In the centre of Groningen, Paul Vetter works in his atelier making common shoes into one-of-a-kind works of art. As the world moves towards more mass production, with everyone wearing the same styles, we ask if there is still a place for high-quality, individualist, artisanal work.

Solidarity was the word of the day as striking university workers gathered to protest cuts to the Dutch higher education budget. The impromptu action followed the cancellation of a national protest in Amsterdam following rail strikes nationwide. Education wasn’t the only issue on the agenda, as strikers emphasized the links between cuts to the education budget and increased military spending in support of Israel.

The Niemeyer factory closed three years ago due to a decline in tobacco consumption. This week, the building reopened again for the first time - in a completely new context: as a cultural venue.