Humans have always lived in the most diverse places. While some enjoy the comfort of a terraced house, others relax while floating on a houseboat. Yet, no matter how different our homes may be, there is one big house we all share: planet Earth.
Human curiosity knows no bounds—not even those of our own planet. What lies beyond the blue sky? Thanks to the invention of space travel, we’re finding more and more answers to this pressing question. And who better to guide us on this journey than astronaut André Kuipers? In this edition of Friday Next: Future Planet, we join him in the rocket for an unforgettable trip into space.
A visual and musical journey
A highlight of the evening was the screening of Kuipers' film Beyond, Ode to the Earth. In it, we saw Earth from a unique perspective: filmed from space. City lights resembled paint splatters on a vast canvas, while fierce hurricanes unfolded like surreal works of art. This visual journey was accompanied by the iconic music of composer Vangelis, one of Kuipers’ personal favorites. During his missions, he often listened to this music and even called Vangelis from the International Space Station, where the composer played piano especially for him. The audience in the hall was captivated by the perfect harmony of visuals and sound and rewarded the film with thunderous applause.
An endless universe with limited resources
In addition to the stunning images, Kuipers, under the guidance of moderator Koert van Mensvoort, shared his experiences in space. On Earth, human presence feels infinite: lights shine even in the most remote places. But in space, it becomes clear how limited our resources truly are. Kuipers emphasized that the future of Earth might lie in space—not as a new home, but as a source of energy and materials to preserve our planet.
Big questions, funny answers
The audience, ranging from nine-year-old children to researchers and older fans, was eager to ask Kuipers questions. Everyone wanted a moment to connect with the astronaut. The scope of questions was immense. When asked if he had ever seen a UFO, Kuipers laughed and said that he once thought he had spotted something strange but it turned out to be a satellite. Someone else asked if astronauts make mistakes. Kuipers answered honestly: “Absolutely! I once broke a part of a device, which meant an experiment couldn’t go ahead.” And to the question, “On which planet would you most like to live?” Kuipers replied that Earth will always be his only home planet.
The Future of Space
Alongside André Kuipers’ presentation, the evening also provided a stage to explore the future of space exploration. Astrobiologist Inge Loes ten Kate spoke about the search for life on other planets and the challenges involved. Space farmer Wieger Wamelink shared optimistic news: it seems possible to grow vegetables on Mars and moon-like soils. Dimitra Stefoudi, a specialist in space law, shed an intriguing light on how laws and regulations are enforced in space.
Friday Next: What’s Next
This edition of Friday Next showed us Earth as we’ve never seen it before: fragile and unique. But the journey of discovery doesn’t stop here. On February 14, we continue with Friday Next: Future Love. A perfect opportunity to reflect on the future of love and relationships—and maybe even the ultimate date!
Special thanks to: André Kuipers, Helen Kuipers, Inge Loes ten Kate, Wieger Wamelink, Dimitra Stefoudi, ASML, Brabant C, and Connect the Odds
Photography: Dinke van der Zalm
Film: Rémi Homan
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