These past two days have been filled with exploring and learning about Amsterdam, Dutch culture, and sustainability practices. Yesterday, we started the day with a canal ride through the city. We experienced Amsterdam’s iconic architecture from a new perspective and learned that, historically, property taxes were based on the size of a building. Because of this, many houses were built narrow and tall, with small staircases that made it difficult to move furniture. To solve this, homes were equipped with hooks and beams at the top to lift items through the windows.
Over the past two days, we have also visited companies that focus on sustainability. Yesterday, we went to a chocolate shop called Cacao & Spice, where we had a tasting of different kinds of chocolate. We learned that cacao can be used in multiple ways, the beans are used to make chocolate, the pulp can be turned into cacao juice, and even the skin of the plant can be repurposed into sustainable materials for floors. One of the most interesting aspects was seeing how parts of the cacao are reused in creative ways.
Today, we explored more of the streets of Amsterdam, stopped at a cafe for coffee, and even shopped for cute clothes. However, the most significant activity was our visit to the House of Denim, where they focus on producing jeans more sustainably. Unlike traditional denim production, which uses large amounts of water and harsh chemicals, they use innovative techniques to reduce environmental impact. For example, they use laser technology and O2 treatments to lighten the fabric and create designs. I attached an image of the laser machine they use to engrave patterns and even create rips without damaging the material.
Overall, these past few days have been tiring but incredibly enjoyable and fun. I have met so many new people and explored places I never imagined I would visit. Learning about a country through its sustainability practices has been especially interesting and has given me a new perspective on how these can easily be applied into our daily lives.