Set out to visit Amsterdam pioneers in the fields of sustainability, urban agriculture, and greening.
1. East Indian Green and the Flevopark
During the Walk & Talks by Oost Indisch Groen, also known as Het Groene Oosten, you will learn all about community gardens, urban farming, and the boundless potential of green cities. Afterwards, head to Flevopark, a city park and nature reserve in one. Visit the Jeugdland nature playground with the children and relax with a liqueur at 't Nieuwe Diep. João from Oost Indisch Groen’s sustainable home tip: fermentation helps you preserve food longer, and you can ferment almost any vegetable. Take leftovers from your fridge and check online how it works. Start with something simple, like sauerkraut, and then move on to recipes that require more attention, such as kombucha or sourdough.
2. Anna's Garden & Wilderness
On the outskirts of Amsterdam, you will find the permaculture project Anna's Tuin & Ruigte, featuring wild nature, a community vegetable garden, and a food forest. You can go for walks and attend workshops here, but the pizza activities are the most fun: top a pizza with herbs and vegetables and share it with others.
3. Office Caravan
A workplace in the middle of nature. Chop some wood, plant some trees, and return to the city completely zen.
4. Cacao Museum
The Cacao Museum is the result of two passions: fine taste and the preservation of rainforests. The museum promotes bean-to-bar chocolate that is not only delicious but also sustainable, fair, artisanal, and healthy. There are tastings, workshops, dinners, exhibitions, tours, and lectures.
5. De Ceuvel
Cultural venue, sustainable café, and floating bed & breakfast. There is also a greenhouse where vegetables and herbs are produced for Café De Ceuvel and where nutrients are recycled. Everything on the menu has a positive impact somewhere.
6. The Vegetable Garden School
An outdoor school for adults: at De Moestuinschool, you learn everything you need to know to create and maintain your own vegetable garden. Classes are held every two weeks. Bonus: you get to take your own harvest home. Nancy from De Moestuinschool’s sustainable home gardening tip: if you have the vegetable gardening bug, start small. Herb pots are perfect to start with. And if you keep a close eye on your plants, you will learn their behavior and can use that as a basis for future projects.
7. Mediamatic
Mediamatic organizes lectures, workshops, and art projects focusing on nature, biotechnology, art, and science. Learn to make your own perfume, grow oyster mushrooms, or join a tour of the labs on Fridays. Includes a multisensory café.
8. My City Garden
Mijn Stadstuin is a four-hectare do-it-yourself food supply in Amsterdam-West. You rent a plot here and get to work yourself. Or, if you could use some help, together with the Stadstuin team. You can also hire one of the garden butlers to take care of your little garden.
9. Care Farm De Marsen
In the green surroundings of Het Twiske, you will find care farm De Marsen, which operates entirely biodynamically. This is, certainly when it comes to sustainability, even stricter than regular organic farming. Here, you can harvest vegetables from the garden yourself. The farm offers educational, cultural, and social activities.
Bonus home tip from Dieuwke of Trash Hero
Strive for zero waste, but above all, start small. Look for zero-waste alternatives for the contents of your trash can. And make it a habit to have sustainable packaging at home: a paper bag for your bread, jars for jam and sauces that you can use at different stores, cloth bags for groceries, and so on. Challenge yourself to pick up and throw away at least one piece of litter every time you go outside. A small gesture, a good example. Or start a cleanup campaign in your own neighborhood or join Trash Hero.
Fun facts
The elm is the iconic tree of Amsterdam. This tree is celebrated annually with a festival, Spring Snow, a perfume, Eau d'Amsterdam, and a walking route. The oldest elm, dating from 1891, can be found at Nieuwe Herengracht 5.
The greenest neighborhood in Amsterdam is Noord, and the least green neighborhood is Oud-West.
The widest trees in the city are two plane trees at the Leidsebosje.
You can spot surprising species everywhere in Amsterdam. Foxes inhabit Vondelpark, seals live in the IJ, and kingfishers reside in Park Frankendael.
