Today marked the beginning of the third leg of our trip as we packed up our bags to leave the university of Twente to head to Rotterdam. Instead of going right to Rotterdam, however, we were able to spend the day visiting the German city of Munster. We first received an overview of some of the city’s past history and current innovation from our guide Enno. I learned how the bombing of WWII decimated many buildings, and how as a result the city was forced to make choices to either restore or fully rebuild. Many buildings were able to be restored, but also a growing population called for the need for modern living spaces integrated into the urban planning. We visited a few of those restored historic sites such as castles and cathedrals and were able to see the recreation of classic architecture.
In our free time, we enjoyed visiting the Pablo Picasso museum. My favorite piece was his famous “La Tareau”, or a series of lithographs depicting a bull. We had a fun day exploring the city by getting German pastries and coffee and going for a scenic walk through Munsters’ many parks. We also got to visit a traditional German restaurant.
After we departed from the city we had a discussion on the aspects of sustainability we witnessed. This included the widespread use of glass and paper bottles and cutlery, public transportation, and water management engineering. My favourite aspect was the biodiversity that existed within the city’s cant green spaces. It improves the quality of life for citizens while benefiting the native flora and fauna. As a person who loves both cities but also spending time outdoors, I have enjoyed learning about the green initiatives in urban planning in Dutch and German cities.
