Netherlands have changed their ways of production and consumption in order to address the current global challenges is growing day by day. The country is a small heavily populated country that recovers land from the sea, and more than 60% of household waste is sorted, collected, and recycled.
The four countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands and St Maarten) joint together the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and all of them are committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a whole and to achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Facing overtourism in several areas, achieving sustainability in tourism is a priority for the Netherlands government. One of their key actions is to spread tourism throughout the country away from more touristic places, as well as encouraging near-by tourism for local people.
Why is sustainability in tourism important?
Sustainable development is very important for public spaces, but also for the sustainability of accommodation providers. Public places within destinations – such as coastal areas with their parks, dunes, etc – must also fulfill quality criteria, such as parking space and accessibility. Even many tourism professionals and travelers still believe that sustainability threatens quality, the opportunity is to find the right balance between hospitality and sustainability.
Here are a few examples of sustainability.
Transportation, energy and buildings in the Netherlands
Holland has led the world in new innovations and policies that strive to increase sustainability. The combined efforts in transportation, energy, and industry, the Netherlands’ sustainable infrastructure serves to reduce the country’s carbon footprint. The country provides companies with renewable resources and people with an eco-friendly place to live.
The Netherlands is the country where passenger trains are powered by wind energy, groceries can be delivered by all-electric vans, and where people cycle over solar bike lanes and have more bikes than cars.
Anyone who’s not riding a bike is likely to be walking, or getting around by tram. You can easily rent bikes from many places and the city’s public transportation is easy to use and efficient.
Through public and private partnerships and government initiatives, Holland has implemented some of the world’s most sustainable modes of transport examples like Europe’s largest port, Port of Rotterdam, the second-best connected airport in the world, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
The Port of Rotterdam is in the process of building a waste-to-chemistry plant that will convert up to 360,000 tons of waste into 220,000 tons of green methanol. This will be the first facility of its kind in Europe and it will eliminate over 300,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Holland is home to more bikes than people and it is one of the most successful cycling nations in the world, committed to providing 100% emissions-free busses by 2025 and removing all gas and diesel vehicles from the road by 2030, positioning the country as a leader in sustainable regional and urban ground transport.
Many hotels have signed up to the sustainable operations agreements, which provide for becoming more energy efficient in all areas of operation, conserving water, decreasing the amount of unsorted waste, and more.
Spreading tourism more
The government wants to persuade tourists to come to the Netherlands during the off-peak season and to go to less-visited regions and attract more business tourists in other parts of the Netherlands to profit from the increasing numbers of visitors.
The Netherlands has committed to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, as well as to the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Netherland’s innovative initiatives from citizens and entrepreneurs are boosting sustainability and drive down the costs of eco-friendly alternatives to traditional practices.
Insufficient focus on sustainability by the financial sector impacts the long-term sustainability of the financial system in the Netherlands. It is therefore good that increasing attention is being given to sustainability in both the demand for and the supply of financial products and services.
Agriculture industry is expanding in the Netherlands
Dutch agriculture is a major player globally and it is currently the biggest exporter of agricultural goods after the United States.
Even it ranks among the smallest countries in Europe, the Netherlands is a world leader in farming and exports for agricultural products.
With a National Environmental Policy Plan in place for more than 20 years, the Netherlands has a commitment to sustainability. The country continually strives to stimulate renewable energy innovation and leads efforts in emission-free mass transport.
Today, sustainability has massive media coverage and huge public interest, for that finding ways to operate in a responsible manner is becoming increasingly important.
Want to find more sustainable destinations? Check our other posts.
Sweden is aiming for a zero-waste society. This takes the country’s recycling revolution one step further – from dumping rubbish in landfills to recycling to reuse. Sweden is a global leader in many areas but it really stands-out when we talk about recycling.
In 2016 there were 212,500 tonnes of plastic on the Swedish market. About half was recycled. The fact is that Sweden uses trash to fuel incineration plants, where waste is turned into, among other things, new products, raw materials, and heat.
The Swedish system for recycling of packaging is based on producer responsibility. Regardless of the type of material the packaging is made of – paper, plastic, metal, wood or glass – the producers are responsible. Producer responsibility also applies to newsprint. Among other things, this implies that the producers are obligated to set up collection and recycling systems for packaging and newsprint.
Packaging and newsprint are collected through collection systems. There are public recycling stations where consumers can discard packaging and newsprint in separate containers. Recycling stations are found in all of Sweden, and most of the packaging and newsprint from households is collected this way. There are also solutions for kerbside collection in places such as multi-compartment bins or separate containers in apartment buildings. A national deposit refund system for PET bottles and aluminum cans is also in place.
31-year-old Swedes Daniel Silberstein says:
A big part of it is thinking about what kind of environment our daughter is going to have in the future. I am a kid of the 1990s and not recycling is kind of abnormal for us, but for Charlie’s generation, it will hopefully go even further. She already thinks it’s fun to push the cartons into the recycling station when I take her.
