5/21/25 Today, we had the pleasure of touring Dakakker, a facility with over 1,000 square meters of green roof space. This space includes a vegetable farm, bee hives, and a chicken coop. This space is extremely sustainable in many ways. To begin, producing local produce and animal product is inherently more sustainable. The roof top…
Tag: Bryce Sweeney
Ranch & Research
5/22/25 Today, we had the opportunity to tour the floating farm which (as one may guess) is a farm that is floating on the water. As with any farm, the floating farm had to consider a path to make themselves a sustainable place. One stride they make towards sustainability is utilizing food that would otherwise…
Deltaworks – Changing the Tide
5/20/25 Today, we had the opportunity to tour the Deltaworks, an amazing feat in engineering. After the floods of 1953, the Dutch people decided to take preventive action and pit the Deltaworks plan into action. The structures consist of a mattress at the sea bed designed to prevent the pillars from shifting. Then, pillars were…
Making Green(er) Villages
5/19/25 Today, we had the opportunity to tour Delft University of Technology, tour their green village, and partake in a Climate Fresk. After we arrived, the first thing we did was take a tour of the Green Village. This space exists as a testing ground for sustainable innovations, and due to the university’s legal status,…
Watersnoodmuseum
5/18/25 Today, we didn’t have any event scheduled until the 1 pm, so I took the opportunity to sleep in a little later. After waking, I headed over to the Albert Heijn which is a supermarket not unlike a Giant Eagle in Pittsburgh. Here, I got a bacon-ei sandwich (meaning bacon and egg sandwich). After…
The Hague
5/18/25 Today, we traveled from Rotterdam to another city in the Netherlands – The Hague. After we arrived, we first went to the Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery to see the many works of art held here and learn about the history of this place. Two particularly interesting paintings we saw were “Girl with a Pearl…
Nouryon
Today, we had the pleasure of touring Nouryon, learning what their company does, and how sustainability plays in their mission as a company. Our day began with a talk about the company’s history and mission. Following this, a presentation was given by a toxicologist at Nouryon, discussing regulations, effects of products on consumers, and environmental…
Anne Frank House, Van Gogh, & Alumni
5/15/25. Today, we attended a significant cultural and historical monument in Amsterdam – the Anne Frank House. Seeing this site was a powerful moment as it humanized the effects of the holocaust, by showing where people hid during this atrocity. A specific part of the site that was striking to me was the lines marking…
Gouda & Geschiedenis
Our day started with breakfast at the hotel as we prepared to go visit a cheese manufacturer and learn about the process of producing cheese. After a demonstration was given, we were free to explore the area, so we did. The agricultural techniques and use of renewable energy was extremely striking. An interesting agricultural technique…
Sustainable Flowers & Floating Houses
Yesterday, we started bright and early at 6 AM, so that we could drive to the Floraholland, the largest flower distributor in the world and largest building in Europe. Through this experience, we saw their sustainable practices such as using electric carts and utilizing reusable flower pots. After the Floraholland, we bussed over to the…
A Taste of Amsterdam
Today was our first full day in the Netherlands! The day began with breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, we took the metro and walked to a Dutch chocolate store named Cacao and Spice. The store owner’s husband, Ian, gave us a tour of the area local to the chocolate shop. On this tour, we…
Exploring Amsterdam
Yesterday, our experience in the Netherlands began after our second flight landed. We were able to quickly pass through customs, claim our bags, and meet Brian – our tour guide. Despite not being able to check in, we were able to quickly change our outfits and leave our bags at the there. Then, Brian sent…
From Springfield to Tulip Fields
Hi! My name is Bryce Sweeney, and I am from Springfield, PA (30 minutes outside of Philly). I’m a first-year bioengineering student in the Swanson School of Engineering and am traveling to the Netherlands through Plus3! I’m also in the Frederick Honors College. On campus, I am involved in many activities, but my primary activity…