Today was our last full day in the Netherlands. I can’t believe it’s finally over! We started off by heading to the floating farm in Rotterdam that contains cows and some plants. When we arrived, we got an explanation of how the farm works and what its purpose is. The employee explained that the owners first had the idea for the farm when Hurricane Sandy hit the United States, and the supermarkets ran out of food within days. This farm is meant to withstand floods and even hurricane-level winds. Since most cities are built around a water source, they believe this could be a viable solution for many cities.

This farm is highly focused on sustainability, with 60% of their energy supply coming from floating solar panels. Much of the water they use for the cows and plants comes from rainwater that they collect, ensuring that the farm can be self-sustaining. They aim to have all of their energy come from their own sources to ensure that the farm could remain operational during a major storm or flood. They also use cow manure to fertilize their plants, and it is sold to other companies that compress it for products such as pots or even bricks.

After the presentation, we walked over to the floating farm. This was definitely a different experience from any animal farm I have seen in the States. Most of them are far from any city with large amounts of land. It was odd seeing cows within a city. The cows are able to leave the floating platform to graze on grassy land most of the time, but it still felt peculiar. We were only able to enter the lower level of the farm, so we weren’t able to see the cows up close, unfortunately. While across from the farm, we saw the feed that the cows receive, which is food waste given to them by the city. This also contributes to the sustainability of the farm. With less food being wasted, not as many resources are needed to grow more food for the cows. Later, we got to try some of their cheeses, milk, and yogurt. All of the cheese and yogurt were delicious, but I can’t say I was a big fan of the buttermilk.

After the floating farm, we had some free time, during which a few others and I went to the Markthal to grab some lunch. We also went inside one of the famous cube houses. It was really cool, but a little small for me to want to live there.

We then traveled to RDM, which was the largest shipbuilder in Rotterdam before WWII. After the war, the company went bankrupt, and now the warehouses in the shipyard are home to universities and vocational schools. There are many facilities for students to design or test their creations. It is a space where both vocationally educated students and engineers can collaborate. We went on a tour of the facilities, and they discussed how important it is for the two to work together. The warehouses also allot spaces for companies to work, and we saw probably over a dozen companies’ spaces/products. The most interesting one to me was a company that 3D prints artificial coral reefs that provide the same functions as natural coral reefs, such as protection for small sea creatures and land from tides. They also enable new corals to grow on them by providing a steady base, which is important because rising ocean acidity and temperatures are killing corals. With corals being so invaluable to the environment, it is important that we keep them alive. The materials used to construct the corals are also sustainable because the 3D printer utilizes sand from the local environment to create them.

We also saw many other fascinating and innovative companies and products, including a company that can 3D print metal, often used to print parts needed on cargo ships so that they don’t have to delay as much and reduce revenue loss. The entire RDM warehouse was amazing because of the many innovative and new technologies being created there.

After RDM, we went out to our farewell dinner with the group. I’m going to miss everyone from this trip. I had so many great experiences! Thank you to everyone who read my blog, and goodbye!