In the mid-70s only 38% of household waste in Sweden was recycled. For comparing – today that figure has jumped to an astounding 99%. Sweden’s goal of ‘zero waste’ is almost reached.
In the cities, there are many recycling areas located in convenient spots, while larger centers are located further, where you can drop off sorted household items like wine bottles, soup cans, light bulbs, and newspapers. Especially after a holiday, these centers are overrun with recycling, but the trucks come every day to empty the bins.
Larger items can be brought to larger recycling centers or picked up by special trucks. Sweden has implemented the reward system, in which you pay more if you buy plastic bottles and metal cans, but you get back when you deliver them to the return centers in grocery stores.
Photo credit: Source: Swedish EPA. Photo: Simon Paulin/imagebank.sweden.se
So how Sweden managed to achieve that?
Back in 1991, Sweden was one of the first countries to implement a heavy tax on fossil fuels, today almost 50% of all electricity is generated from renewables.
Plastics, glass, metal and paper, all of it is recycled and turned into new products. Even food is composted to become soil or biogas, and wastewater is purified to be potable. And one side benefit is that heavy metal emissions have been reduced by 99% since the mid-80s, despite Sweden incinerating three times more waste today than back then.
In 2017 the Swedish government reformed the tax system so that people could get cheaper repairs on used items, and Swedish clothing giant H&M operates a recycling scheme where customers get a discount upon handing in old clothes. Meanwhile, researchers are working on finding new clothing materials that are less damaging to the environment.
Sweden’s reuse revolution would not be possible without those who do the literal dirty work of handling Sweden’s rubbish.
Most people in Sweden, though, believe that even more can be done. Sweden’s recycling program works so well that they ran out of trash and start importing from Norway, the UK, other countries. All that is used to heat homes and create new products, which means that Sweden will not deplete natural resources.
‘In the future we’ll look at the old style of recycling the way we look at fossil fuels and landfill sites today. It will all seem crazy.’
So next time you think of throwing that water bottle, soda can, or newspaper in with all the other mixed-up trash – think again: if Swedes can manage to recycle everything in sight, no matter how small their flat is, you can as well.
The Azores are islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean – 800 miles west of Portugal, and about 2000 miles east coast of North America. The Azores are lush, green are volcanic islands situated in an isolated spot of the Atlantic Ocean, where temperatures are mild and change little from season to season. The Azores are known for its excellent tourism quality, especially sustainable tourism.
The archipelago of the Azores is located in the middle of the northern hemisphere of the Atlantic Ocean at the same latitude as the Mediterranean Sea. It is composed of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean about 1,360 km (850 mi) west of continental Portugal.
Is the Azores a Portuguese territory?
The Azores or the Autonomous Region of the Azores is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal along with Madeira. In 1976, the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The Portuguese discovered the nine islands of the Azores archipelago in the fifteenth century and because of their strategic location, the islands became a stopping point between Europe, America.
The Azores has a mild, temperate, humid, maritime climate with a rainy season from November to March. Temperatures range from 14-25° C (55-76° F). The climate of the Azores Islands is subtropical oceanic, pleasantly warm in summer. The water temperature is around 22 °C (72 °F) from July to September.
Best time to visit the Azores
The best time to visit the Azores is summer, from July to August, since it is the warmest and sunniest time of the year. Because of their oceanic climate, the Azores experience a delay in the sea getting warm, which affects the air temperature as well.
September is slightly warmer than June, but the rains become a bit more frequent.
How to get to the Azores?
The best way to reach the Azores is by plane. SATA airlines serve the nine Azores Islands. International flights arrive at the major settlement of Ponta Delgada on the Azores’ largest island, São Miguel or San Miguel. When it is high season, SATA has many flights to the Azores from Boston, Oakland, Porto, Faro, London, Frankfurt, Lisbon, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and the Canary Islands.
In the last few years the flights from the US to Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel have become more frequent, but it is always good to check SATA’s websites for the latest information, as these departures change frequently.
Renting a car in the Azores is beneficial since there are too many places where you can’t get to with walking or public transport. As an alternative option, you can always join a tour, but that can get often more expensive and it’s more fun to explore on your own.
Unfortunately, renting a car in the Azores isn’t cheap. Booking in advance often can give you a better price. You can book directly to local agency’s websites like Let’s Rent-a-Car, Autatlantis or Ilha, or your other option which gives you a wider view of all the prices offering from big and small agencies is by using websites such as Holidaycars, Rentalcars or Sunnycars. This way you can find the cheapest options for your holiday to the Azores.
Local rental companies offer airport pickup, they have multiple ways of payment, and if you’re traveling to more than one island you can have a car waiting for you at every step of the way.
There is a USA airbase on Terceira
In 1953, the U.S. Forces Azores Command was organized as subordinate Unified Command under the Command-in-Chief Atlantic. In peacetime, the U.S. Forces Commander is assisted by a small joint staff responsible for contingency planning. The command mission would be to support NATO forces in the area, to assist in the local defense.
Is there good wifi in the Azores?
