With the support of the Mehas Family Greek Heritage Endowed Scholarship, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in the European Planning and Practice study abroad program, which took me through Germany, the Netherlands, and Greece in May of 2025. Each country offered unique insights into the field of urban and regional planning, but Greece—the final leg of our journey—stood out as the most immersive and impactful part of the experience.

Our program began in Dortmund, Germany, where we explored how the city has adapted to post-industrial challenges through transit-oriented development, green infrastructure, and adaptive reuse of former coal and steel sites.

Next, we spent a week in the Netherlands, visiting Delft, Utrecht, and Rotterdam, while staying in Amsterdam and Den Haag. There, we studied some of the world’s most innovative approaches to cycling infrastructure and sustainable urban design. Exploring Dutch streets and neighborhoods on foot and bike gave me a firsthand understanding of how design shapes daily life.

By the time we arrived in Thessaloniki, Greece, I had a new lens through which to view planning—one grounded in comparison and context. In Greece, I collaborated with students and faculty at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki on a land use planning project focused on revitalizing a neighborhood of the city. The city itself became a living classroom: the hum of scooters cutting through ancient alleys, the contrast of historic ruins alongside postwar development made every day memorable, and navigating daily life as a non-Greek speaker added an extra layer of challenge and growth to the experience. The experience challenged me to think deeply about the complexities of urban growth in historically rich environments, where planning must balance preservation, density, and quality of life.

While in Greece, we also traveled to the historic cities of Veria and Vergina, where I saw how cultural heritage shapes not only identity but also land use and development. Visiting the Royal Tombs in Vergina, which houses Philip II of Macedon, was a powerful moment, connecting the past directly to the present-day landscape planners must consider.

This program transformed how I see planning, that is, as a practice that must be culturally aware, flexible, and rooted in place. I felt a deep appreciation for Greece’s history, people, and urban fabric. I’m especially grateful to the Mehas Family for supporting this journey. Their generosity allowed me to fully participate in this life-changing program, and I return to MSU with broader knowledge, sharper skills, and a renewed commitment to thoughtful, inclusive planning.

Name: Cole Maxson
Status: Graduate Student
Major: Urban and Regional Planning
Hometown: Traverse City, Michigan
Program: European Planning and Practice in Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands