Growing Up Between Worlds | Identity, Heritage & Belonging with Lennert Werner

What does it mean to grow up between histories, cultures, and identities?In this deeply reflective episode of Diaspora Glitch Podcast, we sit down with Lennert Werner, a second-generation Dutch researcher, entrepreneur, and PhD candidate in Spatial Planning at Radboud University. Born in Amsterdam to a Dutch mother and an Indonesian father whose migration story is rooted in colonial history, Lennert shares a powerful journey of identity, belonging, and navigating life between worlds.Together, we explore the realities of dual heritage, the emotional experience of reconnecting with ancestral roots in Indonesia, and how migration histories continue to shape generations today. Lennert also opens up about transforming a passion for sneaker culture into a successful business during the pandemic, while balancing life in academia and research.At the heart of this conversation is a bigger question:How can cities become more inclusive for culturally diverse communities?Drawing from his research in Amsterdam and Malmö, Lennert explains how urban planning, participation, and representation influence the everyday experiences of people from different backgrounds — and why lived realities should matter more in shaping our cities.In this episode, we discuss:• Growing up Dutch-Indonesian in the Netherlands• Colonial history, migration, and identity• Returning to Indonesia and reconnecting with heritage• Sneaker culture and entrepreneurship• Inclusive cities and intercultural planning• Second-generation experiences and belonging• Community participation and urban transformationThis is a thoughtful and honest conversation about identity, memory, culture, and the spaces we call home.Listen now and join the conversation.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more diaspora stories and meaningful conversations from around the world.#DiasporaGlitch #IndonesianDiaspora #DutchIndonesian #secondgeneration #diasporastories #identityandbelonging #urbanplanning #InclusiveCities #InterculturalPlanning #migrationstories #LifeBetweenCultures #SpatialPlanning #podcastconversations #culturalidentity #DiasporaPodcast #belonging #amsterdam #indonesia #malmö ö #communityvoices