Water bodies
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Loisach
The Loisach river originates in the Zugspitze region of Tyrol and flows through alpine landscapes from Austria to Bavaria, where it joins the Isar near Wolfratshausen. The river’s course was characterised by gravel banks, floodplains, and a rich variety of flora and fauna. However, straightening, canalisation, soil sealing, groundwater extraction and the consequences of the…
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Danube
The Danube is the world’s most international river. From the Black Forest to the Black Sea, she flows through ten nations; her catchment area spans twenty countries total, connecting regions, cultures and habitats like few other waterways. More than 80 million people live along her banks and tributaries. Four capital cities lie directly on her…
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The River Tay
Originating on the slopes of Ben Lui (Beinn Laoigh) and flowing easterly across the Highlands, the River Tay is Scotland’s longest river and largest river catchment area. The Tay connects the lower regions of the Highlands and connects us to the North Sea. Stemming from the ancient Brythonic or Pictish language, the name likely signifies…
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Modau
The Modau River is an average German river in the lower mountain area of Odenwald south of Frankfurt, she is 44 kilometres long and flows into the Rhein River at Stockstadt. Her sister is called Gersprenz. They were both born on the mountain of Neunkirchner Höhe (605 m), and the sources are situated only one…
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Manzanares
The Manzanares River begins its journey in the Sierra de Guadarrama and flows through the heart of Madrid before joining the Jarama River, part of the larger Tagus watershed. Although historically dismissed as a minor river, the Manzanares has long sustained human and non-human life across its basin: from mountain ecosystems and agricultural landscapes to…
News
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The waters of Europe are confluencing – and you can join!
SPREE EDITION, BERLIN 3–6 SEPTEMBER 2026Hosted by River Spree, FLUSSBAD Campus Berlin, SPORE Initiative, Spreepark Art Space, and Floating University Berlin From 3–6 September 2026, the River Spree will host the fourth Confluence of European Water Bodies in Berlin. For four days, rivers, lakes, lagoons, glaciers, seas, and wetlands from across Europe will…
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Confluence of European Water Bodies 2026
How can we live with water differently? From 3–6 September 2026, the River Spree will host the fourth Confluence of European Water Bodies in Berlin. For four days, rivers, lakes, lagoons, glaciers, seas, and wetlands from across Europe will gather to explore a set of shared questions: How can we learn to live with water…
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GARN EU Hub x Confluence of European Water Bodies:
Rights of Nature Case Dialogue. A plunge into the river ReussWe invite ecologists, lawyers, philosophers, artists, designers, and activists to join the first online GARN EU Hub x Confluence of European Water Bodies Rights of Nature Case Dialogue. A plunge into the river Reuss on May 7, 2026, at 7:30 pm. Reuss Initiative This online dialogue spotlights the Reuss Initiative —a pioneering popular initiative (and…
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The Diplomatic Suitcase travels to Slovakia
The Diplomatic Suitcase—the Confluence’s traveling exhibition— has journeyed to Galéria Jána Koniarka in Trnava, Slovakia, as part of the exhibition ´Contracts of Recognition´, curated by Lucia Bergamaschi & David Přílučík, on view until May 31, 2026. ´Contracts of Recognition´ depart from a set of intertwined questions: How can alliances be imagined beyond the human? What…
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Watch the short film of Confluence #3!
The third annual Confluence of European Water Bodies took our journey to Amsterdam and Bergen aan Zee. Taking place from 21 – 24 September 2025 and hosted by the Embassy of the North Sea, the 2025 Confluence brought together water bodies from all across Europe and beyond to gather, think, create, and strategize in workshops,…
Projects
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La Laguna Parla – new edition of the Water Bodies Orchestra
The Water Bodies Orchestra is a digital design project developed by Smart Phone Orchestra and the Confluence of European Water Bodies. Through interactive group experiences, the human and non-human voices of water bodies will come together in a performative moment. Water Bodies Orchestra now presents a new edition: La Laguna Parla The Water Bodies Orchestra…
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Can the Piave still Murmur?
An assembly in Ocean Space for an in-depth discussion and a series of artistic elements centered on the case of the Grave di Ciano, an important area of the Piave river, protected by the Natura 2000 project but threatened by a potentially ecologically damaging climate adaptation project.
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Programme Confluence of European Water Bodies 2024
From 3 to 6 October 2024, the second edition of the Confluence of European Water Bodies will take place, an initiative of the Embassy of the North Sea, TBA21–Academy, and representatives of the ILP Mar Menor. After a successful first conference in 2023 on the shores of the Mar Menor, the first ecosystem in Europe…
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The Waterbodies orchestra
The Water Bodies Orchestra This digital design project is a musical and embodied way to unlock the digital sound archive of European waters. Through interactive group experiences, the human and non-human voices of the water bodies will come together in a performative moment. The Water Bodies Orchestra will be rehearsed and performed for the first…
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Diplomatic suitcase
Diplomatic suitcase Water is vital for all life on Earth, yet the voices of water are rarely heard in political decision-making. Born out of growing water challenges and demands for water democracy worldwide, the Confluence of European Water Bodies sprang from a collective pursuit of a deeper understanding of the ‘Rights of Nature’ in Europe.…
Representatives
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Simon Wynen
Simon Wynen is a wilderness educator and co-founder of the Loisachbündnis. He was born in 1999 and lives not far from the Loisach and the Murnauer Moos. From a young age, he has spent a great deal of time in nature, learning to live simply. As a wilderness educator and nature mentor, he strives to…
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Volker von Bremen
Volker von Bremen, anthropologist (PhD) and co-founder of the Loisachbündnis. Born on the Lahn River and raised close to the Hahnenbach (nicknamed the ‘Köttelbecke’ or ‘Dung Ditch’) in the Ruhr region. Studied anthropology, philosophy and economics at the Lahn and at the water bodies in Berlin. Conducted research and practical cooperation with indigenous peoples, primarily…
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Olivia Henkel
Oliva Henkel, anthropologist, marine biology activist and cofounder of the Loisachbündnis, was born on the banks of the Partnach in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in the Loisach Valley. She grew up surrounded by wild nature and cold mountain streams in the Bavarian Alps and loves water as her element. As an anthropologist, she worked on well construction projects…
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Claus Biegert
Claus Biegert, author, filmmaker, activist and initiator of Loisachbündnis, was born at Lake Staffelsee. He currently lives on the banks of the Ach. Since 1973, he has conducted research among indigenous peoples of North America, writing books and creating radio programmes about the threats posed to indigenous peoples by nuclear technologies, uranium mining, nuclear weapons…
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Stefanie Zoche
Stefanie Zoche, artist and initiator of Loisachbündnis, was born on the banks of the Isar. She studied fine art on the Tiber, the Têt, and the Thames, lived by the Tagus; in her artistic work, she has mostly dealt with ecological issues such as the climate crisis, resources, and extractivism (https://www.haubitz-zoche.de); in her installations and…