Conversation

Today I had coffee with someone visiting the Netherlands, and she commented on how green Amsterdam is compared to most North American cities, and how nice it was.

Of course, this isn't just some magic enchantment Because Europe; it's a policy choice and a cultural choice. The trees, the flowers, the canals, they're all intentionally created and actively maintained by the local government to keep them safe, pleasant, and clean. You need a culture that's willing to say "it's important to keep the environment pleasant even if that's not the most efficient thing on paper, and it's important to maintain things even if it costs money." (The Dutch are notorious complainers about spending money – but I've never known one to skimp on maintaining their house and garden.)

Before I left the US, I lived in a place that had clearly been quite a pleasant little city a hundred years ago, but had fallen into depressing disrepair and had less public transportation and accessibility than it did in Victorian times. That's the whole US, really. Because not maintaining things is free, which is "efficient." Not investing in the environment and the community's future is free, which is "efficient."

Dog in pleasant, green urban environment attached 😂

#amsterdam #urbanplanning #dogsofmastodon