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| The first thing you notice upon arriving in Amsterdam — even before the charming Dutch architecture — is the bicycles. They’re everywhere, in apparently every imaginable form. Standard cruisers. Fat-tire e-bikes. Pedaled wheelbarrow-like contraptions used for carrying groceries or children. Locals leverage pedal power to get just about everywhere, and bike lanes and lights are ubiquitous. This bike culture is the most visible sign that the Netherlands is embracing a sustainable lifestyle that you’ll find in few other places on earth.
| | 40% of trips in Amsterdam are now made by bike. | | “It’s a far cry from the car-centric, consumption-centric world in the U.S.,” says New York-born Eva Gladek, founder of the Amsterdam-based sustainability research, development and consulting agency Metabolic, which has partnered with the city and various international governments to create and implement a vast array of eco-intelligent systems. Amsterdam wasn’t always a bike haven. The city had a glut of cars as recently as the 1970s, but according to Gladek, it made the conscious decision to create a culture of cycling. After much discussion and outreach, 40% of trips in Amsterdam are now made by bike. This, alongside an extremely well-plotted public transportation system, gives the place a distinctly functional vibe, and bikes are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to eco-smart planning.
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| As Gladek explains, there are two key elements to Amsterdam’s sustainable development: community engagement and aggressive goals. The former involved the formation of a robust system that looks to the community for input and leadership. Money is available for innovation proposals. Residents are regularly surveyed on what needs improving. And there is a general civic culture of testing ideas to see what works and what doesn’t. At the same time, the city assertively seeks to establish a circular economy (also known as the “doughnut model”), in which waste is increasingly eliminated. For example, Amsterdam has set a goal of reducing material consumption in half by 2030 and going 100% circular by 2050. A few years back, it became a requirement that every new building constructed must be energy neutral. | | Here, climate change is viewed as both an existential crisis and a business opportunity. | | It’s actually super easy to construct a building that can provide all of its own energy, Gladek explains. Reduced electricity demands, smart window design and materials, heat pumps and an array of other tools and techniques — the necessary technology and infrastructure exist. Gladek explains that in the Netherlands, these aggressive goals enjoy broad support across the political spectrum. Here, climate change is viewed as both an existential crisis and a business opportunity, with many in the private sector racing to be the most sustainable. Most recently, Amsterdam has agreed to implement circular land tenderings. This means that whenever the city tenders property for development, it must follow circular economy guidelines: ensuring that buildings are disassemblable, creating material “passports” so that future generations know what the building was created from, and designing for retrofitting and expanding functionality as structural needs evolve. For all of these reasons and more, Amsterdam ranked atop the Schroders European Sustainable Cities Index in 2021, followed by London, Paris, Copenhagen and Oslo. Plus, Time Out consistently rates it among the best cities in the world. |
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| When asked where visitors can experience Amsterdam’s sustainability ventures— aside from hopping on a bike — Gladek suggests checking out Buiksloterham. This post-industrial district in Amsterdam North has been transformed into something of a showcase for eco-friendly innovation. At the heart of the district is De Ceuvel, a salvaged industrial site that was converted into a “cleantech playground” for testing the affordability of circular technology. Here, visitors can explore a range of projects such as an aquaponics greenhouse, experiments with upcycled materials and wastewater treatment, ground pollutant removal and more. There’s even an onsite cafe with a menu of tasty plant-based dishes. De Ceuvel was such a success that the city elected to open up the entire Buiksloterham district for sustainable development. Notable among these projects is Schoonschip (“Clean Ship”), a collection of 47 recovered houseboats that represent the most sustainable floating neighborhood in Europe. Housing 144 residents, Schoonschip houseboats are affordable, attractive and climate-resilient, and boast an array of state-of-the-art sustainable technologies and community resources. Visitors are welcome to explore the neighborhood themselves or they can sign up for a guided tour. Another prime example of Amsterdam’s sustainability can be found in the Green Light District. The area, which is more notoriously known as the Red Light District, has been turned into a “showroom” for clean living. This movement has involved the creation of a green warehouse, a clean restaurant and hotel, and even a clean escape room that educates participants on climate solutions. | | The most exciting thing in the field of sustainability in Amsterdam is the attitude. - Arno Kourula, co-director of the Sustainability Initiative at the University of Amsterdam | | Fashionistas — and anyone who wears clothes — might find the Fashion for Good Museum particularly inspiring. The interactive exhibition space allows visitors to learn about the future of sustainable clothing and textiles, and to understand how their own fashion choices can help make a positive impact on the planet. This is all just the tip of the iceberg. As Gladek explains, many of Amsterdam’s historic buildings are themselves examples of sustainable development as they have been retrofitted and maintained over the decades and centuries rather than torn down. According to Arno Kourula, co-director of the Sustainability Initiative at the University of Amsterdam, “The most exciting thing in the field of sustainability in Amsterdam is the attitude. The vibe is experimental and forward-looking. The city forms an ecosystem of actors focused on practical sustainability action.” But he admits there’s still work to be done. “Plenty of issues still remain under development and there are some major shortfalls,” Kourula explains. “Excessive tourism creates a challenge for the inner city, and a historic city center faces infrastructural challenges in becoming fully green. Making events and, for instance, fashion sustainable is harder than you would think.” Despite these issues, Kourula says, “Amsterdam can certainly be seen as one of the sustainability hotspots in the world.” And as Gladek says: “Having traveled a lot and lived in a lot of places, this part of the world — this part of northwestern Europe — is as close as I’ve witnessed to human utopia.” |
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