Day 2 was electric.
After getting a full night’s sleep for the first time in 2 days, we were well rested and excited to kick off the day with a chocolate tasting in the city. We visited Cocoa and Spice, a chocolate shop focused on ethically and sustainably sourced products. While 70% of the world’s cocoa is harvested in West Africa, many of these countries receive little profit from this resource. To help change that, the shop’s owner prioritizes chocolates made directly in countries like Ghana and the Congo, ensuring more of the economic benefit stays local. The shop also partners with companies that pay well above the fair trade standard, helping cocoa farmers earn a livable, comfortable wage. During our tasting, we also learned about the widespread issue of child slavery in the cocoa industry. Cocoa and Spice makes a strong effort to source from companies that do not use child labor in their harvesting or production processes, making the products they sell extra ethical.
After the tasting, we took a city tour with an awesome local named Ian. He began by showing us a street that once housed brothels but has since been transformed into a street of women-owned businesses. The mayor wanted to shift the street’s reputation without resorting to fast food chains or other stores that could contribute to gentrification. Instead, the city supported local, women-led businesses, reshaping the area’s reputation while preserving its unique character.
Ian shared that Amsterdam once faced a serious epidemic involving meth, heroin, and opioids. He walked us through how the city responded, not with punishment, but instead with compassion. Instead of criminalizing addiction like we do in the United States, Amsterdam treats it as an illness. Addicts are referred to doctors rather than prisons and are provided with free housing, regulated doses of drugs, and other forms of support until they’re able to recover and reintegrate into society. He highlighted how effective and ethical this approach is, which really made me wonder why if it’s been tried in the states, and if so, whether or not it was successful.
This rehab-over-repercussions approach helped the city nearly eliminate its opioid crisis. As a result, Amsterdam is now considered one of the safest cities in the world, even ranking number one globally in 2019.
We wrapped up the day’s scheduled activities with a scenic canal cruise through Amsterdam. With another day of beautiful weather, the tour was both relaxing and informative. As we floated through the canals, we saw locals enjoying life on the water, with some lounging on houseboats, others reading along the banks, and a lot of people boating with friends. We also learned about the origin of Amsterdam’s name, saw some of its oldest buildings and ports, and rode along its oldest canals.
Between the chocolate, canals, and perfect weather, I don’t think Day 2 could’ve gone any better.