Research Trip 2025

Young Rabo Research Trip 2025 – Applications Now Open! 

Get ready for a brand-new adventure! This year, we’re switching things up and hitting the road for an unforgettable Research Trip through Northern Germany and Denmark — including the vibrant city of Copenhagen! 

From Saturday, October 4th to Saturday, October 11th, we’ll travel with 38 Young Rabo members, including the organizing committee and board, on a journey packed with inspiration, connection, and discovery. 

What to expect?

The Research Trip is one of Young Rabo’s most exciting and impactful experiences. This year’s road trip format means we’ll be on the move — discovering multiple locations, engaging with local initiatives, and making the most of every stop. It’s a unique opportunity to:

Dive into a research challenge that connects to Rabobank’s mission and future.

• Collaborate with colleagues from Rabobank and DLL in an international setting.
• Grow your leadership skills through workshops, reflection, and peer learning.
• Explore new cultures and cities, all while building lasting connections with fellow Young Rabo members.
• And of course… have a lot of fun along the way!

Research topic

We are currently waiting for the final approval; so to be announced! We can assure you that it is a super interesting topic!

How to apply?

First you register through the Young Rabo Website before the deadline of deadline of 15th of July 23:59. To complete your application, you'll need to share your motivation with us. You do this by filling in our Forms Questionnaire  and a video* in which you introduce yourself and tell us why you want to join the trip.

The forms questionnaire can be found here: https://forms.office.com/e/LK2qCDfJxB 

*Prefer a different format? That’s totally fine! Whether it’s a PowerPoint slide, a creative story, or another original idea as long as it clearly shows who you are and why you’re excited to join, we’re open to it. If your submission includes audio or visuals, please keep it within 1 minute. Your motivation can be in English or Dutch, whatever feels most natural to you. A few criteria should be addressed in your motivation:

• Who are you?
• What is your motivation to sign-up for the Research Trip?
• What would you bring to the group?
• What do you hope to achieve in terms of personal and professional growth?

Your motivation will be the primary criteria in the selection process. We will use a 0-10 point scoring system on the following 4 themes; creativity, motivation, addition to the group and goals. Besides those main criteria we will strive to create a diverse group of participants. What do we mean with diverse? Think about age, how long you’ve been working at Rabobank, the domain you work at and your personal growth goals. The number of participants is limited to 38 Young Rabo members. This includes the Research Trip Committee and part of the board.

You can share your motivation with us by uploading your video at the end of the registration Forms page. If you are having problems with uploading your file, please send it to our email address, <researchtrip.jongrabo@rabobank.nl>, or upload your application to the internet and share the link (including a password if needed) using the same email address. Make sure that you filled in the Forms Questionnaire and that we have access to your digital motivation before the deadline of 15th of July 23:59. Otherwise, your registration will be regarded as incomplete, and you will not be selected for the trip.

If I get selected – what is expected from me?

Personal contribution

The research trip is made possible thanks to substantial contributions from both the Rabobank Managing Board and Young Rabo. But you do have to chip in as well. This year the personal contribution has been set to 600 Euro. This will help cover the trip, stay, meals, transport, and all planned activities. After you have been selected, we will inform you how you can pay your personal contribution. You can pay your personal contribution via your Time2Grow budget!

Commitment and attendance 

Please be aware that your commitment to the Research Trip is not limited to the travel period in October. Since we will perform an in-depth research assignment, preparation sessions and a closure including a presentation of the results to our stakeholders will also be part of your participation of the trip. These sessions are mandatory as they are an integral part of the total journey and experience. We need you all to be there. After the trip, you will also be asked to spend some time to process your acquired knowledge during the trip for the results of the research report. 

Kick-off 1: 14th of August Informative session on the how, what, and where, closed off with drinks.

Kick-off 2: 25th of September Informative session on the research topic, personal leadership, travel itinerary and the final preparations before take-off. 

Results & Reunion: to be announced. To present our results and reminisce about our trip, we will plan a reunion to get together again. The reunion date will be announced later.

Who are we?

Since we’re asking you to introduce yourself, it’s only fair that we do the same!

We’re the Research Trip Committee 2025 — a team of four enthusiastic Young Rabo members who are working hard behind the scenes to make this trip unforgettable.

Meet your crew:

• Carl - I love exploring the world around us, from Kuwait to Rwanda, there are so many interesting places out there. Moreover, I really enjoy a fine-dining experience and you can always wake me up for a good museum. Last year I was a participant in the Research Trip to London and it was so much fun, so I decided to become part of the committee this year.
• Lex - I love being around people, having drinks together, and experiencing new adventures. I live in the beautiful region of Twente, and I really appreciate the down-to-earth mentality of the area.
• Rianne - I tend to pick up a new hobby almost every six months, but my long-standing interests are traveling, diving, tennis and making impact. I get to put that energy to good use at the Rabo Foundation.
• Emma - I love nature and hiking but my favorite moment on a holiday is drinking a coffee, or wine, on a terrace in a new city! I recently adopted a sweet dog from Ibiza, who now joins me on my hikes. One of my favorite things to do when traveling is discovering new supermarkets, don't know why but it's fun!

Each of us brings our own energy, ideas, and excitement to the table — and we can’t wait to get to know you too.

Some practicalities

Travel insurance

We strongly advise all participants to get travel insurance. Young Rabo is not liable for damage of any kind.

Travel documents

You will need a passport that is valid until at least May 2026. Make sure to check this and plan to get the necessary documents. Applying for a new passport might take weeks! 

No-show / cancellations

If you were to be a no-show (with no/too late/invalid notice of cancellation), you will forfeit your personal contribution of 600 Euro as no-show fee. If you withdraw your application after 1 August 2025, you will also forfeit your personal contribution of 600 Euro.

Holiday leave

Young Rabo arranged that you do not need to take personal time off for Young Rabo activities. If you receive questions about this from your manager or if you have other questions about this arrangement? Let us know via secretaris@jongrabo.nl.

Disclaimer

This research trip will continue, reserved that there are enough participants to do so. In case of any unforeseen events that may jeopardize the trip, Young Rabo will determine whether the research trip can take place.

We are looking forward to an amazing trip, and we hope that you will be able to join us!

If there any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: researchtrip.youngrabo@rabobank.nl or feel free to send us a personal Teams message!

Warm regards on behalf of the Research Trip Committee,

Rianne Kleefman

Carl Koppen

Lex Keijzer

Emma Bakker