Day 3 started off early with a 7AM visit to Royal FloraHolland.
Royal FloraHolland is the world’s largest flower trading center, with around 22 million flowers auctioned each day. I was impressed by the scale and efficiency of the operation. Watching the fast-paced bidding process in real time was fascinating. What also stood out to me was the company’s commitment to sustainability through the electric carts used to transport the flowers on the floor and the use of reusable flower holders. Seeing how innovation and environmental responsibility work together in a operation as large as this was such a cool experience!
Next, we traveled to Schoonschip, a community of floating houses, where we were given a tour by one of its residents, Mike. Mike introduced us to the origins of community and its aspects of sustainability. For example, the floating houses are made with thick walls filled with sustainable insulators, such as straw and cellulose. Additionally, most houses have solar panels and the community itself has a very unique energy system. Each house is connected to a communal smart grid, allowing power to be shared smartly among residents. If one household has an energy surplus while another has an energy shortage, the surplus power will be streamlined through the smart grid and provided to the house with the energy shortage. Additionally, the community has no connection to a gas network, so heating is provided by water pumps that are powered by the water the houses are sitting on. As for the materials used for the houses, each house is paneled with sustainable materials, such as bamboo and second hand wood. Bamboo is especially sustainable due to its quick regeneration and durability. Mike also detailed how the community uses a shared toilet pump that uses significantly less water per flush than a normal toilet system. While this system saves a lot of water, it is prone to clogs/breaks that affect the whole community, making the system insecure for the future.
One of my favorite features of Schoonschip is how each house is unique. The houses must meet requirements when it comes to size and depth, but as long as they meet these requirements, each house can be designed how the owner likes. This gives each house its own personality which adds a lively feel to the community. It’s safe to say that I’ve definitely found my new dream retirement destination in this community.
Overall, day 3 was my favorite so far, and I’m excited to see what day 4 has in store!