Huawei Marine Networks, a submarine cable network provider, has partnered with Viatel, a Portuguese telecommunications engineering network supplier to enable all nine islands of the archipelago of the Azores to be interconnected, with backbone connectivity to European, African and cross-Atlantic submarine cables.
Most villages have ADSL connections and there are hotspots in Ponta Delgada and at the Airports. GSM internet service is also available or you can use Mobile WiFi router gadgets from websites like My-WebSpot.com, Meo.pt.
The Azores archipelago is famous not only for its natural beauty and landscapes but also for the natural properties and health benefits its thermal waters provide. You’ll find spas with thermal water pools and natural thermal baths located in the Islands. The areas have a highly unusual combination of saltwater and sulfurous spring water which by claims from locals can help with inflammatory concerns like arthritis.
Ferns are everywhere
The Azores were isolated from the other continents Europe and North America for thousands of years and the flora and fauna evolved differently. The landscape is covered with fat aloe and cacti, giant ferns, black sand beaches and mineral baths with their warm water.
Tree ferns are present throughout the archipelago of the Azores but are particularly numerous in São Miguel. Fauna and flora of the Azores. Asplenium azoricum is a fern of the hybrid origin and it lives exclusively in the Azores, and it is a strict endemic Azorean fern.
Bird watching
The Azores are internationally recognized as bird-watching destinations for observing certain groups of bird species. Resident and migratory bird populations of the Azores archipelago are the islands’ most noteworthy fauna. Some 36 bird species are reported to breed in the Azores. Here we can find also the most important nesting populations of Cory’s Shearwaters in the world.
Pyrrhula murina is listed as endangered, with a population estimated at less than 250 birds restricted to islands. Breeding seabirds of the Azores comprise 5 species of Procellariiformes, 4 Charadriiformes, and 1 Pelecaniform, and include Fea’s petrel.
The number of species seen in the islands is close to 400. You can join small groups from the local company Gerbybirding, specialized in birdwatching.
Drinks and food
Food is usually imported from the nearest countries, which causes high prices in restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, and makes fresh food hard to find. The most famous dish of the Azores that you should definitely try is ‘furnas de caldas’, a stew that’s cooked inside a volcano or a fish baked on hot stones, fresh and unusual salads or fantastic pizza.
Even the most basic supplies are imported and are priced accordingly. But the overall Azores are a great deal. You can try a local brand of ice cream, with unique flavors like coconut and sweet pineapple. To get the best culinary experience, you can book a nine-day food and wine tour across four of Azores’ islands and you’ll have the chance to taste famed Azorean dishes.
Photo Credit: madeinazores.eu
Azores wine is good and cheap
Azorean wines have a great singularity, exclusivity, and History. The vine culture dates back to the 15th century. The vineyards are planted in particular locations called “Currais” where they are surrounded by volcanic rock walls that release heat to the vines overnight and have a quite effective protection effect against bad weather.
The historic vineyards on the island of Pico have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The wines are made from Verdelho, Arinto, and Terrantez. Most wines are white, fresh and tangy, but there is some good, light red, including some Merlot.
Where to stay in the Azores
There are nine main islands in the Azores and each one of them offers different experiences and things to do. If you only have limited time to visit one island, São Miguel is the largest and it has the most and cheapest direct flights.
For accommodation, there are many options to choose from for your stay at the Azores. You can rent a Holiday home on the Azores at HomeAway or choose a farmhouse or manor house. You can browse through Booking.com to find the best hotel or check out Airbnb and find what fits your budget and style.
They have more than 100 houses, cottages, and apartments for rental or official camping sites on all islands. Or you can check the best-priced Hotels in the Azores at:
In the Azores you will find the only tea plantations in Europe, which produce excellent teas, processing the leaves on vintage 19th-century English machinery.
The plants have to grow 7 years before you can start harvesting. The tea is harvested every 2 or 3 weeks from April until October.
Ribeira Grande, in São Miguel Island, is home to the two tea factories and a plantation–the only such plantation in Europe, courtesy of the island’s balmy climate.
More Nature, Less Beach
Nature is the biggest attraction to the Azores. The largest island, São Miguel has the most versatile scenery: from mountains, lakes, to sandy beaches and precipitous cliffs.
Each Azorean island has its own identity, its own unique landscape, traditions, cuisine, and architecture. Walking around stunning landscape marked by dense coastal woods, play golf of one of the best courses in the world.
Although is not a beach destination, there are very good beaches in the Azores. You can find some in S.Miguel – Praia Populo, Praia Agua d’Alto, Praia Ribeira Quente and Praia Porto Formoso are the most known, and Santa Maria Island. There are 2 great beaches Praia Formosa and Praia São Lourenço.
Azores is full of hiking trails
There are plenty of things you can see and do when you visit the Azores and without a doubt a great place to hike in beautiful landscapes. There are dozens of trails of different difficulty, length and type so you can choose between. All islands have clearly marked official hiking trails. The official tourism website has a section dedicated to trails. You can use the search option and you’ll have a list of all the hiking trails in the Azores that match your preferences. Why not go on an adventure by hiking and climbing along these scenic trails.
