bemoreeco

In our second look at Green City Guides by planet green we have decide that after the looking at the Green London guide, we should sail across the North Sea and take a look at the Amsterdam Green City Guide by Leonora Oppenheim and list our favourite bits.

Most destinations are easily accessed by foot in the compact city. Which is a good thing: Trying to find a parking space is no easy task. Cyclists benefit from the numerous bike lanes and public transportation is efficient and easy to navigate.

Amsterdam is the 5th busiest tourist destination in Europe and these tips will direct you towards the eco-gems. For the most recent green happenings in Amsterdam, scroll through TreeHugger’s Amsterdam Archives.

 

1. Rent a Bike from Mac Bikes
   Biking is really the quickest and cheapest way to get around this city. There are several reputable bike rental companies, but the distinctive red Mac Bikes are the most well known. Only two things you need to remember: back pedal to brake and always always lock your bike!
2. Take Public Transportation: Travel by Tram
   The city’s GVB tram system is an efficient and comfortable way to see the sites. Buy a strippenkaart from the train station when you arrive and receive discounted fares on multiple rides around the city. Fifteen strips (each ride is at least two strips) are about seven euro. The tickets are valid for the metro and bus as well.
3. Stroll through Amsterdam’s Parks: Vondelpark, Oosterpark, Westerpark, and Sarphatipark
   Biking or walking through one Amsterdam’s thirty or more leafy parks is a real pleasure. The Vondelpark is the biggest park in the city covering 120 acres. 
4. Dine at Organic Restaurant De Kas
   Not too far away from De Hortus you can find De Kas on the east side of town. This celebrated organic restaurant is housed in an old greenhouse saved from demolition by De Kas’s creator and chef Gert Jan Hageman. 
5. Shop for Cheese and More at Noordermarkt, the Local Farmers’ Market
   For self-catering — or to sample some local delicacies — head to the Noordermarkt in the Jordaan district. This is a local farmers’ market with delicious organic food. On Saturday mornings you will see Amsterdammers riding their bikes to the market.
6. Shop at Eco Clothing Store Nukuhiva
   One of Amsterdam’s best shopping streets, the Haarlemmerstraat is home to the city’s only eco boutique:Nukuhiva. Just around the corner from the Noordermarkt, this little store is the place to find your favorite ethical fashion brands including Dutch brand Kuyichi, which uses organic denim, and other hip eco labels such as Edun, Loomstate and Worn Again.
7. Visit an Organic Brewery and Bar: Brouwerij ‘t IJ
   After biking, gardens, food, fashion, and design you might be craving some liquid refreshment. Brouwerij ‘t IJ is a small local microbrewery with an impossible to pronounce name producing delicious organic beer. 

 

To read teh Full Green City Guide on Amsterdam <click here>

Which city will be our next green stop, come back next week.

The team at planet green have put together several green guides which cover city’s around the world. Over the few weeks we aim to post some of these for you to read starting off with London, which for a UK eco blog seems a natural choice. Below we have listed some of our favourite points which were made by Londoner Bonnie Alter. 

With an abundance of leafy squares, a park system that flows through the middle of the city, and walkways along the Thames River– and let’s not forget, the British do love their gardens — London is one of the greenest cities in Europe. And it looks to be getting even greener: Earth-friendly consciousness is on the rise. Online resources include Visit London, restaurant guide Sugar Vine, and TreeHugger’s London archives, which offers the latest green news.

1. Earn Tube Discounts with the Oyster Card
   Both inner city and regional transit systems are excellent in London, and a wealth of information is at your fingertips on London’s transportation Web site, Transport for London. If you’re getting around town by bus and Tube buy an Oyster Card, a transit pass that allows you to travel citywide at a lower rate. 
2. Ride Public Transportation from the Airport
   With your Oyster Card in hand, the best way to get from Heathrow Airport into the city is the Heathrow Express, a rapid train that drops you off at Paddington Station in just 15 minutes. From there you can change to a local train — or perhaps walk — to your hotel. 
3. Stay in a Green Hotel
   Eco-minded accommodations are increasingly easy to find in London. The Apex City of London Hotel is a stylish, modern spot belonging to a small chain so committed to preserving the environment that it has its own architect dedicated to sustainable design. 51 Buckingham Gate is an elegant apartment hotel with an appointed green team.
4. Go Luxury at an Upscale Green Hotel
   Upscale hotels on an environmental bent include the Crowne Plaza London St. James, a four-star hotel with Edwardian-style rooms. The Zetter is a trendy option in Clerkenwell that has its own borehole, pumping up warm water. Another option is the new Andaz London on Liverpool Street in London’s East End.
5. Dine at Green Restaurants Acorn House, Konstam, and Fifteen 
   There are plenty of green dining options in London. Gourmet options include Acorn House, which calls itself London’s first eco-friendly restaurant. Konstam at the Prince Albert, which buys all of its seasonal cuisine from within the ring road surrounding London. 
6. Grab a Casual Green Meal at Bumpkin, the Duke of Cambridge, or Pret a Manger
   For fresh food fast from Fair Trade or traceable sources, we like Bumpkin in Notting Hill, which has become a one-stop shop for all-day deli and restaurant fun. The Duke of Cambridge, dishing up organic fair in Islington, remains one of the best and most ethically run gastro-pubs in the country, let alone London. 
7. Shop at a Farmers’ or Organic Market
   Farmers’ markets and organic markets — offering typical British delicacies and artisanal foods — are on throughout the city all weekend long. Check London Farmers’ Markets for one near your hotel.

 

For the full guide <click here>

Come back soon to see other green city guides by green planet.