Green and sustainable walking route

“Now is the time to reconnect with the earth, to think about our lifestyle choices and gradually become a bit more sustainable. That way we also feel at home in the world”, says Anouschka Trauschke of Tours that Matter, a travel company focusing on tourism with a positive impact.

For a new tour, Trauschke searched for the pioneers of sustainability in Amsterdam: city gardens, picking forests, cafes, and museums that help you shop, consume and live more sustainably.

To get started, Anouschka Trauschke will bring you along to ten green spots in Amsterdam, including expert tips for a greener (eco-friendly) home! 

1. Oost Indisch Groen and Flevopark

During the Oost Indisch Groen (East Indian Green) Walk & Talks you will learn everything about communal gardens, urban agriculture and the limitless potential of green cities. Continue to the Flevopark - both a city park and nature reserve. Bring your kids along to the nature playground Jeugdland and relax with a nice liqueur at Distillery ‘t Nieuwe Diep.

Sustainability home tip from João from Oost Indisch Groen: You can preserve food with fermentation. It is possible with almost every vegetable. Take the leftovers from your fridge and check YouTube for a tutorial. Start with something simple, like sauerkraut, then move on to more demanding recipes such as kombucha or sourdough.

• Kramatweg 51, Flevopark

2. Anna’s Tuin & Ruigte

You will find Anna's Tuin & Ruigte permaculture project on the outskirts of Amsterdam. It is filled with wildlife, a communal vegetable and a forest garden. Walk around or join a workshop, and don’t miss out on the pizza-activities: top your pizza with herbs and veggies and share them with others.

• Science Park 904

3. KantoorKaravaan

Discover this workplace in the middle of nature. Chop some wood, plant trees and regain your tranquility before returning to the concrete jungle.

• Nico Broekhuysenweg 22

4. Green Light Experience

Rediscover the Red Light District with the Green Light Experience: visit green hotspots and experience sustainable gems from locally brewed beer to fair-trade chocolate. Receive the neighbourhood map by mail and do the 1.5-hour tour at your own pace.

• Oudezijds Voorburgwal 136

5. Cacaomuseum

The Cacaomuseum is the result of combining two interests: great taste and the preservation of rainforests. The museum promotes ‘bean to bar’-chocolate that doesn’t only taste good, but is also sustainable, fair, artisanal, spiritual and healthy. There are tastings, workshops, dinners, exhibitions, tours and lectures in non-corona times.

• Czaar Peterstraat 175

6. De Ceuvel

Cultural location, sustainable cafe and a floating bed & breakfast. Café de Ceuvel has a greenhouse where they grow their own vegetables and herbs and recycle nutrients. Everything on the menu makes a positive impact somewhere.

• Korte Papaverweg 4

7. De Moestuinschool (Kitchen Garden School)

Welcome to this outdoor school for adults where you can learn all that you need to know about creating and maintaining your own kitchen garden. There is a lesson every two weeks, and as a bonus, you can bring your own harvest home.

Sustainability home tip from Nancy from the Kitchen Garden School: Feeling nervous? Start small with herb jars. Belgian kitchen gardens look completely different from the ones in Amsterdam, so be sure to consult local experts. Also, by keeping a close eye on your plants, you can learn all about their behaviour and use that knowledge in your future projects.

• Sixhavenweg 1021

8. Mediamatic

Mediamatic organizes lectures, workshops and art projects about nature, biotechnology, art and science. Learn to make your own perfume, grow oyster mushrooms or join the Friday lab tour. Includes a multisensory cafe.

• Dijksgracht 6

9. My City Garden

My City Garden is a four-hectare DIY farm in West. You can rent a piece of land and get to work on your own or, if you need help, together with the City Garden team. You can also hire a garden “butler” to take care of your garden.

• Nico Broekhuysenweg 22

10. Zorgboerderij De Marsen (De Marsen Farm)

You will find the Marsen farm among the green scenery of the Twiske park. Surrounded by the green scenery of the Twiske park, the Marsen farm works completely biodynamically (when it comes to sustainability, they are stricter than the norm). You can harvest vegetables straight from the garden, as well as enjoy an array of educational, cultural and social activities.

• Pikpotweg 1, Landsmeer

Green facts

• The elm is an iconic Amsterdam tree. This tree is celebrated yearly during the Lentesneeuw (spring snow) festival, as well as a perfume (Eau d’Amsterdam) and a walking route. You can find the oldest elm, which is around 130 years old, at de Nieuwe Herengracht 5.
• The greenest Amsterdam neighbourhood is Noord, and the least green is Oud-West.
• The widest trees in the city are a pair of plane trees at the Leidsebosje.
• You can spot surprising wildlife all over Amsterdam. There are foxes in the Vondelpark, seals in the IJ, and kingfishers in Park Frankendael Park.

Bonus home tips from Trash Hero

• Strive towards zero waste, but start small. Look for zero-waste alternatives for the contents of your trash bin. Make it a habit to have sustainable packaging in your house: a paper bag for your bread, pots with jam and sauces that are usable in different stores, fabric bags for your shopping, and so on.

• Challenge yourself to pick up and throw away at least one piece of trash every time you go out. It’s a small gesture, but it's a good example. You can also start a clean-up activity in your neighbourhood or join Trash Hero.

Tours that Matter

Anouschka Trauschke (31) is at the helm of Tours that Matter together with Berber Hiddema and Katjalisa Reiter. Their mission: reinventing the tourism industry. Their tours inspire people to find a new perspective/outlook on social issues. During Corona, Tours that Matter developed interactive walks & talks with unique routes created for experiencing individually. Follow Tours that Matter on Instagram: tours_that_matter. The ‘Nature in the City’ guide is available for download on gemtracktravel.com