Amsterdam, the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, and the Amsterdam based World Waternet join the Blue Community. Amsterdam officially becomes a Blue City.
Amsterdam has been a front-runner in water management in the past; in 1853, Amsterdam was the first Dutch city to deliver drinking water through pipes. Out of Amsterdam’s unique approach to water with its integrated model, shaped by the municipality of Amsterdam and the regional water authority Amstel, Gooi and Vecht, the city established Waternet, managing the entire water cycle: from the drinking water to the sewage, to the rivers, canals, and dikes that protect the city.
By joining the Blue Community, the City of Amsterdam not only brings centuries of experience with Dutch water management to the table, it can with its foundation World Waternet also share experiences in working with water authorities abroad. World Waternet works on improving the water cycle in ten different countries, mainly in the Middle-East and Africa, on behalf of the City of Amsterdam and the water authority. Here, they have long term partnerships with water authorities and utilities.
The City of Amsterdam commits to the three core principles of the Blue Community:
1. The City of Amsterdam beliefs that everyone should have access to water and that people should be able to enjoy the water. Therefore, the city aims to increase accessibility to enjoy the water in a sustainable manner; by stimulating swimming facilities, regulating motorised transport on the water and improve water quality. The city has several projects to improve water quality, following the EU guidelines on water quality, which are executed by the water board of Amsterdam. Other activities planned related to this principle are the screening of the documentary Blue World to the public, and collaboration with the University of Amsterdam on the topic of water recycling and drinking water in a changing climate.
2. The Dutch Drinking water law prescribes that drinking water is a public good, which means that drinking water companies cannot be privatised and are owned by the government. To make the public aware of the history of drinking water, and that clean drinking water from the tap is not something we should take for granted, there is a walking route of 10 km with free audio tour through the city. The tour crosses important places that have historic value for the development of clean drinking water.
3. The City of Amsterdam actively stimulates people to drink public water. Throughout the city, there are over 500 taps where the public can fill water bottles for free. Also during big events, sustainable water use is actively promoted. Either with info stands where people can refill their bottles and get information about drinking water or by making it important theme of the event. An example was SAIL 2025: #SAIL2025: United by Waves: recycling urine to fertilizer; water square with information on drinking water facilities; and more.
Frodo van Oostveen, CEO of World Waternet, states for the City of Amsterdam:
«Despite the Netherlands’ rich history with water, no Dutch city has joined the Blue Community Network yet. Amsterdam wants to set an example for other cities. The city council sees joining the Blue Community Network as an opportunity to extend its global network and exchange knowledge and experiences with other cities and partners.»
The Blue Community is delighted to welcome the City of Amsterdam and World Waternet to its global network. The Blue Community would also like to express its gratitude to Blue Community Ambassador Jerry van den Berge, a postdoctoral researcher in the Water Resources Management Group at Wageningen University and ‘River Commons activist-scholar’, and to the GreenLeft party in Amsterdam for bringing the motion to the City Council and for keeping it on the agenda.
Maude Barlow, co-founder of the Blue Community, book author, and winner of the Right Livelihood Award 2005, says:
«I am thrilled to welcome the great City of Amsterdam and its World Waternet to the Blue Community family. In becoming a Blue Community Amsterdam is once again showing leadership in promoting environmental security and water justice for all. On a planet running out of clean water and where billions have little or no access to water and sanitation, it is imperative that we do all to protect water and the human right to water.
Congratulations! It is a great honour to welcome you both as a Blue Community.»
Website of Amsterdam – official government site
Discover Amsterdam
World Waternet
