Every year, the Prepr company outing gives us the opportunity to step away from our screens, spend time together in person, and connect outside of our daily work. This year, our destination was Antwerp, a city known for its history, culture, and vibrant atmosphere.
On a sunny Thursday morning, colleagues travelled to Antwerp from different parts of the Netherlands, while others joined from Belgium. Whether by train or car, everyone made their way to the same meeting point: Antwerp Central Station.
Meeting at Antwerp Central Station felt like the perfect start to the day. Often referred to as the "Railway Cathedral", the station is considered one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
After gathering for coffee and catching up with colleagues, we left the station behind and headed into the city for the first activity of the day.
Starting the day with art
Our first stop of the day was a visit to In Between Spaces, the exhibition by our colleague and graphic designer Hasmik Sngryan.
What made the visit particularly special was that Hasmik personally guided us through the exhibition and shared the stories behind her work. Rather than simply viewing the drawings, we had the opportunity to hear about the experiences, memories, and places that inspired them.
The exhibition consists of a series of pastel drawings based on photographs that Hasmik collected over time. Through her photography, she began documenting everyday moments, landscapes, people, and objects that caught her attention. Those photographs later became the starting point for her drawings.
As Hasmik explained, the goal was not simply to reproduce the original images. Through the drawing process, she explored how those moments felt to her and how memories change over time. Many of the works are connected to her Armenian roots, featuring landscapes, mountains, family memories, and details inspired by her upbringing.
The visit also allowed us to see a different side of a colleague we work with every day. Through her stories, Hasmik shared not only the inspiration behind the artwork but also her creative process and personal connection to the subjects she portrayed.
It sparked conversations throughout the group and offered a different perspective on how personal experiences can be transformed into art. For many of us, it was a highlight of the day.
Exploring Antwerp together
After the exhibition, it was time to continue our journey through Antwerp. We gathered for lunch at Bistro Theo before heading towards one of the city's best-known landmarks: the MAS museum.
On the way, we made a short stop at the Grote Markt, Antwerp's historic central square. Surrounded by guild houses and lively terraces, the square is home to the Brabo Fountain, which refers to the local legend of the Roman soldier Silvius Brabo, who defeated a giant and threw its hand into the river. The story is said to have inspired the name Antwerpen, derived from the Dutch words hand werpen ("to throw a hand").
At the MAS museum, we made our way to the rooftop, which offers panoramic views across Antwerp's skyline, harbour, and historic centre. It was the perfect place to pause for a moment and take in the city from above.
As we continued exploring, Hasmik showed us another place that was meaningful to her: the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, where she studied. Along the way, we discovered that another famous artist had once spent time there as well. Vincent van Gogh attended the academy for a short period in 1886 before moving to France.
The warm weather accompanied us throughout the afternoon. With temperatures reaching around 30°C, an ice cream stop quickly became a necessity rather than a luxury.
After that, the group split up for a few hours of free time. Some headed back to the hotel to cool down and recharge before the evening programme, while others continued exploring the city and visited one of Antwerp's photography museums.
Returning to the hotel came with a small surprise when some of us discovered that our sofa beds were still very much sofas. After a quick trip to reception and a little DIY bed-making, everything was sorted and quickly became one of the day's funniest moments.
Dinner, bowling, and a little healthy competition
As the afternoon came to an end, the team reunited for dinner near Antwerp Central Station.
After a day of walking through the city, everyone was more than ready for a good meal, and judging by the empty plates, nobody left disappointed.
The competitive part of the programme started with interactive bowling. Divided across three lanes, teams quickly formed and friendly rivalries emerged. Strikes were celebrated enthusiastically, near misses were analysed in detail, and there was no shortage of playful commentary from the sidelines.
The competition continued in the arcade, where colleagues teamed up for basketball games, racing simulators, air hockey, and a variety of other challenges. Teams changed from game to game, giving everyone the chance to play together and cheer each other on. Some focused on achieving the highest score, while others were simply there for the fun of it.
What stood out most wasn't who won, but how enthusiastically everyone participated. Throughout the evening, there was plenty of laughter, encouragement, and healthy competition.
When the arcade finally closed, most of the group headed back to the hotel to unwind after a long day. A few were still not quite ready to call it a night and stayed behind for a game of pool while keeping an eye on the latest World Cup matches.
It was the perfect ending to a day spent exploring the city, sharing experiences, and enjoying each other's company.
More than a company outing
While the activities themselves made for a great day, the real value of the trip was the opportunity to spend time together outside of work.
Many of our daily interactions take place through video calls, chat messages, and project discussions. Spending an entire day together in a different environment creates space for conversations that don't normally happen during a regular workday. It allows colleagues from different teams to connect, share experiences, and get to know each other better.
A special thank you goes to Hasmik for welcoming us to her exhibition and sharing the stories behind her work, and to everyone involved in organising the day.
We returned home with new memories, a few funny stories, and perhaps some unexpected bowling rivalries that will continue until next year's outing.
