our society. For this reason we have decided to discontinue the Idealenfabriek activities in their current form. We will no longer organize meetings, and the last edition of Andersland will be the last one which is published. 

The Idealenfabriek will not completely disappear: we keep the door open for the Idealenfabriek to make a comeback in the future to highlight utopian themes – perhaps in another form, through one-time events, or collaborations. 

Conversations in Leiden and Wageningen

The Idealenfabriek activities took place at two Utopa locations: the Weeshuis ('Orphanage') in Leiden and Sculpture Gallery Het Depot in Wageningen. At each location we regularly engaged in moderated conversations with scientists, writers, journalists, artists, filmers, photographers, musicians, government officials, politicians and civilians. 
 
Each speaker's 'pitch' has been uploaded to our website (under Video's), as well as a video summary of each discussion. 

Magazine Andersland

In our own magazine Andersland ("Different land") we highlight and deepen the themes of the Idealenfabriek. 

An introduction

Utopian ideals seem to be in the spotlight again. And of course that is not only related to the fact that 500 years ago, Thomas More's Utopia rolled off the press in Leuven. In the Idealenfabriek, the Utopa Foundation wants to look at all the different angles of complex issues in an extensive and thorough manner, thereby attempting to improve society even just a little bit. We put varying utopian themes on the table through our own magazine, discussion evenings, meals, exhibitions and publications.

Utopian ideals, belief in something better

Utopian ideals have increasingly faded into the background since the end of the previous century. Utopian thinkers were dreamers. The chance at realising these dreams was marginal, very marginal. Over the years, these utopian ideals were replaced by self-interest, cynicism, negativity and pessimism. People thought it less and less necessary to put idealist effort into social and political improvements, if these did not center the individual. Even so, idealism is the best answer to these developments. It is not so much about realising our ideals at all costs, but utopian ideals rather allow us and our fellow citizend to believe that there are other and better options. Utopian ideals lead the way.

Attempting to improve our society is worth the efforts alone. We do not always have to give in to feeling discouraged. Utopian dreams give hope. Hope for a better future. A better future for ourselves, our children and our planet.

Loek Dijkman

Chair of the Utopa Foundation

January 2019