Throughout my two week stay in the Netherlands, I attended a variety of company visits including Nouryon, a chemical manufacturer, InHolland University of Applied Sciences in both Delft and Rotterdam, and many more. We also immersed ourselves in the culture and customs of the Netherlands by visiting historical museums and exploring the city by visiting flea markets, local shops, and trying a plethora of Stroopwafels. I thought the most interesting visit was to the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam, which took us through the house that the Frank family escaped refuge from the Nazis in during World War II. It was heart wrenching seeing into the Frank families lives during this treacherous time, especially knowing how many other families had similar or even more sickening stories about the Holocaust.
My knowledge of global affairs has completely expanded over my time abroad. I had been abroad before, but had never traveled through the lens of an engineer nor visited international companies on the mission to learn as much as possible about how they operate. The United States is just a small bubble in the grand scheme of things, and I think it is extremely valuable to step into international waters to give a new perspective to systems we have in place in the US. By walking through the various cities and guided tours with an open mind and understanding, I was able to gain so much knowledge that will assist me personally and professionally in the future.
Personally, I learned so much about the history of the two cities we stayed in: Amsterdam and Rotterdam. In Amsterdam we took a cruise canal tour where our guide was incredibly informative about the cities architecture. All of the buildings were tightly placed together and were at least three stories high with windows all across the front. He explained to us that the taxes at the time the houses were built were based off the number of windows you had, so those by the canals were often wealthy and had taller homes with a variety of large windows spanning the front. Comparatively, those with less wealth would build a very skinny home with little windows to try to lessen their tax value.
Although just an hour apart, the architectural difference between Amsterdam and Rotterdam was undeniable. Rotterdam had been bombed completely during the later years of World War II, so the city has been rebuilding ever since. Rotterdam has much more modern feel than Amsterdam, with most buildings being skyscrapers with glass covering their exteriors. We learned about their several projects towards sustainability including the addition of seven public parks around the city.
Academically, we were able to apply all of the knowledge we had learned in our smaller groups at Pitt to the company we visited in the Netherlands. My group focused on the chocolate company Cacao and Spice, which we had done some preliminary research on to learn about their founding and mission. However, it was not until we were in the Netherlands that we were able to truly learn about the owners passion towards their sustainability efforts. I was able to formulate further questions from what I had learned in class and learn about how a business is cultivated from the ground up.
Professionally, I have learned how intertwined business and engineering truly is. Every company we had visited had both employees with engineering and business backgrounds, but a majority of professionals we spoke with had experience with both. One instance was at the chemical company Nouryon, we met with a Pitt alumni who was now one of the business managers, but graduated with a chemical engineering degree. She explained to us how she got involved in much of the sales and management positions at Nouryon, and how important she thinks having some business knowledge is for any profession. Meeting with her has made me consider getting a minor in business management in the future.
The biggest takeaway I gained from the Netherlands was their extensive efforts towards sustainability. Everywhere we went, whether it be a company visit, local restaurant, or even McDonald’s, there was always some push towards more sustainable practices. For example, as soon as we landed a couple of us wanted Starbucks. I ordered an iced caramel latte, which usually in the US would be in a clear plastic cup with a similar lid, however it came in a paper and lid, regardless if it was a hot or cold drink. McDonalds also had reusable cups, and had an entire section of vegetarian options on their menu.
In addition, almost every company we visited used solar panels as a source of energy even though it often rains in the Netherlands. These extensive sustainability efforts are something I hope to implement more in my work as a Bioengineer in the US. There is a lack of solar energy and recyclable materials being used. Visiting the Netherlands was evidence of the potential our communities have for creating a more sustainable world.
I had an absolutely incredible visit to the Netherlands, filled with new adventures and knowledge. I am so glad you could join along and I hope you enjoyed!