Today is our final full day in the Netherlands, and we toured The Hague. The Hague is similar to Washington D.C. in the US, as it is where all the governing takes place. We learned about how the Netherlands turned from a monarchy to having a constitutional monarchy. The Monarchs were doing a poor job…
Tag: Plus3 The Netherlands
The Netherlands
Day 10: The stories behind the flood
Today we took a trip to the Rotterdam city central. Our guide showed us some of the tricks they employ here in Rotterdam to prevent flooding. Similar to Enchede, they use lowered portions in the ground to be used as water reservoirs. They use playgrounds, parks, greenery, and almost anything you can think of as…
Day 9: Preventing floods
Today we toured one of the most important sites of engineering in the Netherlands, The Deltaworks. The Deltaworks are a dam that can be opened and closed when water is needed. The project was started because of a massive flood in the 1950s that killed thousands of Dutch people. The Deltaworks took 30 years to…
Day 8: Cheese from Boats
Today was our first full day in Rotterdam, and we spent the morning visiting the world’s first floating farm. This farm is entirely on the water, and only has 2 removable bridges that connect it to land. They had cows, crops in the basement, and a cheese making area. They supply local markets with the…
Day 7: Releasing the Munster
Yesterday was our last day at the University of Twente, and we took a bus this morning to the city of Munster. This city is very historically important, as it is the place where the Treaty of Westphalia was signed. This treaty ended the 30 years war, one of the most important wars in the…
Day 6: Jumping puddles
Today we toured the City of Enchede. Our tour was mainly focused on the work by the city to prevent flooding. Since the city is at a higher elevation than most of the Netherlands, when the city floods, the lower parts of the Netherlands also flood. To try and prevent flooding, the city installed many…
Dutch D.C.
Day 13 May 14th During our visit to Den Haag (The Hague), we explored the political center of the Netherlands and learned about its government and international importance. One photo I took was of the Peace Palace, a well-known building where many important international agreements and legal discussions have taken place. It stood out because…
History lesson From survivors
Day 12 May 13th During this day, we visited Dakakker and the Watersnoodmuseum, which both focused on how the Netherlands deals with water and flooding. One photo I took at the museum showed a long list of names of people who died during the 1953 flood, along with short descriptions of their lives. Seeing all…
Protection against nature
Day 11 May 12th During our visit to the Delta Works, I got to see one of the most advanced flood protection systems in the world. One photo I took was of a model of the Delta Works, which made it easier to understand how all the different barriers and gates work together. Seeing the…
German culture
Day 9 May 10th During my visit to Münster, Germany, I explored the city’s rich religious and historical background. One photo I took captured an important church, reflecting the strong role religion has played in shaping the city’s identity. The architecture was detailed and impressive, showing how much importance was placed on faith and community…
Day 11: Dam Good Deltawerken
Today was entirely dedicated to learning about to complex Deltaworks, or Deltawerken system, protecting the southwestern region of the Netherlands from flooding. After we arrived to the mueseum and had some very delicious cinnamon rolls, we were taken through a short film and tour explaining how the Deltaworks were built. After the catastrophic flood that…
Day 11: Sky Farm and Water Museum
We started our day with a walking tour focused on sustainable water practices in Rotterdam. Something we saw that stood out to me was that in one area that had mostly concrete, there were several basins that water would flow into. Then, it would be drained and stored in rain barrels, thus preventing flooding. Afterwards,…
Day 10: Let’s Seal the Delta Works!
Today, we woke up somewhat early to go visit the Deltapark Neeltje Jans. It was essentially like a museum and mini amusement park combined, and it educated us on the Deltaworks as well as the North Sea Flood of 1953. This storm had catastrophic effects on people living near coastal areas of the Netherlands. Over…
A Dam-ostration of Ingenuity in the Deltaworks
Wow, 5/12 was quite the day! Today we took a trip away from Rotterdam to travel to the southwest delta of the Netherlands. Here lies one of the greatest engineering feats of mankind: the Deltaworks. The Deltaworks are a system of dams against the sea arms of the North Sea in this region in order…
Plus3 and Me: Trip Finale at the Hague
Day 12: Today was our last full day in the Netherlands, and to celebrate, our tour guide, Enno, let us sleep in! Around 10:00 a.m., we caught the public metro to take it all the way to the Hague. The Hague is the seat of the government in the Netherlands as well as its 3rd…
Plus3 & Me: Snood Much to See and Do!
Day 11: Today, I woke up early, once again, and enjoyed the hotel’s breakfast. I was able to relax a bit before we met as a group to get on the metro. We took it into Central Rotterdam, where we met up with another tour guide. He took us around the city, showing us some…
Plus3 & Me: The “Waves” of Water Management
Day 10: Today, I woke up to a sky full of clouds filled with gloom. The forecast predicted it to be around 52 degrees Fahrenheit, but I knew it would be colder with the wind coming off the coast. For our second full day in Rotterdam, we traveled to the Delta Works. Specifically, we went…
Plus3 & Me: TransFARMation and Innovation for the Future
Day 9: Today, I woke up with excitement as it was the day we finally got to see the cows at the floating farm! I quickly got ready, ate breakfast, and met with the group as we were taking public transportation to Floating Farm Rotterdam. We arrived just a bit late, but this did not…
I nether want to leave!
On our last day in the Netherlands, we visited the national seat of government, the Hague. This city has served as the administrative center since the 13th century, containing the Prime minister’s office, the Supreme court, and the King’s working palace. The Hague was chosen to be the political city of the Netherlands because of…
The Netherlands’ fight against water
Today we started by visiting the Dakakker, a farm located on an urban rooftop. This farm was made to manage rainwater by capturing it through the soil and releasing it with smart sensors. This system works by tracking the weather and emptying stored water before heavy rainfall comes. This prevents the sewer system from being…