We embarked on a day of historical sightseeing as we took a train to The Hague, the governmental capital (not actual capital) of The Netherlands. Although we went early, we were given a lot of free time and we started our time there by touring the city on our own. To start off, we first went to a random bakery by walking throughout the city. After having a quick meal and coffee there, we moved towards the city center for more historical analysis. We had also planned to visit the Mauritshuis and see the classic painting of the Girl with a Pearl Earring, but unfortunately we ended up wanting to see the structural and overall environment of the city itself for a bit too long. 

On our city tour, we saw that many of the houses were larger than in Amsterdam due to the smaller population density of the city. Secondly, many of the buildings were old and still being used, such as the churches that would ring every half hour. This showcased the sustainability of restoration and renovation of old buildings to keep them still functional. Additionally, we got to see the city from a large overview tower where we could observe the greenery and historic structures. Then, we met up for lunch and had Indonesian cuisine, which highlighted the colonial immigrant population of the Netherlands. This large population and the popularity of Indonesian cuisine showcased the integration of these people into everyday Dutch life and culture. This highlights societal sustainability through acceptance and consistent adjusting to changes. As more immigrants enter the Netherlands and contribute to societal growth, it’s important to accept them to have a sustainable society.   

Finally, we went to the Peace Palace, where we learned about the history of how it was built and what its function is today. Although the Peace Palace doesn’t specifically have to do with sustainability, a few core principles of what the Palace enforces could be related to sustainability. These three main ideas were: international cooperation, education, and transparency during processes. Applying these ideas to society and government can further push along sustainable practices.