Amsterdam
September 15 – 19, 2011
| Location: | Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek |
|---|---|
| Opening hours: | daily 10 a.m.–07 p.m. Thurs 01 p.m.–07 p.m. |
Amsterdam is Europe’s leader in saving water and recycling. The promotion of electric vehicles also serves as a model for other cities. So the Train of Ideas will make its second-last stop here.
City websiteAmsterdam – water as a means of transport and valuable resource
The people of Amsterdam know how to deal with water correctly: economically. They also use their city’s waterways to transport goods.
The residents of the Dutch capital use only 53 cubic meters of water per capita – a third of the European average. Water meters motivate the citizens of Amsterdam to save. In addition, just 3.5 percent of drinking water is lost through leaky water pipes. For comparison: In Hamburg this figure is also only 4 percent, but in other cities such as Rome (40 percent) and Lisbon (46 percent) it is considerably more.
Shop deliveries by ship instead of truck
In other areas, the people of Amsterdam want to use water for even more. The narrow canals that run through the city used to be the main routes of transportation for goods and people. Now goods are to be shipped increasingly by water once again, instead of supplying businesses in the center by truck. Hamburg is taking a similar tack: In the port of the Hanseatic City, containers are increasingly being transported by barge instead of by truck.
By 2040, 200,000 electric vehicles are to be on the road
In order to reduce vehicle emissions, Amsterdam is placing more emphasis on electricity: By 2040, 200,000 electric vehicles will be on the roads. Anyone changing over to the eco-friendly option receives financial support. In addition, charging stations are being installed and parking lots created which are available only to electric vehicles.
City garbage supplies electricity to three-quarters of all households
The residents of Amsterdam are also exemplary in how they deal with their waste. They separate and recycle 43 percent of it. From what’s left, enough energy is produced to supply three-quarters of the households with electricity. Only one percent of the waste winds up in landfills.
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