Sustainable Amsterdam

I am completely enamoured with Amsterdam as it is full of history & world firsts that you never consider. For example, do you know that the first stock market began here? That’s a story for another day.

Most importantly, Amsterdam is easily in the top 5 of cities with sustainability incorporated into its psyche which includes an eco-friendly lifestyle that translates into green living and overall wellness that is an integral part of the Dutch lifestyle.

On my recent solo travel, I decide to seek out eco-friendly activities in Amsterdam as a different way to experience the city beyond walking tours and museums, both of which I absolutely love. If you seek responsible travel in a beautiful city, read on for tips on sustainable things to do in Amsterdam.

Booking.com

ACCOMMODATION

“What does accommodation have to do with sustainability?”, asks you, a curious intellectual.

Well, brick and mortar accommodation emits approx. 40% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions through facade inefficiencies and building operation systems.

In addition, furnishing matters for indoor air quality as it emits Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that affect wellbeing of inhabitants. Click To Tweet

Ecomama incorporates fair-trade material, water and waste recycling into hospitality while Conscious Hotels incorporates sustainable practices such as use of upcycled materials in furnishing, Tesla charging, organically sourced food, a green roof and a lot more for practicing an eco-friendly lifestyle.

TRANSPORT

You check in and settle down at your eco-friendly accommodation in Amsterdam. Now what? Time to explore, that’s what…but how?

Walking

This is the cheapest and most eco-friendly option to go for. Walking has its advantages because you can stop and explore interests whereas with biking, you miss interesting detours as you have to be attentive.

Biking

Goes without saying that this is the national transport of The Netherlands. How the Dutch don’t win more Tour de France tournaments is beyond me as biking is their eco-friendly lifestyle. Bikes emit zero emissions, keep glutes firm, and is cheap to rent from hostels or hotels.

Trams

This is my favourite transport mode in Amsterdam as trams have no direct emissions and contribute to the eco-friendly lifestyle that the Dutch excel at. I do not remember seeing buses within Amsterdam neighbourhoods as trams are extensive and run frequently.

The beauty about Amsterdam is having a 24hr to 72hr iamsterdam card that covers public transit (city buses, trams & subway) and entry to museums, canal cruises, discounts to attractions, events, food and so much more. I am fortunate to receive a Press Kit with a 72hr iamsterdam card and best believe that I milk it for as much goodness as it offers.

The card is highly recommended if you intend to use public transit & see attractions as you save money. Trust me. This is my second time to Amsterdam and the iamsterdam card has come in very handy each time.

Related: Amsterdam: A Cultured City Sprint in 48 hours

ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES

You choose an eco-friendly transport mode to shlep yourself and souvenirs around town but what sustainable activities can you do and enjoy in Amsterdam?

Amsterdam Smart City

Amsterdam Smart City is a collective of startups, corporations and sole proprietors uniting to create innovative solutions in digital, energy and mobility in Amsterdam.

I stumble upon this treasure trove of projects and startups in Amsterdam when searching for sustainable and eco-friendly activities and I am in awe at projects like zero waste labs, upcycling startups and smart buildings in various stages of progress, which leads me into…

EDGE Olympic

I discover this smart building on Amsterdam Smart City and squeal in delight because building energy efficiency is my career background. I’ve never been in a smart building so this is an opportunity to experience one.

EDGE Olympic is in North Holland and is accessible by the following transport modes:

• Tram 24 from Centraal Station, stop IJsbaanpad
• Metro 50 and 51 to Amstelweenseweg

EDGE Olympic is based on digital interconnections that link everything within its walls to the cloud. Elements of this work-friendly and sustainable infrastructure are thus:

• Solar panels for renewable energy generation.
• Green roof to reduce heat load and energy consumption as well as provide sanctuary for local birds.

• Smart ceiling with sensors that allow workplace personalization of lighting, heat & cooling via an app.
• Various employee nooks and rest spaces. There is even a Cuddle Puddle with cuddly toys for stress relief. Honest!
• Furniture possesses no adhesives to enable easy recycling at its end-of-life.

• Indoor living plants for wellness, indoor air quality and ambience.
• Beehives and a hot tub yes, you read that right – atop the roof terrace. They’re at opposite ends to each other.

The ambience is so welcoming, healthy & friendly with supportive management who believe in employee well-being and comfort.

Fashion For Good

This is a sustainable fashion interactive experience in Rokin that I stumble upon while walking from Dam Square to Rembrandtplein. See what I mean about noticing things when walking compared to biking?

There are so many innovative projects happening in the world of sustainable fashion that this exhibit is necessary. The fashion industry is highly polluting because of the immense amount of dyes and chemicals released in runoff as well as fibre waste and textile dumping occurring globally.

In addition, the industry uses a lot of animal products – leather, fur etc – that are definitely non cruelty-free, hence these sustainable fashion innovations look to replace animal products with plant-based and/or upcycled fashion & farm cast-offs to produce the exact same feel without the cruelty.

Innovative sustainable fashion projects exhibiting at Fashion For Good include:

• Leather-like material from apple skins that can be naturally dyed.
• Biodegradabe foam made from mycellum, grown through agric waste, to replace styrofoam.
• Packaging made from 100% compostable material to replace plastic packaging.

There is so much sustainable fashion education at Fashion For Good interactive experience and I genuinely recommend this as a must-do for sustainable activities to do in Amsterdam.

Plastic Whale

This is a social enterprise that gives canal rides to collect plastic waste from Amsterdam’s canals which is then upcycled to create furniture and boats.

