Amsterdam is One of Europe’s Greenest Cities

It’s common knowledge that you’re just as likely to see a traffic jam of bikes as you are to see cars in the heart of Amsterdam. In fact, the city has more bikes than people! More so than most European cities, Amsterdam is constantly lessening their impact on the environment and encouraging their residents to do the same. Nominated as European Green Capital in 2010, Amsterdam is regularly listed as one of the top 10 green cities in the world. How can you live like a local and reduce your ecological footprint while on your next vacation?

Image courtesy of Maks Karochkin from Flickr

Delve Into a Yoga Class and Holistic Healing

Everyone’s got to work hard to stay fit while traveling, and what better way to keep fit than support a local while relaxing? This is a great way to meet people living in Amsterdam while stretching out those kinked muscles from a long flight. Most drop-in classes are around 10 euros, and nearly all instructors speak English as well. Unlimited Health is a very popular center that also offers raw food education, as well as healthy living consultations, and a hand-selected store full of supplements and beverages like 100% raw organic coconut water. Yum!

Take a Bike Tour

While you can always rent a bicycle and DIY, a guided tour is a hugely beneficial way to explore a city. Even independent travelers wind up loving the tours. In only two hours you learn a lot about the downtown area of Amsterdam from a local, and then are free to tour the rest of the city on your own. These tours offer 24-hour cancellation policies, too, if the weather turns bad and you prefer not to live like a local!

Get The Greenhouse Effect

When it comes to Amsterdam hotels, you’re spoiled for choice in the eco-friendly department. While the Conscious Hotel line is wonderful, don’t forget about the little guys, too! The Greenhouse Effect has a funky, fresh style that is unique due to the upcycling and individual character of each guest room. The hotel is within walking distance to everything downtown, but you might not need to go out to have a great night — the in-house DJ also performs, and the ambiance in the hotel is electric. Look online to choose which room you’d like to stay in, as they are all very different: one room is decorated in the Arabian Nights theme with Middle Eastern decor, canopied bed, lush carpets, and all the intricacies, while the room next door is decorated as a Marijuana grow lab. But as they say … when in Amsterdam!

Image courtesy of Tambako The Jaguar from Flickr

Cut Costs, Support Farmers, and Eat Fresh

Farmer’s Markets are wonderful, and even more so in Amsterdam. The Saturday morning market is a haven for all things biological and delicious. After picking up your produce, indulge in one of the freshly made pancakes or apple pies before setting off to enjoy a picnic with all your spoils!

Next time you visit Amsterdam, do it like a local, eat well, sleep soundly, and keep Mother Nature in mind!
Please note : This is part of a series for #HipmunkCityLove. Hipmunk.com is low-cost and budget travel service that I use while planning budget travel, and am thrilled to write for. I know you will find the articles as well as their services useful.

Remember, you are my first priority and I only work with or support companies whose products and services I believe in. For all the nitty gritty on this check out my disclaimer. It’s even got pictures of monkeys.