Today we started with a one-hour private transfer to a tulip farm. We visited de Tulperij Lisse, which translates to the tulip craze. Since we went at the end of the season, many of the tulip fields had already been mowed down in order for the tulip bulbs to grow in size. Our tour guide explained that tulips are planted in the fall, from late September to early November, several inches into the soil. Tulips require a period of cold weather in order to break their dormancy. They then awaken in the spring as temperatures rise, their roots develop first, anchoring the bulb, followed by the stem that emerges from the soil. In order to promote bulb growth over seed production, flowers are mowed down just as they reach peak bloom. This allows for the energy to concentrate on the bulb versus the seeds and petals produced by the flower. After the blooming period, bulbs are harvested, cleaned, and sorted for replating or sale. The larger the bulb is, the more expensive it will sell for. If the bulb so too small, it will be replanted in the fall in hopes that it will grow larger to sell in the next season.
After our tour of the tulip fields, we got another private transfer to Schoonschip, or Amsterdam’s floating neighborhood. Schoonschip was officially completed in 2021, it consists of 30 water plots and 45 homes. Some of their sustainable features include their devotion to renewable energy, utilizing 516 solar panels and 30 heat pumps to provide renewable heating and electricity. Each home has a battery to store excess energy, promoting grid systems that allow residents to share electricity. The community also employs advanced water management systems, including separate streams for grey and black water. They hope to convert black water into energy through a floating processor. They also emphasize circularity by using sustainable materials and minimizing waste throughout construction and daily living. They have communal facilities like washing machines powered by solar energy. Their biggest goal with this community is to work together to promote sustainable living. They all voted on the materials that they deemed okay to use when constructing the community and they also share resources such as cars and bicycles. This creates a collaborative environment and fosters a strong sense of community and sustainability.
Our last event for the day was a tour of the EDGE building. The EDGE, completed in 2015, is an office space known for its sustainability, smart technologies, and innovative design. Created by PLP Architecture and located in the Zuidas business district of Amsterdam, it is recognized as one of the most sustainable buildings in the world. With a BREEAM, or a certification for sustainable buildings, of 98.36%, the building generates for energy than it consumes, thanks to its extensive use of solar panels, energy-efficient systems, and smart technologies. It incorporates nearly 30,000 sensors and 6,000 low-energy LEDs that adjust based on occupancy and natural light, reducing energy consumption. While we did not get to actually tour the building, we attended a lecture by the architects who created the building. They informed us about the building, how their company came to be, and the current and future projects they are working on.