Nonstop Delta flights from PDX to Amsterdam land you at the perfect gateway to continue on to other fantastic European destinations like Ireland.

Photo credit: 1la on Flickr.

We visited the Chinese car maker BYD. They are rapidly becoming a leader in electric vehicle technology and production. They are also the fastest growing auto brand in China. BYD began as a maker of cell phone batteries and has expanded into cars (including electric vehicles), solar panels and related technology, smart energy, net energy homes and most recently, electric buses. The Port first visited BYD about 3 years ago and was visited by BYD at about that same time.

They contemplate their electric vehicles into the US in 2012 and have asked that we be prepared to compete for their auto import business which, of course, we will happily do.

This definitely is a company to watch.

Photo credits: Courtesy of the Port of Portland

Photo credit: Courtesy of the Port of Portland

What to See and Do?

Amsterdam’s reputation as a cultural and artistic center precedes itself, but there’s more to this city’s artistic expression than traditional art housed at the Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum. Fashion-focused visitors can appreciate wearable art from some of Amsterdam’s most eco-conscious designers’, including Studio Jux, Van Markoviec, and Brennels. Each of these designers sets the latest fashion trends using sustainable products such as organic cotton, linen, bamboo and even stinging nettles. In recognition of their green fashion efforts, Studio Jux, Van Markoviec, Brennels and six other Dutch designers were recently celebrated during Dutch National Sustainability Day.

Where to eat?

“You reap what you sow” claims new meaning at Amsterdam’s De Kas Restaurant. Each day executive chef Ronald Kunis and head chef Meindert Heijer carefully select the menu from the restaurant’s local garden and greenhouse. If they require ingredients outside of what their nursery provides, Kunis and Heijer select only the finest produce from other local, environmentally conscious farmers. Choosing to farm and shop locally keeps de Kas’s transportation and emissions rates down, while helping their fellow business partners to thrive. The restaurant’s unique dining experience promises to keep its customers on their toes with fresh, local ingredients, a constantly changing menu, and a mission of sustainability.

Where to play?

We know you can dance (or at least try to) and after spending a day grazing off of Amsterdam’s sustainable restaurants, it might be time to consider burning off a few of those vacation calories. Dancing can burn up to 350 calories per hour, but did you know that it can also produce 50 watts of electricity per hour? Named in honor of the energy it produces, Watts Dance Club in Rotterdam uses sensors in the dance floor to collect dancers’ vibrations and produce electricity, which is then used to power the club’s lighting schemes. Rotterdam-based innovator Enviu created the Sustainable Dance Club concept in 2006, and has shared its dance-inspired technology with clubs like Watts across the globe.

Where to Stay?

Some might say luxury must be sacrificed for the environment’s sake, but in Amsterdam you can have the best of both worlds. Whether you’re interested in budget-friendly or high-end luxury, Amsterdam has a hotel that will both fit your interests and provide green service with a smile.

For a low-budget, high quality hotel experience, consider a stay at the Bicycle Hotel. This hotel is a “green” model citizen with its bicycle rentals, recycling and solar powered electricity. Known for its friendly staff, accessibility to the city’s historical sites and recommendations for great biking routes, the Bicycle Hotel is a perfectly affordable solution for your hotel needs.

Kicking your luxury experience up a notch doesn’t have to come at Mother Nature’s expense.  At the Hotel de l’Europe, you can have a world class lodging experience with eco-friendly frills. The hotel’s chain, Leading Hotels of the World, was the first hospitality entity to offer patrons a completely carbon-neutral experience through their environmentally responsible practices as well as an additional financial carbon offset program.

Now that you’re geared up with a few green Amsterdam itinerary tips, we want to hear from you! What recommendations do you have for a more environmentally-friendly travel experience?

Photo/video credit: Bikes in Amsterdam, liber; Studio Jux, Teska Overbeeke; De Kas Restaurant, Magnusdigity; Sustainable Dance Club, panxut; Hotel de L’Europe, Mark & Danielle Parris