In 2018, over 46,000 plastic bottles were fished by Plastic Whale to be converted into economically viable products in The Netherlands. Click To Tweet

I want to embark on a canal ride but all dates are taken for the duration of my trip. This is another excuse to return to Amsterdam to experience this fun eco-friendly weekend activity.

Botanical Garden

Do not sleep on Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam’s botanical garden. If you crave a lungful of fresh air, head on here and inhale deeply unadulterated Oxygen. This garden was established in the 1630s by the city as a herb garden for pharmacists of the time.

The garden is a short walk from the Artis Zoo and Rembrandt’s House and entry is free with an iamsterdam card.

Marker Wadden

This is a man-made archipelago created from shells, silt and clay as a haven for birds and other wildlife on Amsterdam’s eastern flank. There is no human habitation except a small hut for volunteers that care for the island but there are plans for structures and paths for visitors to experience eco-friendly activities in nature.

Amsterdam is not new to creating new land from the sea and in fact, New Land, is an example of reclaimed land that is thriving.

Safari

“A safari in Amsterdam? Are you serious?”

Yes, I am, but it’s not what you’re picturing. Just north of Amsterdam, land was reclaimed and aptly named “New Land”. It has Almere as The Netherlands youngest city and the province, Flevoland, as the country’s youngest province.

There are a number of eco-friendly activities to experience because the area is not as built up hence, wildlife thrive here. The main nature reserve to experience a “safari” is Oostvaardersplassen.

Oostvaardersplassen is a unique habitat with foxes, hares, deer and for the curious, there are guided nature tours to view inhabitants of the area. See why it is termed a safari? Click To Tweet

This nature habitat is accessible from Amsterdam with stops at either Almere or Lelystad. Bike or walk to visitor’s centre as a starting point for eco-friendly activities like hiking, biking & excursions.

Happy Camper

Do you remember camping as a kid? Camping Zeeburg is the adult version complete with eco-lodges, wagonettes and clean camping fields. To boot, sustainability is an integral part of their business model as energy & water saving is practiced in addition to waste management.

The camp site is literally a stone’s throw from Amsterdam centrum so don’t panic about being too far from civilization. The last part is more for me as I’m a city girl.

City Parks

There are so many beautiful parks in Amsterdam than you can shake a stick at and it is impossible to experience them all in a weekend but here are two of my favourites for an eco-friendly weekend.

• Oosterpark. This is a very beautiful park in the East -Oost – with sculptures, monuments & a lake. It also houses the famous Tropenmuseum and the National Slavery Monument, commemorating keti koti or “breaking of chains” of slavery for the people of Suriname and former Netherlands Antilles. There are a number of hostels, hotels, cafes, coffeshops and restaurants around Oosterpark and in fact, I stay at Generator Hostel within the park on this solo trip.

• Wertheim Park. This is Amsterdam’s oldest park opened in 1812 and named after a Jewish banker and philanthropist, A.C. Wertheim. I stumble upon this in the Visserplein area and fall right in love with its ambience. It is not as large as Oosterpark but it is so quiet and peaceful along its canal. Wertheimer Park can be reached via tram 14 direction Flevopark from Centraal or Dam Square, stop Visserplein.

 

FOOD AND DRINK

After all the sustainable and eco-friendly activities you’ve ticked off your list, you require sustenance. Where do you eat that ticks the box in sustainable food?

• Pure Markt. A sustainable and organic market happening several times a month in Amsterdam’s parks.
• InStock. This restaurant creates a menu from food surplus to prevent food waste. I actually visit one night, alas, I need a reservation as food is limited. Don’t be like me, reserve a spot for lunch or dinner.
• Bar Botanique. Amsterdam pays homage to living plants and I feel like I’m supping in a luxury cabin with all the leafy greens around. Remember that indoor plants improve indoor air quality and overall occupant wellbeing. In addition, all restaurants I frequent have NO plastic straws and some cafes offer bamboo cutlery. Talk about an eco-friendly lifestyle; the Dutch have this down pat!

Flea Markets. Sustainability is not all about the intangible, like energy saving or indoor air quality. It is also about supporting the local populace and keeping currency within the community. There are so many local markets that you cannot possibly do all in a weekend.

I manage to do the famous Albert Cuyp in De Pijp & Dappermarkt in Oost and they are both amazing. Each flea market has over 200 stalls with food, drink, and apparel for curious and budget-minded individuals. Despite not having extra space in my carry-on, I buy spices, Surinamese snacks, artisan jewellery and a Turkish shawl. Worth it!

There is IJ Hallen in NDSM, a hip & rehabbed dockyard neighbourhood. IJ Hallen is said to be the largest flea market in Europe. Click To Tweet

• De Ceuvel is one of the most sustainable urban spaces in Europe after its conversion into an urban oasis by sustainable architects. It is home to social enterprises, creatives, a sustainable cafe and a floating bed and breakfast. Click To Tweet

 

LAST WORD

Phew! I hope you enjoy reading a unique perspective of sustainable things to do in Amsterdam for a weekend or a full day. You will discover the city in areas that travellers barely focus on in tips and to-dos: sustainability and eco-friendly lifestyle.

Overall, Amsterdam is the perfect location to experience an eco-friendly lifestyle in addition to visiting and engaging in sustainable projects and activities that the city is renowned for.

Don’t forget to comment and share. See you on the social streets! xxx

Musings and Adventures is an Amazon and Booking.com affiliate to help offset cost of running this travel site.

Sharing is caring! xx