Are You Going Dutch?

Going Dutch took on a whole new meaning for me this week. No, it’s not just sharing payment on a restaurant bill. For me, it now means embracing sustainability, caring about climate change, and being a responsible citizen.

That was the message I got when I walked away from a day-long visit to Floriade, a horticulture exhibition that makes an appearance in the Netherlands every 10 years. Almere, the newest city in the Netherlands, was selected as the site for this 2022 world-class event.

Floriade is a world-class horticulture exhibition with participation from nations around the globe. They include: Bangladesh, Belgium, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Qatar, Suriname, Switzerland, Thailand, and Turkey.

This year, the exhibition is much more than flowers and plants. The theme, “Growing Green Cities,” focuses on four areas:

• Greening the City: adding more greenery to urban life
• Feeding the City: improving food supplies and adding sustainable products
• “Healthying” the City: having more “conscious living”
• Energizing the City: implementing smarter energy supplies

If this sounds like a yawn to you, you are wrong. In addition to spectacular gardens, there are tiny houses, incredible innovations in architecture, and some surprising products, all made sustainably. And it makes sense that it is happening in the Netherlands.

There are countless patents for sustainable technology, with many products on display in the Dutch Innovation Experience at Floriade. I promise you’ll be surprised — and I’ll share some of those surprises with you next week.

The Dutch Get It

The Netherlands is the perfect place for such a green event. Sustainability is just a way of life there. The country’s National Environmental Policy Plan was implemented more than 20 years ago, marking its commitment to sustainability. Renewable energy innovation and emission-free mass transport are high priorities.  

Knowing the critical importance of climate policies, the Dutch government plans to reduce annual carbon emissions by nearly 10 megatons. Coal power plants will close or operate at minimum capacity. And the government announced a €3 billion subsidization program for renewable energy projects and home refits. Are you listening, America?

By 2030, the Dutch government plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 49% from their 1990 levels. The Climate Control Act of 2019 also states a planned reduction of 95% of those emissions by 2050.

Let’s Look at Amsterdam

In 2020, British Business Energy declared Amsterdam the fifth most eco-friendly city in the world. The survey not only looked at how people travel to work but also the availability of vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurants in the capital and patents for environmentally-focused technology.

The survey calculated that 58% of the population in Amsterdam travels to work on foot or by bike. Personally, I think the Netherlands is the most bike-friendly city on the planet. But the Dutch take it further than that. There are countless patents for sustainable technology, with many products on display in the Dutch Innovation Experience at Floriade.

Check our feature story on the exhibition next week to see some of the cool things on their way.

Going Dutch in Amsterdam

The capital city has ambitious goals:

1. Reduce CO2 emissions by 55% in 2030 and 95% in 2050 
2. Abandon natural gas before 2040
3. Have emission-free transport on the roads and in the water within the next 10 years
4. Power 80% of local homes with sustainable energy by 2030

Environmentally Friendly Travel

Travelers to the Netherlands can see the progress. And, if there are challenges along the way, the Dutch mindset will offset them. Just look at Schipol Airport. Ditching reliance on diesel and high-emission fuels, electric buses now transport passengers.

A change that you won’t see, but one that will make a big difference, comes via KLM. The Dutch national carrier has committed to purchasing 75,000 tons of sustainable fuel annually. And they even have an eco paint program and a biofuel partnership program..

Traveling vegetarians know it can be a challenge to find a good vegan or vegetarian restaurant on the road, as I discovered while traveling in Germany last month. Yes, it’s true. I am not a fan of all that heavy, meaty, dumpling-laden cuisine. Fret not! Eating healthy is a breeze in Amsterdam. The city offers diners more than 800 restaurants with meat-free options!

Want to do your part to help the environment while in the Netherlands? Rent an electric car at Schipol. Choose from a Nissan Leaf Electric (5 doors), BMW i3 (5 doors), or Volkswagen Golf Electric (5 doors), all available from Sixt. Enterprise also offers electric car rentals in Amsterdam. Just hop in and drive to Floriade in Almere. It’s only 29 kilometers away, and it continues through October 8, 2022. You won’t be disappointed, and I know it will inspire you as much as it did me.